Truth Saves - History vs Bible

The Birth of Jesus

Placement of Events

The Bible does not say exactly what year Jesus was born but it does tell us of specific historical events that his birth occurred during. History agrees with the fact that these historical events took place but completely disagrees with the Bible's claim that someone could have been born during both of these events since they are separated by 10 years.

According to Luke

Luke 2:2 places the birth of Jesus during the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria for taxation purpose. The only census that was even close to being large enough to fit the Bible's description happened in 6 CE, so according to Luke 2:2 Jesus' birth could not have been before then. Also Quirinius was not governor of Syria until 6 CE, so again Luke is placing the birth no earlier than 6 CE.

According to Matthew

Matthew 2:1 says Jesus was born in the days of Herod the king aka King Herod the Great. King Herod died 4 BCE, 10 years before the Census of Quirinius.

Christian Apologists have tried to ignore this contradiction to history by making up the claim that there was an earlier census and that Quirinius was governor of Syria twice. However Quirinius was never the governor of Syria prior to 6 CE and was the governor of Pamphylia-Galatia (in modern Turkey) during the last years of King Herod. Also there was not another large census within 100 years prior to 6 CE.

More Historical Errors

Plagues of Egypt

There has never been a point in history where all the first born sons of Egypt were killed, all food sources were destroyed by plagues or where the Egyptian army was killed off by the sea. If the biblical plagues did occur then Egypt would have been wiped off the map. They would no longer have a food supply with all the livestock diseased, all the vegetation eaten by locust and all the fish killed in the rivers. Also if parting of the sea story were true Egypt would have lost their army redeeming them helpless as a society

Egyptians were known for documenting everything, even battles lost and civil wars. The events in Exodus would have been far too large of an impact politically, militarily, economically and socially to have been covered up or not recorded.

Babylonian Exile

Jeremiah 29:10 and 2 Chronicles 36:21 tells us the Babylonian Exile lasted 70 years. The exile began in 586 BCE when the temple was destroyed and lasted till the return of the Israelites to their promised land in 538 BCE after Cyrus overthrew the Babylonian Empire. This exile lasted 48 years, not 70.

Jericho

The Bible says Joshua destroyed the wall of Jericho around 1400 BCE but Archaeological evidence shows that in 2300 BCE the walls of Jericho were already destroyed by an earthquake, long before Joshua arrived. Though the inhabitants rebuilt the town, a fire thoroughly destroyed Jericho again during 1600 BCE and the city was abandoned until 700 BCE. There was no wall to tumble down or citizens to destroy at Jericho within centuries of the time the Bible says Joshua was there.

Belshazzar

Daniel 5:1-2 says Belshazzar was king of the Chaldean Empire (Babylon), and son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar. In reality, Nebuchadnezzar's son and successor was Amel-Marduk. He was assassinated by his Brother-in-law Nergal-Ashur-Usur, who took the throne. His reign was followed by his son Labashi-Marduk, who was opposed by a faction that overthrew him and placed Nabu-naido on the throne. Belshazzar (whom's name was actually Bel-shar-utsur) was the son of Nabu-naido. He was NEVER king, but crown prince, and was no relation at all to Nebuchadnezzar.

Queen of Persia

Esther 1:9 says Vashti was the queen of Persia at the time the story occurs, but the queen at this time was actually Amestris. There has never been a queen of Persia named Vashti.

Assyrian King

Hosea 5:13 tells us a man named Jareb was the Assyrian king at the time the story occurs but Tiglath-Pileser the third was actually the Assyrian king. There was never an Assyrian king named Jareb.

Darius the Median

Daniel 5:30-31 says that Darius the Median overthrew the Babylon empire, but it was Cyrus of Persia who overthrew the Babylonian Empire. While there is a Darius the first in history, there is no knowledge of a Darius of Median even existing.