Sandra Schneiders (as cited in Ryan, 2012), describes the bible as “…an integral, even normative, part of living tradition”. This can be seen particularly in the use of the infancy narratives which tell the well-known Christmas story, in Catholic religious groups today – individual parishioners, churches and Catholic Education institutions. The text is used and heavily relied upon to inform believers and those wishing to gain insight into the Catholic religion, on the faith. It appears through contemporary scholarship, however, that the infancy gospels of Matthew and Luke present to their readers, different themes, conflicting information and two very different accounts of the significant birth and early life of Jesus. It is therefore important, to view the gospels of Matthew and Luke as separate sacred stories, rather than a historical recount of events.
The story of Jesus’ birth in Matthew begins with tracing his genealogy as Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of Abraham and of David (Matthew 1:1). The aforementioned in Matthew serves as a way of presenting Jesus’ Jewish roots (Mason, 2009). Matthew is presenting to the readers, the connection between Jesus’ heritage and the promises made to Abraham;
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12).
The theme of Jesus’ genealogy is paramount here, as it shows the promises and prophecies announced in the Hebrew bible (or Old Testament) being fulfilled. The p...
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Culpepper, R. Alan. “Luke.” The New Interpreter’s Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes. Volume 9. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995.
Dawes, G. (2006). Why historicity still matters: Raymond Brown and the infancy narratives. Pacifica, 19(1), 156-176.
Duffy, M. (2010). The dynamics of tradition illustrated by the magi Australian eJournal of Theology, 15(1), 1-21.
Mason, S. (2009). Where was Jesus born? O little town of Nazareth. In
Sara Murphy, (Ed.), The first Christmas: The story of Jesus’ birth in history and tradition (pp. 33-48). Washington: Biblical Archaeology Society.
Murphy-O’Connor, J. (2009). Where was Jesus born? Bethlehem, of course. In Sara Murphy, (Ed.), The first Christmas: The story of Jesus’ birth in history and tradition (pp. 49-57). Washington: Biblical Archaeology Society.
Ryan, M. (2012). Jesus and the Gospels. Hamilton, QLD. Lumino Press.
Carson, D. A. New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
E: This is all rather interesting, but what does the Gospel of Matthew of concerning Jesus’s lineage. In other words, how do they back up his “messiahship”?
It is believed that in Messianic Judaism’s doctrine, Jesus is the Messiah of Israel, the savior of the world, and the Son of God (Loren), also known as Yeshua. The background history of Yeshua is that he was of Jewish descent, w...
From this Miracle all true doctrine in relation is based on Christ so there is no room for error. Christs Incarnation was due to the fall, Celebration is relevant every day, and not just at Christmas.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the origin of nearly everything the Christian Church teaches about Jesus. The Gospels, in turn, serve as the scale or test of truth and authenticity of everything the church teaches about Jesus. It is said that the Gospels are the link between Jesus of Nazareth and the people of every age throughout history who have claimed to be his followers. Although the Gospels teach us about Jesus’ life they may not provide concrete evidence that what they speak of is true there are several other sources.
Stanton, Graham. Gospel Truth?: New Light on Jesus and the Gospels. Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International, 1995. Paperback.
The Gospel of Matthew is an eyewitness story written for an audience of believers, under great stress, and persecution. Matthew develops a theological plot incorporating genealogy, speeches, parables, inter and intra textual references, common vocabulary, and fulfillment quotations, with a tension that builds as we are invited into the story. The crucifixion and resurrection bring us to a Christological climax that symbolically points beyond its conclusion to God’s Kingdom, bringing atonement, salvation and the ushering in the Eschaton. The extraordinary events surrounding the crucifixion act as commentary, adding important details concerning the death of Jesus.1
The Interpreter's One Volume Commentary on the Bible. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1971). Lenski, R. C. H. Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing). House, 1961.
The image enforces the meaning of Christmas being lost, and that the people need to be aware of this now sacrilegious, laic time. The source displays the change from sacred Australia, which was a time of religion, to a more secular period. The source presents the contemporary cultural values of Australians today, often disassociating themselves from holy, divine objects, places or people. Losing their sacred connectedness to God or their purpose with religion. Taking Christ out of the equation presents how Jesus has been neglected by those supposed Christians of the modern day, who have forgotten the sole meaning of Christmas and their religion. This image imposes a reinforced message through an image presenting secularism of contemporary Australian Christmas with the words “missing”, and “what Jesus has become”. The view of Source 3 displays that anything of great importance in the religious sense, including Jesus, in temporal culture which exists in Australia is lost.
Compare and contrast the birth narratives in the Gospel of Matthew and that of the Gospel of Luke.
Jesus’ life was ministry and death. Much of the early life of Jesus Christ is a mystery. The preponderance of information on or about his life is found in the four gospels of the New Testament. Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary in the year “0” B.C. near the town of Bethlehem in a manger outside an inn. This humble beginning was the foreshadowing of a life of humility and service.
Kodell, Jerome. "Luke." In The Collegeville Bible Commentary. Edited by Dianne Bergant and Robert J. Karris. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1988.
God’s written law is something that is and should be continuously turned, to not only when Christians find themselves in need, but also throughout in one’s daily life. The four gospels tell to story of Jesus’ life and his teachings he gave while on the earth making it possible for there to be a true example of Christ-like faith. The proposition that there are differences in the story of Jesus and in his teachings seems to question the basis upon which the Christian faith is found upon. Rather than proclaiming the gospels as falsehoods because on the differences they possess, by analyzing the differences in the context of the particular gospel it can be understood that the differences are not made by mistake, rather as a literary device. While
This paper will compare the concept of the Messiah within Judaism and the development of the messianic tradition within Christianity. Consideration will be given to Judaic thought on how this religion understands the concept of the Messiah. Defining how throughout history it shaped the foundation of this religion to distinguish its own individual identity. Analysis will focus on the abstraction of the Messiah and how Jewish believers interpret the coming of the Mashiach in connection with the prophecy of Isaiah. Discussing how eschatology is understood in this religion compared to Christianity, and how different Jewish groups define the Messiah prophecy from early history up until the modern day era. The paper will also discuss the development of the Messianic tradition within Christianity, focusing on the prophets, Jesus and how the messianic period is defined in Christian theology; in order to establish if the son of God has arrived in this world and fulfilled his promise through death and resurrection, or if the messiah and the messianic age is still yet to come as understood in Judaism.
Carson, D.A., and Douglas J. Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. 2nd Edition. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2005.