A Study of Christianity
Jesus- his birth: A
Set texts Matthew 1:18 - 2:23
- 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother
Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came
together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
- 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,
[c]
because he will save his people from their sins.”
- “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his
star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
- After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star
they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over
the place where the child was.
Luke 1:26 – 2.40
- The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly
favored! The Lord is with you.”
- You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
Key words Exegesis:
It typically refers to the detailed interpretation of scriptures (e.g., the Bible,
Quran, Torah). Example: Biblical exegesis involves analysing the original
Greek or Hebrew texts to understand their meaning accurately.
The birth narratives in All the New Testament writers had a consensus that Jesus was the son of
Matthew and Luke God. However, only two gospels (Matthew/ Luke) discuss and provide
information on how Jesus came into the world (birth narrative)
Birth narrative
Matthew’s version Matthew is very Joseph centric. He describes how an un-named angel's
conducted the annunciation to Mary which leads to the divine conception of
Jesus and his following birth in Bethlehem. Matthew goes on to describe how
the first non-jews that had the honour of beholding baby Jesus were the magi
,A Study of Christianity
who had followed him as they were guided by a star ‘from the east’ either in
Babylonia, Egypt or Arabia. There is no indication of just how many magi
there were, but we traditionally have been led to believe it was three; as
they bore the three gifts of ‘gold, frankincense and myrrh’. Matthew provides
a cinematic account on how the wise men undermine King Herod and
consequently stir his wrath as he devises a maleficent plan to slaughter all
the children in Bethlehem under the age of 2. Joseph is informed in a dream
in a divine visitation that he is to leave with Mary and find refuge in Egypt.
They return to Bethlehem following Herod’s death.
Luke’s version Luke is very Mary centric. Gabriel conducts the annunciation and informs her
of her pregnancy. Marriage between Joseph and Marry makes no mention. A
visit to a long distance relative does, however. The pregnant cousins Mary
and Elizabeth meet with one another and so do John and Jesus. Elizabeth
expresses her joy at this in what is called the magnificat. Luke delves a little
more into the life of John the Baptist and his family. We are told of
Zechariah’s Benedictus. Luke now describes a census called by Ceasar
Augustus which made it necessary for the engaged Mary and Joseph to
travel to Bethlehem for registration. While this is happening, Mary goes into
Labour and Joseph is frantically trying to find an inn for Mary and Joseph to
give birth to Baby Jesus. This never happens and Mary and Joseph have to
settle for either a stable or an outhouse. Luke then transitions from Mary and
Joseph to shepherds in a field that have been informed by an angel that
Jesus has been born. They are described as going to Bethlehem to visit Jesus
(in the same way dignitaries go and visit a monarch etc.). Following Jesus
birth he is presented in the Temple in Jerusalem. Simeon and the prophetess
Anna instantly recognise him as the messiah and Simeon is recorded as
speaking the hymn known as the Nunc Dimittis.
Differences in accounts Matthew:
Writes from Josephs viewpoint
Exclusively records Joseph and Mary’s marriage, the appearance of the
star, the visit of the Wise Men, Herod’s decree to slaughter the infants
and the trip to Egypt
Has extensive fulfilment quotations
,A Study of Christianity
Tells us that Jesus was born in a house
Luke:
- Writes from Mary’s point of view
- Does not include fulfilment quotations
- Exclusively records Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, the birth of John the
Baptist, the visit of the shepherds, the presentation of Christ in the
Temple, and the three hymns (the Magnificat, the Benedictus, and the
Nunc Dimittis)
- mentions that Jesus was born in a manger
Differences between the
Birth Narratives in Angels Matthew has an angel appear to Mary but they are
Matthew and Luke unnamed (references to Isaiah 7:14)
Angel Gabriel appears to appears to Mary (the
annunciation)
Mary and Joseph marries Mary (1:24)
Joseph Joseph is engaged to Mary
Mary visits Elizabeth
Mary’s song – The Magnificat
The Birth of John the Baptist
Zechariah’s prophecy- the Bendictus
The census
Visitors The Wise Men (references to Micah 5:2 and 2 Samuel
5:2)
The shepherds
Herod The slaughter of the infants (references from Jeremiah
31:15)
Temple The presentation of Christ in the Temple Simeon’s song-
Nunc Dimittis
Return Journey The flight to Egypt (references from Hosea 11:1)
The return to Nazareth from Egypt (possible reference
to Judges 13:5,7)
,A Study of Christianity
The return of Nazareth from Jerusalem
Chronology Matthew simply states that Jesus was born in the days
of Herod the King
Luke is more specific. We are informed that it was
The historicity of the during the days that Quirinius was governor of Syria
accounts
Historicity simply means the historical accuracy something has.
