Jesus' birth 1A Flashcards
Introduction
-New Testament
-Narrated by Matthew and Luke
-Virgin birth
-Mary conceived through holy spirit without human involvement
Similarity and differences (1)
Similarity:
-Miraculous birth
-Matthew-‘Mary was found to be pregnant through the holy spirit’
-Luke: Mary was told ‘the holy spirit will come upon you’
-Maintained virginity in both
-Mention of Herod
Differences:
-Matthew: Joseph’s perspective
-Luke: Mary’s perspective
-Matthew: Joseph’s dream to name son Immanuel
Luke: During Elizabeth’s pregnancy angel Gabriel told Mary about hers
-Matthew: Unnamed angel convinces him not to break off his engagement
-Luke: No mention of Joseph wanted to break it off
Similarity and Difference (2)
Similarity:
-Bethlehem & residence in Nazareth
-Mention of visitors within them led to Jesus by the heavens
Difference:
-Matthew: Jesus born in a house
-Luke: Jesus born in a manger
–Matthew: Visitors are Magis
-Luke: Visitors are Shepherds
-Matthew: Magi fooled Herod, ordered to kill all new born to kill Jesus
-Luke: No mention of that happening
-Luke: A census should be taken of the entire Roman world, J&M went to register
Similarity and Difference (3)
Similarity:
-End up in Nazareth
Difference:
-Matthew: Herod- Angel told Joseph ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt… Herod is searching for the child to kill him’ in his dream
-Luke: Jesus in temple for circumcision by Simon
-Anna thanked God and spoke about the child to all looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem
Redaction criticism
-Explains the inconsistencies between the birth narratives
-Matthew: appeals to Jews through Joseph being related to the Jewish KIng David
-‘joseph son of David’
-‘The virgin will conceive and…call him Immanuel’ (Isiah)
-Presents Jesus as messiah to Jews
Luke: Appeals to gentiles through Mary’s perspective +the poor
-It was Shepherds who saw Jesus not the wisemen
-Those who weren’t wealthy sacrificed ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’- appealing to the poor
