Birth Narratives

Question 1

Matthew

Answer 1

1:18 - 2:23

Question 2

Luke

Answer 2

1:26 - 2:40

Question 3

Matthew 1:18 - 2:23

Answer 3

Focuses on Joseph’s role in Jesus’ birth
An unnamed angel announces Mary’s pregnancy to Joseph
Joseph marries Mary
Jesus is born in a ‘house’
They are visited by the Magi
Herod
Joseph takes his family to Egypt before returning to Nazareth

Question 4

Luke 1:26 - 2:40

Answer 4

Focuses on Mary
Angel Gabriel tells her of her pregnancy
No mention of marriage between Mary and Joseph
Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, is also pregnant
The Magnificat, Benedictus and Nunc Dimittis
Census ordered by Caesar Augustus
Mary gives birth to Jesus in a manger
Visited by shepherds
Temple in Jerusalem (Simeon and Anna)
Mary, Joseph and Jesus return to Nazareth

Question 5

The Magnificat

Answer 5

Elizabeth’s expression of her joy for Mary’s pregnancy

Question 6

The Benedictus

Answer 6

Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah’s, famous prophecy after John the Baptist’s birth

Question 7

Nunc Dimittis

Answer 7

Simeon’s hymn in the Temple of Jerusalem

Question 8

How can we harmonize the accounts?

Answer 8

The accounts don’t directly contradict each other, so there is no reason why they can’t both be true
Why couldn’t Jesus have been visited by both shepherds and Magi?
Both accounts assert that Jesus was born in Bethlehem at the time of Herod, to Mary
They both detail that Mary was betrothed to Joseph, that Jesus was born of immaculate conception by the Holy Spirit and that he came as the Messiah of the Old Testament prophecy

Question 9

Redaction Criticism

Answer 9

Started in Germany in the late 1940s
It assumes that the original beliefs and teachings about Jesus were circulated as independent units in the early Church
Each Gospel writer chose the material that he wanted and arranged it to suit his own theological interests

Question 10

Redaction Criticism of Matthew

Answer 10

Aimed at Jewish readers
Demonstrates that through Joseph, Jesus shared a familial link with David
If this was true, then Jesus could be proven to be the fulfilment of the Old Testament revelation of God
Features 4 quotations from Old Testament prophets and 2 from Old Testament books

Question 11

Old Testament Prophets (Matthew)

Answer 11

Isaiah 7:14
Micah 5:2
Jeremiah 31:15
Hosea 11:1

Question 12

Redaction Criticism of Luke

Answer 12

Aimed at Gentiles (non-Jewish people)
Dedicated to Theophilus
Quotes from a Greek version of the Old Testament
Appears to be sympathising for those who were marginalised by society at the time
Focuses on the fact that Jesus brought salvation to the poor and needy
The link between Jesus and the Temple, and the importance of the birth of John, the Baptist, shows that Jesus is the true fulfilment of the Old Testament revelation of God

Question 13

The Septuagint

Answer 13

Translation of the Hebrew Bible into Koine Greek

Question 14

Rejection of the Virgin Birth

Answer 14

Matthew states that Jesus’ birth was the fulfilment of the prophecy found in Isaiah but Matthew was quoting from the Septuagint which uses the word ‘Parthenos’ which suggests she wasn’t a virgin
The Early Christian Church may have emphasised a virgin birth to fit in with ancient mythology
The appearance of stars was often featured at the birth of a notable person in the ancient world

Question 15

Parthenos

Answer 15

A young woman of marriageable age

Question 16

Are the birth narratives meant as a myth?

Answer 16

Rudolf Bultmann believed that they were designed to sustain faith
He thinks the earliest disciples believed that myths were true but us, as modern and scientifically minded readers, should attempt to demythologise the accounts

Question 17

Strengths of Redaction Criticism

Answer 17

It allows us to understand the author’s purpose - for example, Matthew was writing for Jews and Luke for Gentiles
It shows that Gospel writers were not concerned with chronological accounts of events but had theological agendas - it gives us an insight into the theological perspectives held by the authors

Question 18

Weaknesses of Redaction Criticism

Answer 18

It throws doubt onto the historical accuracy of Christianity and the Bible as a whole
It’s not based on sufficient evidence - we can’t conclusively prove that the Gospel writers used pre-existing material