Difference between revisions of "Category:Nativity of Jesus (subject)"

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(a) The Gospels of Mark and John do not contain any narrative about the Nativity of Jesus at [[Bethlehem]] and seem to assume that Jesus was born at [[Nazareth]].  
(a) The Gospels of Mark and John do not contain any narrative about the Nativity of Jesus at [[Bethlehem]] and seem to assume that Jesus was born at [[Nazareth]].  


(b) There are no recorded sayings of Jesus, which refer to his birth at Bethlehem, while [[Nazareth]] is commonly referred to as his "home."
(b) There are no recorded sayings of Jesus, which refer to his birth at Bethlehem, while [[Nazareth]] is commonly mentioned as his "home." In all ancient sources, Jesus is consistently identified as ''Jesus of Nazareth'' (and never as ''Jesus of Bethlehem'').
   
   
(c) Both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke record the birth of Jesus at [[Bethlehem]], and yet they offer two distinct narratives.  
(c) The Gospels of Matthew and Luke, which record the birth of Jesus at [[Bethlehem]], offer two distinct narratives. The two accounts, although containing some common elements, are difficult to harmonize and appear to be theologically motivated.


According to Matthew, [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] and [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]] lived at [[Bethlehem]]. When Mary's pregnancy was revealed, [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] would have liked to dismiss her but an angel announced to [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] in a dream the true origin of the child. A group of [[Magi]] came from the East, following a "star," to pay homage to the newborn "King of the Jews." [[Herod the Great]] was so angered that he ordered the killing of all infants at [[Bethlehem]]. [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]], [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]] and baby Jesus escaped the massacre as [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] was alerted in a dream to leave [[Bethlehem]] to Egypt. They came back to the land of Israel only when [[Herod the Great]] died, but still afraid of his son [[Archelaus]], settled at [[Nazareth]] in [[Galilee]].
According to Matthew, [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] and [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]] lived at [[Bethlehem]]. When Mary's pregnancy was revealed, [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] would have liked to dismiss her but an angel announced to [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] in a dream the true origin of the child. A group of [[Magi]] came from the East, following a "star," to pay homage to the newborn "King of the Jews." [[Herod the Great]] was so angered that he ordered the killing of all infants at [[Bethlehem]]. [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]], [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]] and baby Jesus escaped the massacre as [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] was alerted in a dream to leave [[Bethlehem]] to Egypt. They came back to the land of Israel only when [[Herod the Great]] died, but still afraid of his son [[Archelaus]], settled at [[Nazareth]] in [[Galilee]]. Matthew's account seems motivated by the theological concern of presenting Jesus as the "new Moses," who in his early life repeated the experiences of the ancient patriarch, miraculously escaping death in his childhood (see [[Finding of Moses]]) and coming from Egypt to reveal the new covenant. 
   
   
According to Luke, [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] and [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]] lived at Nazareth in Galilee. [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]] received the annunciation of the birth of Jesus. When pregnant, she spent three months with her relative [[Elizabeth]], who was also expecting a baby, [[John the Baptist]]. [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] and [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]] had to travel to [[Bethlehem]] to register for the census of [[Quirinius]]. During that trip, Jesus was born in the manger as his parents could not find room in the inn. A group of shepherds came and paid homage to the newborn. Jesus then was circumcised and presented to the Temple of Jerusalem, before his parents traveled back to [[Nazareth]].
According to Luke, [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] and [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]] lived at Nazareth in Galilee. [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]] received the annunciation of the birth of Jesus. When pregnant, she spent three months with her relative [[Elizabeth]], who was also expecting a baby, [[John the Baptist]]. [[Joseph of Nazareth|Joseph]] and [[Mary of Nazareth|Mary]] had to travel to [[Bethlehem]] to register for the census of [[Quirinius]], at the time of the Emperor Augustus and King Herod (sic!). During that trip, Jesus was born in the manger as his parents could not find room in the inn. A group of shepherds came and paid homage to the newborn. Jesus then was circumcised and presented to the Temple of Jerusalem, before his parents traveled back to [[Nazareth]]. Luke seems motivated by different concerns; the Nativity of Jesus as the Savior of Humankind is located in the more cosmopolitan context of the Roman Empire and the relation of jesus with Jerusalem and the Temple is presented in non-conflicting terms.


The [[Protoevangelium of James]] harmonizes the narratives of Matthew and Luke, adding some new stories and details.
The circumstances of the birth of Jesus remain obscure. Nothing is said in ancient sources about the date (or the season) when Jesus was born. The chronology is uncertain. The "star" (possibly, Halley's Comet) appeared in October 12 BCE, Herod the Great died in 4 BCE, and the census of Quirinius occurred several years later, in 6 CE, when Herod's son [[Archelaus]] was removed from office and Judea became a Roman province. The census' purpose was to calculate property for taxation; it does not make any sense that people had to go back to their birthplace to register. The custom of celebrating the birthday of Jesus on December 25 derives from the Christianization of a pagan festival; see [[Christmas]].
 
