THE BIRTH OF CHRIST; THE NATIVITY

The virgin birth and the genealogies of Matthew and Luke

Key passages: John 1:1-18, Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2

Matthew and Luke both devote 2chapters to the events around his birth

- they differ widely on what and howthey report

- probably they had different sources

- They agree on the main details

- Mary and Joseph are the parents,conception took place through the HSwhilst Mary was a virgin, in the timeof Herod, an angel announces andnames the baby, birth was inBethlehem but they settle in Nazareth.

Matthews Genealogy (Matt 1:1-17) is dealt with from a Jewish perspective - he is the Christ, descended from King David (and also Abraham, through whom all nations would be blessed).

5 women are mentioned: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Uriah’s wife (Bathsheba) and Mary - all had questionable sexual backgrounds.

Matthews Account

The OT ment ions o ther ancestors but Matt chooses three groups of 14, David being the 14th.

(The numerical values of the consonants in David was 14, D=4, V=6.)

The phrase “to beget”, NIV, “was the father of ” could mean “to be one’s ancestor” - hence leaving names out was not a problem.

Matt 1:16 uses the feminine form and so appears to make it clear that Jesus had one biological parent,

...and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

Matthew uses 5 OT texts which are fulfilled in the birth of Christ. Some of these can be taken literally and are seen as having come to pass. Others are more typological. Some mix both. Blomberg defines typology as, “the recognition of a correspondence between OT and NT events, based on a conviction of the unchanging nature of the principles of God’s working, and a consequent understanding of the NT event in terms of the OT model”

The conception of Jesus Matt 1:18-25 - being pledged to one another (betrothal) was a binding contract - marriage would take place a year or so later - young Jewish women married in their teens to men several years older than them

- Joseph is shown as “righteous” - not sinless but a man who would obey the oral Torah and yet still protect Mary from public humiliation

- Jesus is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Joshua, meaning “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation”

Birth in Bethlehem, visit of Magi Matt 2:1-12 - the Magi are not shown to be

wise men

kings or

3 in number

- they did bring three gifts fit for royalty

- Magoi were Persian astrologers, attempting to understand and predict the future by the stars

The journey of the Magi, James Tissot, 1894

Flight to Egypt Matt 2:13-15 - Jesus became a “refugee” - timespan of a few months to a few years could have elapsed

Massacre of the babies Matt 2:16-18 (Jeremiah 31 was fulfilled) “A voice is heard in Ramah,    weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children     and refusing to be comforted,     because they are no more.” - Bethlehem was small so maybe 20 or so babies (2 and under) killed - verse 16 implies the Magi arrived up to 2 years after Christ’s birth, so maybe shepherds and magi not together

Return to Nazareth Matthew 2:19-23 - there is no OT reference saying, “He will be called a Nazarene” - maybe it is a general interpretation of Isa 11:1 and Num 24:17-19 in building up this argument

Return to Nazareth Matthew 2:19-23 - there is no OT reference saying, “He will be called a Nazarene” - maybe it is a general interpretation of Isa 11:1 and Num 24:17-19 in building up this argument

Matthew is not writing as an historian but a theologian - sees Christ as the fulfillment of OT Messianic hopes from the line of David. - Jesus is the hope of Israel - through Jesus blessings will be extended to the Gentiles - Jesus is the legitimate king and ruler, not Herod, the priests or any other earthly authorities

Preface Luke 1:1-4 - written in highly literary Greek - same pattern as other histories / biographies of the day - shows Luke as a historian and theologian - orderly means structured not chronological

Luke’s Account

Preface Luke 1:1-4 - written in highly literary Greek - same pattern as other histories / biographies of the day - shows Luke as a historian and theologian - orderly means structured not chronological Theophilus London

is an Trinidadian-born American

rapper from, NewYork

Luke’s Account

Birth stories Luke 1:5 - 2:52

- possibly as the information is detailed it might have come from a close relative, Elizabeth, or even Mary

In his infancy narrative Luke aims to do two things:

1. Provide an overview of salvation

2. Show similarities / differences between JTB and Jesus

- the birth of JTB is foretold, then the birth of Jesus - Mary and Elizabeth are then set alongside each other - the birth and growth of each boy is related - both are seen as heralds of a new age - both are born to Jewish parents who experienced miraculous conceptions - angels are in both stories - fear and disbelief of the parents turns to acceptance and praise to God - Luke does portray Jesus as greater than JTB, virgin birth, Saviour, Lord etc.

Birth of JTB foretold Luke 1:5-25 - JTB of a priestly family - 18,000 priests at that time, so small chance of selection to minister in temple - not drinking alcohol was not common in OT - being filled with HS from his mothers womb was unheard of - JTB has a prophetic role in calling to repentance / preparing the way for the Messiah

Birth of JTB foretold Luke 1:5-25 - JTB of a priestly family - 18,000 priests at that time, so small chance of selection to minister in temple - not drinking alcohol was not common in OT - being filled with HS from his mothers womb was unheard of - JTB has a prophetic role in calling to repentance / preparing the way for the Messiah

Announcing the birth of Jesus Luke 1:26-38 - the angel Gabriel comes to announce the impending birth to Mary - Mary is highly favoured, literally “having been given grace” or “having been treated graciously” - there is nothing special about Mary, it is God’s initiative - Son of the Most High is a Davidic, messianic title - Mary questions - but then graciously accepts Gabriels explanation

Announcing the birth of Jesus Luke 1:26-38 - the angel Gabriel comes to announce the impending birth to Mary - Mary is highly favoured, literally “having been given grace” or “having been treated graciously” - there is nothing special about Mary, it is God’s initiative - Son of the Most High is a Davidic, messianic title - Mary questions - but then graciously accepts Gabriels explanation

