Note 1 — Chapter XIV · THE CREDIBILITY OF THE EVANGELISTS.

President Bartlett believes that notwithstanding its long line of exposure, the outer historical difficulties seem reduced to the solitary question of the taxing under Cyrenius. (The Princeton Review for January, 1880, p. 44.) Aside from any question of inspiration, it is improbable that Luke made a mistake. Justin Martyr, who wrote at a very early period, in his Apology to the Roman Emperor, refers to this taxing as a well known event (Ap., c. 34). He again refers to it in his Dialogue (c. 78) as being the first census taken in Judea under Cyrenius. Celsus, who was not wanting in skill or inclination to attack at all points, found no occasion here. It may well be that a person holding the office which Cyrenius held at the first enrolment was called a “procurator.” Or Luke in speaking of this enrolment may have referred to Cyrenius by the title which he afterwards bore; or Cyrenius may have been in the office twice. President Bartlett also concludes with Warrenton that there is not any instance of a really inapposite quotation from the Old Testament, although the quotations are sometimes inaccurate. He also concludes that the instances of alleged contradictions may be reduced to five, and that there is no insurmountable difficulty in reconciling them. But, for reasons stated in the text, the inquiry is not material to our argument.