Jump to content
JesusWalk Bible Study Forum

Q1. Naming the Current Rulers


Recommended Posts

  • 2 months later...
  • Replies 81
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

This was the way events were dated in the ancient world. Years were not numbered; rather events were placed in time in relation to when rulers were in office and to significant events during their term. This was Luke's way of establishing the historicity of Jesus' life.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q1. (Luke 2:1-2) Why does Luke name the rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making?

I think by referencing the rulers, Luke is speaking both to current and future generations who would read this account. The current generation would know first-hand the government and event (census) that Luke references. Future generations would find references to the ruler and census in the written records of the government and historians.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When Luke prints the rulers in history, he makes sure that we realize that Jesus is not an imaginary person just for Christians.

He places Jesus in his worldy context of rulers and his place in history as revealed from his birth on until his death.

Those who doubt his humble birth sometimes search to disprove it and end up proving it with all the documentation in the Bible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q1. (Luke 2:1-2) Why does Luke name the rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making?

It is because by then Romans were the ones ruling the Jews, and the Romans rulers, considered to be like gods, stood in contrast to the tiny baby in a manger who was truly God in the flesh. This was have been interested to the Romans who were familiar with political situation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Luke, that wise physician, knew that the doubters and unbelievers would seek to destroy the evidence of the birth of the Messiah. He knew too, that as time goes by, this would be easier to do. By establishing the time and place of the events of Jesus' birth in naming names of people who the world would mark down as historical figures, Luke anchored our Lord's place as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q1. (Luke 2:1-2) Why does Luke name the rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making?

LK 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

LK 2:2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Dr Luke was obviously an accurate sort of person! In Chapter 1 of his gospel he spells out what is gospel is all about and how he went about compiling it- i.e. using eyewitnesses, writing it down in consecutive order, investigating carefully etc

Dr Luke helps us by building a historical context around the life and events surrounding Jesus-his point Jesus is a true historical figure!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Because people can go back and check out what happened when those rulers were in charge to find out that it actually did happen. He recorded historical facts. It is authentic.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q1. (Luke 2:1-2) Why does Luke name the rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making?

when luke named the rulers at the time of the census he places the birth of jesus on a historical reference point making sure all future generations would know when he was born giving irrefutable evidence that jesus did exist in history .during the time the gospel was written for sure this event was also fresh upon the minds of those who would read his chronicle of events of the birth and life of jesus

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q1. (Luke 2:1-2) Why does Luke name the rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making?

Luke names the rulers in LK 2:1-2 to show us the period when these events took place. He is trying to show us that Jesus is very much a person who existed in history. He is a historical figure like the mentioned Kings. His existence is real and not a myth nor a legend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q1. (Luke 2:1-2) Why does Luke name the rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making? [/color] :rolleyes: In reading Luke's account of the birth of Jesus, we can read true history. This event really occurred and can be related to a certain time in history when the rulers and leaders can be named. Jesus' historical setting includes rulers Caesar Augustus, Herod the Great, and Quirinius. "Caesar Augustus," Roman emperor Octavian, reigned 27 BC - 14 AD. Herod the Great, called "King of the Jews," ruled Judea from 40 to 4 BC. Quirinius was a military leader and Roman consul in central Asia Minor, and later Imperial Legate of Syria-Cilicia (AD 6 to 9), where Josephus notes that he conducted a census.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q1. (Luke 2:1-2) Why does Luke name the rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making?

1. Luke wanted to show that these rulers from history were real and if the unbeliever didn't believe anything else, he could check his History books and find these names.

2. He wanted to point out that Jesus was real, also, and the reason that he was born in a stable was also real.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q1. (Luke 2:1-2) Why does Luke name the rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making?

I believe Luke is naming these rulers to verify that indeed Jesus the Christ was a Person of History. These rulers are verifiable, and by tracing these rulers, and the events associated with them, validity is added to what Luke is recording.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q1. (Luke 2:1-2) Why does Luke name the rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making?

Luke is setting the historical context wherein Jesus is born. The point Luke is making is that Jesus is an historical person who extisted not just spiritually or as a spiritual concept.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q1. (Luke 2:1-2) Why does Luke name the rulers in 2:1-2? What point is he making?

By refrerring to Caeser Augustus and Quirrinius , Luke was informing future generations ( with a great deal of maturing ) that the birth of Jesus is REAL

and was with a specific reference during the rule of these monarchs

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...