Lexical Summary Kurénios: Quirinius Original Word: Κυρήνιος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Cyrenius. Of Latin origin; Cyrenius (i.e. Quirinus), a Roman -- Cyrenius. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Latin origin Definition Quirinius, a governor of Syria NASB Translation Quirinius (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2958: ΚυρήνιοςΚυρήνιος (Lachmann Κυρινος (Κυρεῖνος Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading (see εἰ, ἰ))), Κυρηνίου, ὁ, Quirin(-i)us (in full, Publius Sulpicius Quirinus (correctly Quirinius; see Woolsey in Bib. Sacr. for 1878, pp. 499-513)), a Roman consul A. U. C. 742; afterward (not before the year 759) governor of Syria (where perhaps he may previously have been in command, 751-752). While filling that office after Archelaus had been banished and Judaea had been reduced to a province of Syria, he made the enrolment mentioned in Acts 5:37 (cf. Josephus, Antiquities 18, 1, 1). Therefore Luke in his Gospel 2:2 has made a mistake (yet see added references below) in defining the time of this enrolment. For in the last years of Herod the Great, not Quirinius but Sentius Saturninus was governor of Syria. His successor, A. U. C. 750, was Quintilius Varus; and Quirinius (who died in the year 774) succeeded Varus. Cf. Winers RWB, see under the words, Quirinins and Schatzung; Strauss, Die Halben u. die Ganzen (Berl. 1865), p. 70ff; Hilgenfeld in the Zeitschr. f. wissensch. Theologie for 1865, p. 480ff; Keim, i., 399f (English translation, ii. 115); Schürer, Neutest. Zeitgeschichte, p. 161f; Weizsäicker in Schenkel see p. 23ff; (Keil, Comm. üb. Mark. u. Luk., p. 213ff; McClellan, New Testament etc., i., p. 392ff; and Woolsey in B. D. American edition, under the word Topical Lexicon Identification and Historical Setting Strong’s Greek 2958 names Κυρηνίου, rendered “Quirinius” or “Cyrenius,” the Roman official governing Syria at the time of the registration mentioned in Luke 2:2. Outside Scripture he is well documented: Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, a career soldier, served as consul (12 BC), undertook campaigns in Asia Minor, and was later appointed legate of Syria. Luke’s single reference locates him squarely within the Roman imperial system that shaped daily life in the eastern Mediterranean during the reign of Caesar Augustus. Roman Census Policy and Luke’s Narrative Luke records: “This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria” (Luke 2:2). Augustus’ empire-wide call for enrollment (Luke 2:1) sought accurate tax rolls and military assessments. In Judea—recently reorganized after Herod the Great’s death—Rome respected local customs by allowing registration “each to his own town” (Luke 2:3), compelling Joseph, “of the house and line of David,” to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem (Luke 2:4). Thus a mundane administrative decree became the providential means by which the Messiah’s birthplace aligned with prophecy (Micah 5:2). Chronological Considerations Josephus dates a well-known census under Quirinius to AD 6, yet Luke links Jesus’ birth to Herod the Great (d. 4 BC). Several conservative solutions cohere with Luke’s precision: In every model, Luke emerges as an accurate historian whose detail invites careful harmonization rather than dismissal. Providence in the Nativity Quirinius’ census illustrates God’s sovereignty over earthly powers. A Roman enrollment, indifferent to Israel’s hope, nevertheless moved the Holy Family to Bethlehem exactly when Mary’s term was complete (Luke 2:6–7). Political machinery, empire, and taxation—often symbols of oppression—became instruments in fulfilling redemptive promise. The narrative therefore offers comfort to believers who live under civil structures beyond their control (Romans 13:1). Apologetic and Ministry Significance 1. Historical Credibility: Luke’s reference anchors the birth of Jesus in verifiable history, demonstrating that the gospel rests on real events, not myth. Archaeological and Scholarly Notes • Inscriptions from Antioch and Apamea confirm periodic censuses in Syria–Cilicia. Key References Luke 1:1–4; 2:1–7 Forms and Transliterations Κυρηνιου Κυρηνίου Kureniou Kurēniou Kyreniou Kyreníou Kyrēniou KyrēníouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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