- Matthew as an author provides us with a greater level of historical
accuracy. Mentioning Herod’s massacre of the infants. However, quite
interestingly, this massacre is not reported by any other contemporary
historian. It has been suggested that Matthew desperately wanted
Jesus' birth story to be likened to that of Moses’ where Pharoah
decreed the slaughter of all first-born males in the land.
- Luke chronology appears to be mistaken; we are not certain whether
Quirinius was governor during the days of HEROD as the dates around
Herod’s death (4BC) make this erroneous. It may be true that Quirinius
held a census between 6&7 BC but there is no evidence of a first
enrolment that took place that took place 7 years earlier except by
what Luke said. Luke may have investigated “everything to write an
orderly account but there are still various details that do not seem to
match up.
- There is also a query with the three hymns that Luke uses in his
narrative. The Magnificat, Benedictus and Nunc Dimittis were all
already being used in the early church before Luke attributed them to
the various gospel characters.
Supernatural events in The supernatural tone that surrounds Jesus' birth act as a cause for concern
the accounts with those who doubt it historicity.
Matthew writes:
- of how an angel appears to Joseph on three visitations.
- An angel also informs the three wise men of Jesus’ birth and instructs
,A Study of Christianity
them to follow the star in the sky
Luke writes:
- Of how Gabriel appears to Mary
- How the pre-natal John the Baptist was able to recognise the pre-natal
Jesus in his mothers womb
- The shepherds are supernaturally visited by a choir of angles
- The prophetess Anna discerns that Jesus is the messiah that was
foretold in the scriptures when he enters the temple to be dedicated.
Both Matthew and Luke:
- Write of the divine conception of Jesus. He was human by virtue of his
mother and divine by virtue of being conceived by God.
Harmonising the accounts There are some things that are similar in both narratives and this is cause to
suggest that both of them could have a level of truth. There are similarities
shared between the gospels. For example, both:
- Matthew and Luke agree on the whereabouts of Jesus’ birth in
Bethlehem.
- The Mary was betrothed (engaged to be married to Joseph)
- Jesus was conceived by the spirit
- Mary was a virgin
- People (shepherds and magi) travelled to meet with Jesus.
- Jesus was the fulfilment of OT prophecy
- Jesus came to save all of mankind
Redaction criticism – The very likely reason that we have a difference in accounts between
theory that the NT writers Matthew and Luke’s theological accounts is because they write from very
altered existing material different theological perspectives. As redactors both are very different. They
about Jesus to suit their edit their passages in ways that will suit their own purposes. Their writings
own agenda. will reach a particular audience. Each Gospel writer will edit their material in
a manner that will ultimately suit their own theological interests. Additions
and omissions will be made to suit their theological preferences.
Matthew’s gospel:
Orientated itself in a way that would suit the traditional Jewish listener. He
,A Study of Christianity
provides Joseph’s perspective on the birth of Jesus. He embeds his account
with fulfilment quotations to demonstrate Jesus’ holy lineage; these all come
from (Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah and Hosea). He is by no means exclusivist. He
actually expresses that Jesus has come into the world for far more than just
the Jews. We know this because Jesus’ first visitors were Wise Men ‘from the
East’. This gospel has a Jewish flavour; appealing more to the Old Testament.
Luke’s gospel:
- Is convinced that Jesus has a universal significance. He is available to
the Gentiles.
- He provides the perspective of the birth of Jesus from Mary’s
perspective. This shows Matthew’s sympathy towards women and the
marginalised.
- Luke’s gospel is full of examples where Jesus was concerned with the
salvation of the poor and needy. This manifests itself in the fact that
the good news of Jesus’ birth is delivered by lowly shepherds.
Furthermore, when Mary and Joseph went to present Jesus’ body in the
temple to Anna and Simeon they made a sacrifice associated with
those who were of a low financial status “a pair of turtle-doves and two
young pigeons”.The wealthy could afford to sacrifice lambs according
to Levitical law-not Jesus’ family.
- The grace of God is bestowed especially on the marginalised and
underprivileged
- We must be aware that Luke is actually a non-Jewish writer.
