The Nativity: History and LegendIn a similar format to the astonishingly successful The Passion Professor Geza Vermes now turns his attention to the other key festival in the Christian calendar - Christmas. Vermes articulately and controversially disentangles the Christmas story as we know it, relating it to prophecies in the Old Testament and also to later Christian folklore, putting the nativity into its true historical context. This will be required reading for anyone wanting to know the true story behind the Nativity. |
Contents
The enigma of the Infancy Gospels | 16 |
The genealogies of Jesus | 26 |
The idea of miraculous births in Judaism | 48 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Abraham according ancient angel Aramaic Archelaus Augustus Balaam behold Bethlehem betrothal birth narratives birth of Jesus birth story Book called census century BC child Christ Christian Christmas circumcision conceive conception of Jesus Dead Sea Scrolls divine dream Egypt Elizabeth Emmanuel evangelist Galilee genealogy of Jesus Gentile GEZA VERMES Gospels of Matthew Greek Hebrew Bible Herod Holy Spirit house of David husband Infancy Gospels infancy narratives interpretation Isaiah Israel Jacob Jerusalem Jesus was born Jewish Jews John the Baptist Joseph and Mary Josephus Judaea Judah king legend Lord Luke's Magi main Gospel male Mary's Matthan Matthew and Luke Messiah Micah Moses mother Nativity Nazareth newborn Old Testament original Palestine Palestinian Philo pregnancy prophecy prophet Protoevangelium of James Quirinius rabbinic reference Roman royal ruler second century Septuagint Shealtiel shepherds star Temple tradition virginal conception wife woman womb words young Zechariah Zerubbabel