Mary visits Elizabeth Luke 1:39-56 - as Mary arrives Elizabeth (who is older) repeats Gabriel's blessing - Elizabeth is filled with the HSp - JTB in the womb leaps for joy - also in the power of HS - Mary is never called the “mother of God” - Mary’s own prayer (hymn?) is similar to that of Hannah in 1Samuel 2:1-10

Mary visits Elizabeth Luke 1:39-56 - as Mary arrives Elizabeth (who is older) repeats Gabriel's blessing - Elizabeth is filled with the HSp - JTB in the womb leaps for joy - also in the power of HS - Mary is never called the “mother of God” - Mary’s own prayer (hymn?) is similar to that of Hannah in 1Samuel 2:1-10

- other hymns follow in the story, proclaiming salvation for Israel and a light for the Gentiles (2:32, 1:54-55) - Mary declares she is blessed, but only because of what God has done for her (1:49) - Mary’s song is often called The Magnificat (from the first word in the Latin translation)

The birth and growth of JTB Luke 1:57-80 - JTB is born and named (not after father or relative) John, means “the Lord is gracious” - Zechariah regains his voice is filled with HS and praises God - promises physical rescue, spiritual restoration, fulfilment of the covenant with Abraham 1:80 summarises JTB so far: And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Birth and growth of Jesus Luke 2:1-52 - around 6BC, 6 months after JTB was born - the census registration links Joseph (Jesus) with Davids line - Nazareth to Bethlehem was 85 miles - on foot 15-18 miles/day - the manager = feeding trough - delivery took place amongst the animals - inn (2:7) was a guest room (Lk 22:11, Mk 14:14)

- probably they had made arrangements to stay with relatives but due to the census so had many others

- the house would have been 1 or 2 rooms, where the animals were was separated from the raised part of

the house by the manager - Mary and Joseph would have been with friends /

family - but it was crowded and so the feeding trough was the only place to put the baby

- One apocryphal story has Jesus being born in a cave (protoevangelium of James)

- shepherds were looked down upon; nomadic lifestyle and a reputation for theft - M/J were poor enough not to be able to offer a sheep (2:24 / Lev 12:8) - yet God sent his angels to these shepherds to proclaim - Saviour is the most distinctive title for Jesus in Luke, Lord is used in Acts

- the ministry of Jesus will also bring division, and Mary is told how her own heart will be pierced (see also 12:51-53) - Jesus is taken to the temple for rituals - Simeon is met - he had been promised he would see the Messiah and now can die in peace - the prophetess Anna appears

The only event recorded between birth and adult ministry of Jesus is in the Temple aged 12 - possibly a forerunner to the bar mitzvah (son of the commandment ceremony) where 13 y.o. boys read and expounded the Law for themselves and came of age spiritually speaking - Jesus called the temple “my Fathers house” - knowledge of special relationship with God was arguably present

- in apocryphal literature Jesus makes clay sparrows, miraculously extends wood to make a bed balance and withers up a belligerent playmate (Inf. Gosp. of Thomas) - we have no good historical evidence to cover this period of Jesus’ life - Jesus does nothing miraculous here - Jesus was a normal child, obedient - Luke shows his humanity and growth intellectually, physically, socially

Genealogy Luke 3:223-28Luke goes back to Adam “the son of God”- stresses humanity and universal significance- Blomberg argues that in the positioning of the genealogy Luke is emphasising that Jesus is the Son of God- it is between his baptism and temptation, in both Jesus demonstrated his sonship- names differ to Matthews list, why?* Luke gives Mary’s genealogy (Matt uses Josephs)* Luke gives human genealogy through Joseph where Matt gave legal and royal ancestry through Joseph

Blomberg concludes statingthe different stories of Mattand Lk reveal the same themebut in different ways,

“Jesus is the Davidic Messiah coming as the consolation of Israel, but he is also “a light to enlighten the Gentiles.” He will be both Saviour and Lord bringing spiritual and socioeconomic liberty, with special compassion for women, the poor, and other social outcasts...as Luke and Acts unfold it will be clear that Luke’s greatest interest includes universal Gentile themes and that Jesus is clearly “a man for all people”.”

The virgin conception and birth are nt accepted by some who say God can’t perform miracles Historical Factors - there is no evidence of the writers “fixing” the OT scriptures to match their ideas - they looked at the OT for parallels but did not manipulate the text - the style of writing suggests sources lose to the events - Luke with Mary (or her family) and Matthew with Joseph’s

Virgin Birth

- it seems very unlikely that the early Christians would have made up the events of the virgin conception / birth * it is simply the HS overshadowing her * the myths would say that Alexanders mother was surrounded by a serpent on the night of her conception, so the father could not approach her, other stories have the gods appearing to copulate with humans

- it seems very unlikely that the early Christians would have made up the events of the virgin conception / birth * it is simply the HS overshadowing her * the myths would say that Alexanders mother was surrounded by a serpent on the night of her conception, so the father could not approach her, other stories have the gods appearing to copulate with humans

*Luke creates no pious legend he gives simple detail *little (if anything) is made of this in the rest of the NT * The early church included this - they had good historical reasons to do so Theologically the virgin birth does not prove the incarnation - but it does emphasise both Jesus’ deity and humanity - so he is an adequate substitute and adequate representative in his work

“Today the historic Christian faith finds itself usually combatting those who deny Christ’s deity...but how many Christians really believe in Christ’s full humanity? The number of people who have fallen into prolonged or pronounced sin and then protest that Jesus could not possibly relate to them or forgive them suggests that docetism is not far from any of us.”

Another day, another presentation, the end of another class. But do not fear little ones for there shall be (unless Jesus comes again) more classes, more notes, tests, quizzes and much more. Until then - goodbye and have fun!