- This gospel has a distinctly Greek flavour; appealing less to the OT and
on the minor occasions that he does he refers from the Greek Old
Testament, the Septuagint.
- Still captures a degree of Jewishness as Luke believes that Jesus is the
fulfilment of the OT revelation of God.
The doctrine of the Expresses the belief that Jesus was the son of God in human form. This
incarnation doctrine asserts that while Jesus lived on earth all the people he had
Importantly sees Jesus as encountered while conducting healings and engaging in confrontations with
fully God and fully man were really just with the presence of God in the flesh. This is something
, A Study of Christianity
suggested in John 1:14.
Incarnation- God
becoming flesh in Jesus The definitions concerning the incarnation that we now hold to be true came
from the:
Hypostatic Union- - Council of Nicea in 325BC
combination of the - Council of Ephesus in 431 BC
divinity and humanity of - First Council of Chalcedon in 451BC
Christ. The assertions that came from these councils was that:
- JC was fully simultaneously God and man. He fulfilled the God part by
being begotten by the father and not created. He had a diving nature
appearing on Earth for a brief period in this existence. He is now
seated at the right hand of the father in heavenly places.
- He fulfilled the man part by taking his nature from the Virgin Mary. He
learnt to crawl, walk and talk just like any other human child. He
experienced hunger and weakness in the same way that human
experience these things.
The doctrine of incarnation asserts that Jesus was fully God and fully man-
giving equal validity to both.
Possible grounds for rejection:
The Unitarian denomination of Christianity rejects the doctrine as it
denies the transcendence and immutability of God.
Incarnation as Kenosis
Features in Pauls letter to the church in Philippi. Philippians 2:7 reads:
Kenosis- the act of Jesus “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as
emptying himself of some something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
divine qualities. being born in human likeness”.
Pre-incarnate- before the The purpose of kenotic theology:-
incarnation - is to attempt to understand the incarnation from this perspective. It
seeks to solve some of the key issues that arise from Jesus being both
Substantial presence- man divine and human. One of the questions it looks to solve is how an
concept that God is fully omniscient God can become a baby or how Jesus (being both God and
present in reality, not just man) could even be tempted(Mark 13:32) ?
Jesus- his birth: A
Set texts Matthew 1:18 - 2:23
- 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother
Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came
together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
- 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,
[c]
because he will save his people from their sins.”
- “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his
star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
- After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star
they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over
the place where the child was.
Luke 1:26 – 2.40
- The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly
favored! The Lord is with you.”
- You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
Key words Exegesis:
It typically refers to the detailed interpretation of scriptures (e.g., the Bible,
Quran, Torah). Example: Biblical exegesis involves analysing the original
Greek or Hebrew texts to understand their meaning accurately.
The birth narratives in All the New Testament writers had a consensus that Jesus was the son of
Matthew and Luke God. However, only two gospels (Matthew/ Luke) discuss and provide
information on how Jesus came into the world (birth narrative)
Birth narrative
Matthew’s version Matthew is very Joseph centric. He describes how an un-named angel's
conducted the annunciation to Mary which leads to the divine conception of
Jesus and his following birth in Bethlehem. Matthew goes on to describe how
the first non-jews that had the honour of beholding baby Jesus were the magi
,A Study of Christianity
who had followed him as they were guided by a star ‘from the east’ either in
Babylonia, Egypt or Arabia. There is no indication of just how many magi
there were, but we traditionally have been led to believe it was three; as
they bore the three gifts of ‘gold, frankincense and myrrh’. Matthew provides
a cinematic account on how the wise men undermine King Herod and
consequently stir his wrath as he devises a maleficent plan to slaughter all
the children in Bethlehem under the age of 2. Joseph is informed in a dream
in a divine visitation that he is to leave with Mary and find refuge in Egypt.
They return to Bethlehem following Herod’s death.
