The Nativity: History and LegendThe Nativity is the very heart of the Christian tradition. For more than 2,000 years, the story of Jesus’ birth has been told and retold, mythologized and sentimentalized. In The Nativity, Geza Vermes untangles centuries of storytelling and places the birth and the events surrounding it within their historical context. Vermes examines every aspect of the Christmas story: the prophetic star, the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, the miraculous birth in the stable, the arrival of the magi, and the murderous decree of Herod. Delving into all the available evidence—including the New Testament Infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke, Jewish documents of the period, and classical literary and historical sources—Vermes explains where actual history ends and legend begins. A masterful work of biblical scholarship, The Nativity penetrates the deeper meaning of the New Testament. By clarifying what belongs to real history and what derives from man’s hopeful and creative religious imagination, it gives readers a new and more powerful understanding of the events celebrated every Christmas season. |
Contents
| 1 | |
The Enigma of the Infancy Gospels | 9 |
The Genealogies of Jesus | 18 |
The Idea of Miraculous Births in Judaism | 39 |
6 | 76 |
The Murder Plot | 105 |
9 | 112 |
The Settlement of Jesus in Galilee | 119 |
10 | 131 |
Epilogue | 145 |
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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 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 Gospels of Matthew Greek Hebrew Bible Herod Holy Spirit house of David 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 Matthew's infancy Messiah Micah miraculous Moses mother Nativity Nazareth newborn Old Testament Palestinian Philo pregnancy prophecy prophet Protoevangelium of James Quirinius rabbinic refers Roman royal ruler second century Septuagint Shealtiel shepherds star Temple theological tion tradition virgin birth virginal conception wife woman womb women words young Zechariah Zerubbabel