The Weekly Bulletin of the Livingston Church of Christ

Meeting at 639 2nd Street, Livingston, CA 95334

Office: (209) 394-3511 | Preacher: Jovan Payes
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Luke 1-3: Jesus and Bible Chronology (2)| Jovan Payes December, 12 2010

Last week we began a probe into Bible chronology and its relationship to News and Notes
events in the early life of Jesus of Nazareth. In this week’s installment, we
continue this look into an important aspect of biblical study – how much can A Note to Our Visitors:
we trust that the biblical writings are historically accurate. Welcome! We want you to
know you are our honored
In Richard Cassidy‟s introductory material to his work, Jesus, Politics guests. Let us know how we
and Society: A Study of Luke’s Gospel, he surveys a number of common can serve you. We have free
criticisms leveled against Luke‟s accuracy as a historian. Cassidy goes biblical literature and offer
on record with his own studied conclusion of Luke‟s reliability as a free home bible studies.
historian: “We believe that Luke is reliable when touching upon matters Remember to turn in our
pertaining to „empire history‟” (1983, 11). In fact, he makes a compelling Dream Sunday Packets.
case that the burden of proof falls upon Luke‟s critics to find a genuine The Mission: California
historical inaccuracy. Evangelism Workshop was a
What we see chronologically, then, is the timeframe of 45 years wonderful event. Audio files
provided by the reference to Caesar Augustus (Luke 2.1) is quickly will be available online, on
whittled down to a period of seven years by the period of Quirinius‟ Ripon‟s website.
governorship (Luke 2.2). The birth of Jesus nicely fits within this Daily Bible Readings, see
window of time. Furthermore, his presentation at the temple as a child schedule on back.
should be marked around this time (Luke 2.21), and his famous temple Remember in Prayer: our
excursion at the age of 12 at about AD 5-8 (Luke 2.41-51). There is some Dreams, Fred (neck), Linda
flexibility, but this is excellent dating for a document nearly two (knees), Gerald (recovery),
thousand years old. Hazel (recovery), LeAnne
(3) Caesar Tiberius succeeded Augustus as Emperor of Rome (Luke Figueroa, Rose Mary, Lucy
3.1), and reigned from AD 14 to AD 37 (23 years). Luke 3.1 is an (lungs) and Victor Barrios
impressive list of seven political leaders designed to timestamp two (work), Mike (back), Shelly
important moments in biblical history: (a) the beginning of the ministry (foot tendons), Connie Payes
of John the Baptist (Luke 3.2), and (b) the beginning of the ministry of (dialysis), Elsa Avalos
(Alzheimer‟s).
Jesus (Luke 3.23). When did these ministries begin?
There are two things to consider. First, Luke 3.1 at its widest point Dec. 13-15 | Los Banos
covers a period of time from 4 BC with the beginning of the tetrarchies church of Christ hosting
Herod Antipas and Philip, and ends as late as about AD 39 when Herod meeting with Joe Wells on
Christian Evidences.
Antipas died (Acts 12.23). Other close end-dates are the finals years of
Caiaphas (AD 36), of Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea (AD 26-36), and the Jan. 2 | New evening schedule.
death of Tiberius in AD 37. Instead of 6PM, we will meet
Second, the historical ministry of John and Jesus is set by the at 5PM. Fourth Sunday
schedule remains the same.
narrowest of margins, the tetrarchy of Lysanias (AD 28-29), and the
fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar (AD 28/30). In Luke 3.23, the Gospel
 Luke 1-3: Jesus and Bible Chronology (Continued)
Schedule of Services
reads that Jesus was “about” thirty years of age. Frederick Danker notes
Sunday Services
this age as significant (Jesus and the New Age, 1972, 52-53), because there
Bible Class 10 AM
are a number of biblical characters which likewise begin their ministry
(Classes for All Ages)
at this general age (Num. 4.3; Gen. 41.46; 2 Sam. 5.4; Ezek. 1.1).
Morning Worship 11 AM
A final note on the political figures of Luke 3.1-2 should be made
Evening Worship 6 PM
regarding the inclusion of Annas. According to The Jewish Encyclopedia,
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Annas “was appointed to the office [of High Priest] by Quirinius,
Bible Class 10 AM
governor of Syria” until he was about thirty-seven years old, when he
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was deposed in AD 15 by Valerius Gratus, and eventually Caiaphas was
Morning Worship 11 AM
appointed to office (AD 18-36).
Birthday Fellowship Meal
Despite the public loss of his office, Annas and his family held a
Afternoon 1:30 PM
politically powerful influence in first century Judea (Enelow, 1:610; John
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18.13; Acts 4.6). Moreover, this is an honorific use of “priesthood” for
Bible Classes 7 PM
Annas; much like, “Mr. President” for those who are no longer in office
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(Danker 42). Yet, despite this honorific use, it is noteworthy to observe
Daily Bible Readings
that during this time priestly appointments were made by Rome
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(Cassidy 115-16); hence, Annas and Caiaphas were both Roman
12/13 Judges 15
appointees to the priesthood.
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12/15 Judges 17 CONCLUSION
12/16 Judges 18 These facts lead to a couple of conclusions. (a) Jesus was “about”
12/17 Judges 19 thirty when he began his ministry in about AD 29/30, which means he
12/18 Judges 20 could have been up to the age of thirty-five. If we grant the maximum
age of thirty-five, Jesus would have been born between 6 to 5 BC; and
this completely agrees with the statements in Matthew and Luke that
Jesus was born within a year or two before Herod (I) the Great‟s death
in 4 BC.
(b) Despite the popular notion that the Bible employs a sloppy
chronology, the evidence does not bear this claim out. In fact, quite to
the contrary; when placed under the proverbial microscope, the
integrity of the historical value of the Bible is found to be rock solid. But,
we must always be mindful of the ancient methods used to “clock”
historical events.
SOURCES
Cassidy, Richard J. Jesus, Politics, and Society: A Study of Luke’s Gospel.
Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis, 1983.
Monterey, CA Danker, Frederick W. 1972. Jesus and the New Age According to St. Luke: A
March 31 to April 2 Commentary on the Third Gospel. St. Louis, Mo.: Clayton, 1979.
Enelow, H. G. “Annas.” Pages 610-11 in vol. 1 of The Jewish Encyclopedia.
JOVAN’S OFFICE HOURS Edited by Isidore Singer. 12 vols. 1901-1906. Cited 12 Dec. 2010. Online:
Tuesday to Friday http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view_page.jsp?pid=0&artid=155
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM 4&letter=A.