Luke’s version Luke is very Mary centric. Gabriel conducts the annunciation and informs her
of her pregnancy. Marriage between Joseph and Marry makes no mention. A
visit to a long distance relative does, however. The pregnant cousins Mary
and Elizabeth meet with one another and so do John and Jesus. Elizabeth
expresses her joy at this in what is called the magnificat. Luke delves a little
more into the life of John the Baptist and his family. We are told of
Zechariah’s Benedictus. Luke now describes a census called by Ceasar
Augustus which made it necessary for the engaged Mary and Joseph to
travel to Bethlehem for registration. While this is happening, Mary goes into
Labour and Joseph is frantically trying to find an inn for Mary and Joseph to
give birth to Baby Jesus. This never happens and Mary and Joseph have to
settle for either a stable or an outhouse. Luke then transitions from Mary and
Joseph to shepherds in a field that have been informed by an angel that
Jesus has been born. They are described as going to Bethlehem to visit Jesus
(in the same way dignitaries go and visit a monarch etc.). Following Jesus
birth he is presented in the Temple in Jerusalem. Simeon and the prophetess
Anna instantly recognise him as the messiah and Simeon is recorded as
speaking the hymn known as the Nunc Dimittis.
Differences in accounts Matthew:
Writes from Josephs viewpoint
Exclusively records Joseph and Mary’s marriage, the appearance of the
star, the visit of the Wise Men, Herod’s decree to slaughter the infants
and the trip to Egypt
Has extensive fulfilment quotations
,A Study of Christianity
Tells us that Jesus was born in a house
Luke:
- Writes from Mary’s point of view
- Does not include fulfilment quotations
- Exclusively records Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, the birth of John the
Baptist, the visit of the shepherds, the presentation of Christ in the
Temple, and the three hymns (the Magnificat, the Benedictus, and the
Nunc Dimittis)
- mentions that Jesus was born in a manger
Differences between the
Birth Narratives in Angels Matthew has an angel appear to Mary but they are
Matthew and Luke unnamed (references to Isaiah 7:14)
Angel Gabriel appears to appears to Mary (the
annunciation)
Mary and Joseph marries Mary (1:24)
Joseph Joseph is engaged to Mary
Mary visits Elizabeth
Mary’s song – The Magnificat
The Birth of John the Baptist
Zechariah’s prophecy- the Bendictus
The census
Visitors The Wise Men (references to Micah 5:2 and 2 Samuel
5:2)
The shepherds
Herod The slaughter of the infants (references from Jeremiah
31:15)
Temple The presentation of Christ in the Temple Simeon’s song-
Nunc Dimittis
Return Journey The flight to Egypt (references from Hosea 11:1)
The return to Nazareth from Egypt (possible reference
to Judges 13:5,7)
,A Study of Christianity
The return of Nazareth from Jerusalem
Chronology Matthew simply states that Jesus was born in the days
of Herod the King
Luke is more specific. We are informed that it was
The historicity of the during the days that Quirinius was governor of Syria
accounts
Historicity simply means the historical accuracy something has.
- Matthew as an author provides us with a greater level of historical
accuracy. Mentioning Herod’s massacre of the infants. However, quite
interestingly, this massacre is not reported by any other contemporary
historian. It has been suggested that Matthew desperately wanted
Jesus' birth story to be likened to that of Moses’ where Pharoah
decreed the slaughter of all first-born males in the land.
- Luke chronology appears to be mistaken; we are not certain whether
Quirinius was governor during the days of HEROD as the dates around
Herod’s death (4BC) make this erroneous. It may be true that Quirinius
held a census between 6&7 BC but there is no evidence of a first
enrolment that took place that took place 7 years earlier except by
what Luke said. Luke may have investigated “everything to write an
orderly account but there are still various details that do not seem to
match up.
- There is also a query with the three hymns that Luke uses in his
narrative. The Magnificat, Benedictus and Nunc Dimittis were all
already being used in the early church before Luke attributed them to
the various gospel characters.
Supernatural events in The supernatural tone that surrounds Jesus' birth act as a cause for concern
the accounts with those who doubt it historicity.
Matthew writes:
- of how an angel appears to Joseph on three visitations.
- An angel also informs the three wise men of Jesus’ birth and instructs
,A Study of Christianity
them to follow the star in the sky
Luke writes:
- Of how Gabriel appears to Mary
- How the pre-natal John the Baptist was able to recognise the pre-natal
Jesus in his mothers womb
- The shepherds are supernaturally visited by a choir of angles
- The prophetess Anna discerns that Jesus is the messiah that was
foretold in the scriptures when he enters the temple to be dedicated.
Both Matthew and Luke:
- Write of the divine conception of Jesus. He was human by virtue of his
mother and divine by virtue of being conceived by God.
Harmonising the accounts There are some things that are similar in both narratives and this is cause to
suggest that both of them could have a level of truth. There are similarities
shared between the gospels. For example, both:
- Matthew and Luke agree on the whereabouts of Jesus’ birth in
Bethlehem.
