The Intercontinental Church of God

Specific Bible Studies - Jesus Part 1 D

The Great Story Proved (posted on the Internet at: http://home.sprynet.com/~pabco/magi.htm)

The proof of history is in the "Chronicle of John Malalas", translated by Matthew Spinka (Univ. of Chicago Press, 1940). John Malalas was a historian of Antioch, Syria (c. 491-578 AD). On pages 32-33 he writes: "In the 39th year and the 10th month of his [Augustus'] reign he commanded the taking of a census of all his lands, including all that the Romans held during the consulship of Agrippa II, and of Donatus. And all the earth under the Romans was registered by Eumenes and Attalus, the Roman senators." Using the October to October calendar Malalas used, that dates the issuance of the decree for the census to JULY, 5 BC

Suidas -- another reliable authority -- and many others, add information about Augustus' decree, which proves the census in Palestine was conducted the very next year -- 4 BC, the very time Christ was born!

Abundant evidence from both early Christians AND EARLY PAGANS corroborates this census (see the excellent article in Unger's "Bible Dictionary" under "Chronology")."

Note: This is proof for the birth year (4 BC) and also confirms beginning of ministry (27 AD) and year of Jesus' death (31 AD).