The census in Luke

[lcalise]

Why does Luke say a Roman-mandated census brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem? A program I watched cited that 1) Romans wouldn’t/couldn’t have done that 2) Jesus was “of Nazareth” not “of Bethlehem”, to start. Even a priest has said this was a mistake (uscatholic.org/1996/12/cov9612.htm)), but how could the Bible contain a mistake? I mean, to me that couldn’t be interpreted anyway but literally.

 

[Tietjen]

lcalise:

Why does Luke say a Roman-mandated census brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem? A program I watched cited that 1) Romans wouldn’t/couldn’t have done that 2) Jesus was “of Nazareth” not “of Bethlehem”, to start. Even a priest has said this was a mistake (uscatholic.org/1996/12/cov9612.htm)), but how could the Bible contain a mistake? I mean, to me that couldn’t be interpreted anyway but literally.

Romans did do that in order to get an accurate count so that they could tax those born within occupied territories. Jesus is of Bethlehem as Luke 2 clearly points out; but Jesus hadn’t been born yet so I think that you meant Joseph.

NAB - And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

I don’t see any indication here that Joseph shouldn’t have gone to Bethlehem. Father Murphy-O’Connor also says, Mary considered Jesus an embarrassment to the family until after his crucifixion, when she came to believe in him." Priests aren’t perfect and make mistakes. I’m not expert on this subject, but I believe that Bethlehem was the correct place. Reading Father Murphy-O’Connor further, he seems to hold several opinions that I don’t agree with. However, like I said, I am neither a scholar nor a Priest, but I don’t necessarily believe everything that is said by either one soley based on their position.