- The Mary was betrothed (engaged to be married to Joseph)
- Jesus was conceived by the spirit
- Mary was a virgin
- People (shepherds and magi) travelled to meet with Jesus.
- Jesus was the fulfilment of OT prophecy
- Jesus came to save all of mankind
Redaction criticism – The very likely reason that we have a difference in accounts between
theory that the NT writers Matthew and Luke’s theological accounts is because they write from very
altered existing material different theological perspectives. As redactors both are very different. They
about Jesus to suit their edit their passages in ways that will suit their own purposes. Their writings
own agenda. will reach a particular audience. Each Gospel writer will edit their material in
a manner that will ultimately suit their own theological interests. Additions
and omissions will be made to suit their theological preferences.
Matthew’s gospel:
Orientated itself in a way that would suit the traditional Jewish listener. He
,A Study of Christianity
provides Joseph’s perspective on the birth of Jesus. He embeds his account
with fulfilment quotations to demonstrate Jesus’ holy lineage; these all come
from (Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah and Hosea). He is by no means exclusivist. He
actually expresses that Jesus has come into the world for far more than just
the Jews. We know this because Jesus’ first visitors were Wise Men ‘from the
East’. This gospel has a Jewish flavour; appealing more to the Old Testament.
Luke’s gospel:
- Is convinced that Jesus has a universal significance. He is available to
the Gentiles.
- He provides the perspective of the birth of Jesus from Mary’s
perspective. This shows Matthew’s sympathy towards women and the
marginalised.
- Luke’s gospel is full of examples where Jesus was concerned with the
salvation of the poor and needy. This manifests itself in the fact that
the good news of Jesus’ birth is delivered by lowly shepherds.
Furthermore, when Mary and Joseph went to present Jesus’ body in the
temple to Anna and Simeon they made a sacrifice associated with
those who were of a low financial status “a pair of turtle-doves and two
young pigeons”.The wealthy could afford to sacrifice lambs according
to Levitical law-not Jesus’ family.
- The grace of God is bestowed especially on the marginalised and
underprivileged
- We must be aware that Luke is actually a non-Jewish writer.
- This gospel has a distinctly Greek flavour; appealing less to the OT and
on the minor occasions that he does he refers from the Greek Old
Testament, the Septuagint.
- Still captures a degree of Jewishness as Luke believes that Jesus is the
fulfilment of the OT revelation of God.
The doctrine of the Expresses the belief that Jesus was the son of God in human form. This
incarnation doctrine asserts that while Jesus lived on earth all the people he had
Importantly sees Jesus as encountered while conducting healings and engaging in confrontations with
fully God and fully man were really just with the presence of God in the flesh. This is something
, A Study of Christianity
suggested in John 1:14.
Incarnation- God
becoming flesh in Jesus The definitions concerning the incarnation that we now hold to be true came
from the:
Hypostatic Union- - Council of Nicea in 325BC
combination of the - Council of Ephesus in 431 BC
divinity and humanity of - First Council of Chalcedon in 451BC
Christ. The assertions that came from these councils was that:
- JC was fully simultaneously God and man. He fulfilled the God part by
being begotten by the father and not created. He had a diving nature
appearing on Earth for a brief period in this existence. He is now
seated at the right hand of the father in heavenly places.
- He fulfilled the man part by taking his nature from the Virgin Mary. He
learnt to crawl, walk and talk just like any other human child. He
experienced hunger and weakness in the same way that human
experience these things.
The doctrine of incarnation asserts that Jesus was fully God and fully man-
giving equal validity to both.
Possible grounds for rejection:
The Unitarian denomination of Christianity rejects the doctrine as it
denies the transcendence and immutability of God.
Incarnation as Kenosis
Features in Pauls letter to the church in Philippi. Philippians 2:7 reads:
Kenosis- the act of Jesus “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as
emptying himself of some something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
divine qualities. being born in human likeness”.
Pre-incarnate- before the The purpose of kenotic theology:-
incarnation - is to attempt to understand the incarnation from this perspective. It
seeks to solve some of the key issues that arise from Jesus being both
Substantial presence- man divine and human. One of the questions it looks to solve is how an
concept that God is fully omniscient God can become a baby or how Jesus (being both God and
present in reality, not just man) could even be tempted(Mark 13:32) ?
