re: Jesus' birth in Matthew and Luke

Quoting Tid Bit:“ Easy.... After the widely known King Herod died, his land was split between his three sons Herod Antipas ... [snip!] ... to in speaking of the well-known King Herod...or his son Herod Antipas, who ruled the region of Galilee during Augusts' census.”

This is a plausible answer.

Though from the way it is written, it would seem to indicate the more well known King.

C.

Quoting Talena:“ Exactly. Things took time back then. It would have taken YEARS to completley finish a whole census ... [snip!] ... that you are dead set on finding contradictions and errors within the bible. I hope that you will one day have faith in it.”

It doesn't matter how long it takes to complete a census that took place 10 years after the death of Herod, if it was indeed Herod the Great being referenced (as virtually all scholars agree upon).

I hope that one day you will see how deluded your faith is.

C.

Quoting God:“ This is a plausible answer. Though from the way it is written, it would seem to indicate the more well known King. C.”

Not necessarily.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that he is referencing the Herod (puppet king to the Jews), nor would it say his son. Caesar Augustus was referred to in Roman times as Caesar...even though he was in actuality Caesar's great nephew, and clearly not the more widely known Caesar. King Herod could either be Herod the Great, or his moronic son. And you're right, it is a plausable answer.  

Quoting Talena:“ Exactly. Things took time back then. It would have taken YEARS to completley finish a whole census ... [snip!] ... that you are dead set on finding contradictions and errors within the bible. I hope that you will one day have faith in it.”

one doesn't need to be dead set on finding errors...and it is hard to have faith in a book written by man. I'm not saying I do not believe in God, just not what is written.

Quoting ~Kat~:“ one doesn't need to be dead set on finding errors...and it is hard to have faith in a book written by man. I'm not saying I do not believe in God, just not what is written.”

I think that's part of the problem with Christians, most are completely unwilling to answer questions...instead they get defensive. We all have questions, and someone who has never questioned their faith is more delusional than someone who has none. IMO

Quoting Tid Bit:“ Not necessarily. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that he is referencing the Herod (puppet king ... [snip!] ... Caesar. King Herod could either be Herod the Great, or his moronic son. And you're right, it is a plausable answer.  ”

Returning to the gospel for a moment, it's actually clear on which Herod it is:

13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."[f]
16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18"A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more."[g]

19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."
21So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

C.

Quoting Tid Bit:“ I think that's part of the problem with Christians, most are completely unwilling to answer questions...instead ... [snip!] ... We all have questions, and someone who has never questioned their faith is more delusional than someone who has none. IMO”

I am willing to believe, assuming God exists, that the Bible contains some true accounts, and is inspired by Him.

But, I do not accept that it is completely free from error as is often claimed, because of the contradictions contained in it.

I do not understand why people are so unwilling to accept that since it was written by men, that it might just contain errors made by men.

C.

Quoting God:“ How is it not inerrant? People say that God directly inspired the writers. If so, then there should be no contradiction. C.”

The magi was not the writer. Matthew was. Matthew was just quoting the magi. What's he supposed to do? Make something up?

Quoting KSmith:“ The magi was not the writer. Matthew was. Matthew was just quoting the magi. What's he supposed to do? Make something up?”

Where does it say he was quoting the Magi?

You are missing what I said. People say that God directly inspired the writers to make the Bible completely free from error. Thus, if this is true, Matthew would not have included a mistaken account.

C.

That is what inerrant means.

C.

Quoting God:“ Returning to the gospel for a moment, it's actually clear on which Herod it is: 13When they had gone, ... [snip!] ... and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene." C.”

The only written account of the slaughter of the innocents is in the Bible, and it doesn't specifically say which Herod ordered it. Therefore I still say that it was Herod the Great's Son, and not himself who reigned during the time of Jesus' early years.

By the way, Talena, I don't find your faith deluded.

But, I imagine you don't enjoy hearing me say so... just some food for thought.

C.

Quoting KSmith:“ The magi was not the writer. Matthew was. Matthew was just quoting the magi. What's he supposed to do? Make something up?”

Inerrant = no error.
Who wrote the gospel is irrelevant, if it's incorrect, it's not inerrant.

Herod Archelaus was born in 23 BCE as the son of king Herod and his wife Malthace; he was full brother of Herod Antipas and a half brother of Philip.

Quoting God:“ By the way, Talena, I don't find your faith deluded. But, I imagine you don't enjoy hearing me say so... just some food for thought. C.”

10 to 1 she doesn't get that.
By the way, have I told you lately that I love you?