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The Infancy Narratives

“The Gospel in Miniature”

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Gospel as “Portraits”

Each Gospel paints a distinct portrait of

  • Who Jesus is
  • What is Jesus’ Mission

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Why an Infancy Narrative?

  • Probably last part of gospel narratives to take shape
    • Why?

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  • Infancy narrative = “gospel in miniature”
    • A “Narrative introduction” to each Gospel’s Major Themes

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  • The Gospels focus on the religious meaning of the Jesus event
    • Who is this Jesus? How is Jesus the Christ/Messiah?
    • The Incarnation – emphasizes Jesus being fully human and fully divine
      • Virgin Birth

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Four Things in Common

  • Jesus is incarnate Son of God
  • Angel testifies of a miraculous Virgin Birth
  • Bethlehem
  • Ancestors include Abraham and David

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The Incarnation – �Why did God become human?

“This is the commitment of being a Christian to follow Christ in his incarnation. If Christ, the God of majesty, became a lowly human and lived with the poor and even died on a cross like a slave, our Christian faith should also be lived in the same way. The Christian who does not want to live this commitment of solidarity with the poor is not worthy to be called Christian.”

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- Bishop Oscar Romero

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Matthew’s Infancy Narrative

  • Who appears in Matthew's Gospel only? 
  • Who’s not there?
  • Plot?
    • Differences from Luke
  • Themes?

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Matthew’s Infancy Narrative

  • To which stories from the Hebrew Scriptures does the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew seem similar?
  • What connection do you think the author of the Gospel of Matthew is trying to make by telling the story of Jesus’ birth in a similar way to another famous Old Testament figure’s birth?

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Matthew’s Intentions

  • Jesus is Jewish
    • To what major Jewish figures is he linked?

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Matthew’s Intentions

  1. Jesus is fulfillment of Messianic hope for a new Israel
    • What kind of messiah?
      • Miraculous birth
    • To whom is his genealogy traced back?

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Matthew’s Intentions

  1. Jesus is accepted by the Gentiles, rejected by some Jews
      • Foreshadows Jesus’ Rejection by Jewish Authorities

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Gifts of Magi

ALL ARE HIGHLY EXPENSIVE GIFTS

Gold

  • Royalty

Frankincense

  • Priestly Sacrifice

Myrrh

  • Also an aromatic resin
  • Often Associated with Burial Rites
  • Symbolizes the Death of a Prophet

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Matthew’s Intentions

  1. Jesus is “New Moses”

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Luke’s Intentions

  • The Good News is proclaimed to poor
    • “Reversal of Human Fortunes”
      • See Magnificat (1:46-56)
    • Born poor and alone
      • “No room at the inn”
      • Born in Stable
    • Shepherds
    • Simeon (Elderly)

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Luke’s Intentions

  1. God saves all, including Gentiles
    • To whom is Jesus traced back in his Genealogy (Lk 3:38)?

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Luke’s Intentions

  1. Jesus is traced back to God
    • Genealogy
      • “Son of Adam, Son of God” (3:38)

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Luke’s Intentions

  1. Jesus’ Relationship with John
    • Mary and Elizabeth
    • Whom do Elizabeth and Zechariah appear like?