The Lucan gospel alone makes mention of the census of Quirinius in relation
to the birth of Jesus (2:2). This temporal marker has consequently been used to date the
birth of Jesus, but not without problems. The census reference, when understood in
relation to its historical referent, causes chronological incongruity and faulty technical
details within the Lucan narrative. In contrast to the many attempts which seek to
maintain the historical integrity of the Lucan gospel by reconciling temporal incongruity,
I contend that the census is a constituent element of the narrative. As such, the key to
understanding the census reference lies in appreciating its narrative function rather than
its unlikely referential function.
This thesis involves a narrative-critical analysis of Luke 1-3. After an
examination of the state of the Quirinius question in chapter one, I investigate three ways
in which the census of Quirinius interacts with the other elements of the narrative in
Luke 1-3. In the second chapter the census is discussed as a part of the setting of the
narrative. Through temporal analysis I demonstrate that the census is an integral part of
the Lucan temporal framework. The third chapter focuses on plot in Luke 1-3, and
shows how the census contributes to its overall development. Lastly, I explore the
narrative processes of characterization which contrast the respective roles of Jesus and
John. The census assists in distinguishing Jesus as the primary agent of God. The
analysis of these three aspects of the narrative illustrates that the census of Quirinius is
an essential component, skilfully interwoven with the other elements of the narrative. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/15932 |
| Date | 10 1900 |
| Creators | Nettleton, Jennifer Ellen |
| Contributors | Reinhartz, Adele, Religious Studies |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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