Theme 1A Christianity

Differences between Matthew and Luke's birth narratives
1. Matthew
  1. An unnamed angel appears to Joseph
  2. Joseph marries Mary (1:24)
  3. The wise men
  4. The slaughter of infants
  5. The flight to Egypt. the return to Nazareth from Egypt
  6. Jesus was born at the time of King Herod
2. Luke
  1. Angel Gabriel appears to Mary
  2. Joseph is engaged to Mary (1:27, 2:5) Mary visits Elizabeth Mary’s song- the Magnificat The birth of John the Baptist Zechariahs prophecy- the Benedictus The census
  3. The Shepherds
  4. The presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Simeon's song - Nunc Dimittas
  5. The return to Nazareth from Jerusalem
  6. when Quirinius was governor of Syria
3. The historicity of the accounts
  1. Matthew gives little historical detail
  2. M does refer to the massacre of baby boys under King Herod
    1. no evidence of this in any other accounts
  3. Luke's chronology appears to be inaccurate
    1. it can't be established that Quirinius was governor in the days of King Herod.
    2. No evidence of the first enrolment census happening until 6-7CE, not years earlier as Luke suggests
  4. Misled readers with regard to the three hymns- already being used in early Christian communities before Luke attributed them to these characters.
  5. Many people doubt the historicity of both accounts because of what the events that accompany Jesus’ birth: Angel appearing to Joseph to announce Mary is pregnant by Holy Spirit in Matthew, as well as appearing to the Magi. Angel appearing to Mary. When Mary visits Elizabeth, Luke claims that Elizabeth’s unborn baby leaps in her womb as he recognises the unborn Jesus. A choir of angels appearing to the shepherds. Simeon recognising the baby as the Messiah in the temple.
Harmonising the accounts
1. Both may have had access to information that the other one did not have access to.
2. Some believe that Luke’s account came direct from Mary herself, which would explain a lot of what is included in his account.
3. There’s no reason why they didn’t flee to Egypt after he’d been presented in the temple.
4. There is no reason why he couldn’t have been visited by both the Magi and the shepherds.
5. There are some clear similarities: Born in Bethlehem, at the time of Herod Visited by people shortly after his birth Born of Mary, who was a virgin and betrothed to Joseph That he was conceived by Holy Spirit That he was the fulfilment of Hebrew Bible prophecies and that he came to save humankind.
Redaction Criticism
1. began in 1940s Germany
2. Many scholars believe that the authors not only collected existing material about Jesus, but adapted it to suit their own purposes, to address a particular situation or reach a certain audience.
3. It argues that the original traditions about Jesus circulated as independent units in the early church and each writer chose the material he wanted to suit his own theological interests
4. Matthew's account
  1. Aimed at Jewish readers
    1. He is committed to prove the point that Jesus was connected, through Joseph with King David and therefore is the fulfilment of the Hebrew Bible prophecies.
    2. Quotes from the Hebrew Bible at least 4 times in his birth account
    3. Believes that Jesus didn’t come to only save the Jews- therefore the first visitors were “from the east.”
5. Luke's account
  1. the only non-Jewish writer of the NT
  2. aimed at Gentiles
    1. both books are dedicated to Theophilus (a Greek name)
    2. Luke’s account is distinctly Greek. He refers a lot less to the Hebrew Bible, and when he does, he quotes from the Greek version.
    3. Writing from Mary’s viewpoint shows less emphasis with the line of David and more emphasis with the marginalised (as women were at the time).
    4. Luke does still emphasise a connection between Jesus and the Jewish people.
  3. His first visitors in this account were poor shepherds- emphasising that Jesus came to save the poor and needy as well.
Incarnation
1. The doctrine of incarnation expresses the belief that Jesus was God in human form. His birth was therefore not the beginning of his story, and his death was not the end. But they also assert that while Jesus was fully God, he was also fully human.
2. Hypostatic union: the natures were united in Jesus Christ.
3. How could an omniscient God be a baby? How could Jesus, if he was God, be tempted? Or not know when the world was going to end?
  1. Kenosis
    1. Philippians 2:7, Paul says, ”though he was the in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.”
      1. It cannot mean that Jesus emptied himself of his divinity and s were hidden. stopped being God, because he continued to be God during his earthly ministry, although his divine attribute

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