The tendency of later Christian traditions, starting with the Protoevangelium of James, was to merge and harmonize the narratives of Matthew and Luke and add numerous legendary elements in the process. No source provides any additional historical elements. The majority of scholars tends to conclude that Jesus was born at Nazareth in the last years of the reign of Herod the Great.


====List of events related to the Nativity of Jesus====
====List of events related to the Nativity of Jesus====

Revision as of 23:27, 1 August 2014


Nativity of Jesus refers to a series of episodes in the lives of Jesus of Nazareth and Mary of Nazareth, associated with Jesus' birth at Bethlehem, as narrated in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, and later Christian tradition.

< Life of Jesus : Nativity of Jesus -- Jesus' Hidden Years -- Ministry of Jesus (Parables of Jesus, Miracles of Jesus) -- Passion of Jesus -- Resurrection of Jesus -- Relics of Jesus >

< Life of Mary of Nazareth : Mary's Early Life -- Nativity of Jesus -- Jesus' Hidden Years -- Mary and the Ministry of Jesus --- Mary and the Early Church -- Relics of Mary of Nazareth >


Overview

The historicity of the Nativity stories is largely disputed for three major reasons:

(a) The Gospels of Mark and John do not contain any narrative about the Nativity of Jesus at Bethlehem and seem to assume that Jesus was born at Nazareth.

(b) There are no recorded sayings of Jesus, which refer to his birth at Bethlehem, while Nazareth is commonly mentioned as his "home." In all ancient sources, Jesus is consistently identified as Jesus of Nazareth (and never as Jesus of Bethlehem).

(c) The Gospels of Matthew and Luke, which record the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, offer two distinct narratives. The two accounts, although containing some common elements, are difficult to harmonize and appear to be theologically motivated.

According to Matthew, Joseph and Mary lived at Bethlehem. When Mary's pregnancy was revealed, Joseph would have liked to dismiss her but an angel announced to Joseph in a dream the true origin of the child. A group of Magi came from the East, following a "star," to pay homage to the newborn "King of the Jews." Herod the Great was so angered that he ordered the killing of all infants at Bethlehem. Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus escaped the massacre as Joseph was alerted in a dream to leave Bethlehem to Egypt. They came back to the land of Israel only when Herod the Great died, but still afraid of his son Archelaus, settled at Nazareth in Galilee. Matthew's account seems motivated by the theological concern of presenting Jesus as the "new Moses," who in his early life repeated the experiences of the ancient patriarch, miraculously escaping death in his childhood (see Finding of Moses) and coming from Egypt to reveal the new covenant.

According to Luke, Joseph and Mary lived at Nazareth in Galilee. Mary received the annunciation of the birth of Jesus. When pregnant, she spent three months with her relative Elizabeth, who was also expecting a baby, John the Baptist. Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem to register for the census of Quirinius, at the time of the Emperor Augustus and King Herod (sic!). During that trip, Jesus was born in the manger as his parents could not find room in the inn. A group of shepherds came and paid homage to the newborn. Jesus then was circumcised and presented to the Temple of Jerusalem, before his parents traveled back to Nazareth. Luke seems motivated by different concerns; the Nativity of Jesus as the Savior of Humankind is located in the more cosmopolitan context of the Roman Empire and the relation of jesus with Jerusalem and the Temple is presented in non-conflicting terms.

The circumstances of the birth of Jesus remain obscure. Nothing is said in ancient sources about the date (or the season) when Jesus was born. The chronology is uncertain. The "star" (possibly, Halley's Comet) appeared in October 12 BCE, Herod the Great died in 4 BCE, and the census of Quirinius occurred several years later, in 6 CE, when Herod's son Archelaus was removed from office and Judea became a Roman province. The census' purpose was to calculate property for taxation; it does not make any sense that people had to go back to their birthplace to register. The custom of celebrating the birthday of Jesus on December 25 derives from the Christianization of a pagan festival; see Christmas.

The tendency of later Christian traditions, starting with the Protoevangelium of James, was to merge and harmonize the narratives of Matthew and Luke and add numerous legendary elements in the process. No source provides any additional historical elements. The majority of scholars tends to conclude that Jesus was born at Nazareth in the last years of the reign of Herod the Great.

List of events related to the Nativity of Jesus

Gospel of Matthew:

Gospel of Luke:

Protoevangelium of James:

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