A new analysis of chronology (1811) - Page 23

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Name	Source/Reference	B.C.
Kepler	Playfair	3993
Petavius	—	3984
Bibliander	Universal History	3980
Krentzheim	Universal History	3971
Bucholtzer, Matthias	Strauchius	3970
Cluverius	Chevreau	3969
Boxhornius	Chevreau	3969
Jansius	Chevreau	3969
Bullinger	Chevreau	3969
Bunting, Bardius	Playfair	3967
Longomontanus	Universal History	3966
Melancthon	Playfair	3964
Raynoldus	Universal History	3962
Luther	—	3961
Lightfoot	—	3960
Salmeron, Picus Mirandula	Chevreau	3959
Lamberg	Strauchius	3958
Herwart	Universal History	3955
Cornelius a Lapide	Universal History	3951
Scaliger, Isaacson	—	3950
Strauchius	—	3949
Johannes Micrelius	Universal History	3948
Helvicus	—	3947
John Carrion	Playfair	3944
Jerome, A.D. 392	Universal History	3941
Gerard Mercator, Beroaldus	Playfair	3928
James Gordon	Playfair	3880
Arias Montanus	Universal History	3849
Helvigius	Universal History	3836
Some Talmudists	Universal History	3784
David Ganz	—	3761
Common Jewish Computation original: Vulgar Jewish Computation	Strauchius	3760
Rabbi Gersom	Playfair	3754
Seder Olam Rabba, or “Great Chronicle of the World,” A.D. 130	Ganz	3751
Rabbi Hobsom	Universal History	3740
Rabbi Nosen	Universal History	3734
—	Rabbi

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Name	Source/Reference	B.C.
Rabbi Hillel, A.D. 358	—	3700
Rabbi Zacuth	Universal History	3671
Rabbi Lipman	Universal History	3616

Here are upwards of 120 different opinions, and the list might be expanded to 300, as we are told by Kennedy in his Chronology, p. 350. This sample, however, is more than enough to show the shameful disagreement of chronologers, even in this primary era. The extremes differ from each other not by years, nor by centuries, but even by chiliads thousands of years; the first exceeding the last by no less than 3,208 years!

II. Epochs of the NATIVITY.

Name	U.C. Ab Urbe Condita: from the foundation of Rome	B.C.
Tillemont, Mann, Priestley	747	7
Kepler, Capellus, Dodwell, Pagi	748	6
Chrysostom, Petavius, Prideaux, Playfair, Hales	749	5
Sulpitius Severus, Usher	750	4
Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clemens Alex., Eusebius, Syncellus, Baronius, Calvisius, Vossius	751	3
Epiphanius, Jerome, Orosius, Bede, Salianus, Scaliger	752	2
Chronicon Alexand., Dionysius, Labbaeus	753	1
		A.D.
Herwart	754	1
Paul of Middleburgh	755	2
Lydiat	756	3

Here are ten different years (reckoned by the era of the foundation of Rome and matched to the common Christian era) which have been respectively adopted by so many celebrated chronologers, both ancient and modern. Considering the relative closeness in time of our LORD’S birth, this variety of opinions may naturally appear more extraordinary and surprising than the preceding ones, which relate to an event as remote and obscure as the creation of the world.

The common Christian era, beginning with the Julian year, January 1, U.C. 754, according to the Varronian computation, is now acknowledged to be incorrect regarding the birth of Christ. Its creator—

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