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

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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.

• Nativity of Jesus : Genealogy of Jesus -- Annunciation to Mary -- Annunciation to Joseph -- Visitation of Mary -- Birth of Jesus -- Adoration of the Shepherds -- Adoration of the Magi -- Circumcision of Jesus -- Presentation of Jesus at the Temple -- Massacre of the Innocents -- Flight into Egypt >

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  Visitation of Mary (Pontormo)

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  Circumcision of Jesus (Mantegna, 1461)

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  Massacre of the Innocents (Cogniet, 1834)

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  Flight into Egypt (Giotto, 1306)

< 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) Both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke record the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, and yet 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:

• Genealogy of Jesus
• Annunciation to Joseph
• Birth of Jesus
• Adoration of the Magi
• Massacre of the Innocents
• Flight into Egypt

Gospel of Luke:

• Annunciation to Mary
• Visitation of Mary
• Birth of Jesus
• Adoration of the Shepherds
• Circumcision of Jesus
• Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
• Genealogy of Jesus

Protoevangelium of James:

• Annunciation to Mary
• Visitation of Mary
• Annunciation to Joseph
• Birth of Jesus
• Adoration of the Magi
• Massacre of the Innocents (and Martyrdom of Zacharias)

External links

• Wikipedia