What happens in Matthew 1:18-2:23?
➡️The birth Jesus the messiah according to Matthew
-Found only in M source
-Name of Jesus and mission established
-acts as a pragmatic statement or Jesus purpose
➡️Brown commentary says formula is Mathew’s redaction (publishing style). Magi and Herod theologises Jesus as the new Moses. Historically is secondary to christological purpose.
-Escape to Egypt, Massacre of the infants, Return from Egypt is unique only to m source
-Birth of Jesus shows origins are established as son of the Holy Spirit
-Joseph plans to divorce Mary quietly as fears embarrassment from people about child- Jesus further . Unique to Matthew only (m source )
-Holy spirit helps to console him . Shows Joseph side of annunciation not shown in other gospels
➡️Jerome says fulfilment of OT prophecy by Matthew is to fulfil Isaiah 7:14 (flight to Egypt) and Hosea 11:1 Joesph’s role establishes Davidic lineage
-Angel appears to Joseph in a dream, Matthew’s distinctive annunciation form of divine talking to human
-Use of word “Emmanuel”shows Jewish Christian audience focus on the marginalised Jews which is unique to M source
-Use of words “no marital relations until she bore a son” completes annunciation response and OT prophecy as Joesph takes Mary as wife . Jesus is born of a virgin
-When the wise men from the east visit they give gold, frankincense and myrrh gifts fit for a king which is only in Matthew (m source) absent in Luke
-Matthew also sets up Herod as a conflict however only unique to Matthew (m source)
-In second dream to Joseph Matthew fulfils OT prophecies in Hosea “out of Egypt I called my son”. Jesus recapitulates Israel’s story
-Jesus remained in Egypt to fulfill OT prophecy and portrays Moses. As Moses survived birth against pharaoh , Jesus survived birth against Herod
➡️Peakes says Matthew writes for a Jewish-Christian audience hence genealogy and prophetic fulfilment motifs. Infancy narrative establishes messianic credentials
-Herod then gets tricked by wise men , so he killed Infants echoing pharaoh killing Hebrew boys in OT
-This is to fulfil Jeremiah 31:15 which is Matthew only (m source)
-“Use of words Out of Egypt I have called my son “ is prophecy by Hosea in OT
-In Joseph’s third dream, Joseph is told “He will be called a Nazarene” so settles Jesus in gaillee (state/ province). Only Matthew explains how Jesus comes from Egyptian exile to Nazareth
-Lots of conflict / danger surrounding Jesus’ birth
-Joseph learns through combination of prophetic themes where to go .He uses these prophecies”summarised” themes to guide him
-Leads Jesus to return back to Israel to a lowly /disregarded town (mentioned in Isaiah 11:1 and psalm 22). This is to fulfil OT theme of messiah being lowly and Nazareth is lowly town .
What happens in Luke 1:26-38?
➡️The birth of Jesus foretold by Luke
-Gabriel sent to Mary in Nazareth
-use of words “man names Joseph, son of David” meaning Jesus placed in Davidic lineage
-Annunciation OT pattern : Appearance, fear, divine reassurance
-Annunciation mimics OT theme
-Key christological claim that is unique to Luke, Jesus name is revealed and eternal reign is declared
-annunciation unique to L source that Gabriel is name in Luke explicitly and only in Luke (l source)
-The Holy Spirit and divine son ship gets explained as Jesus “will be called son of god”
-census of Augustus results in Jesus being born in Bethlehem manger with swaddling clothes, Luke sets universal, political context which is not found in Matthew
-The angels have a universal proclamation or Jesus’s birth
-Name Jesus given which fullfils all 1:31 (name given by angels)
-Mary ask how, Gabriel explains how Holy Spirit overshadows Jesus as the “holy son of god” unique to the l source , explanation of the virginal conception
-Elizabeth’s pregnancy as confirming sign. “Nothing is impossible with hod” connects the two birth narratives . Annunciation acts as a sign given to Elizabeth
-Jesus acts as the light to gentiles and glory of Israel
-Annunciation is human acceptance , Mary acceptance shows her faithful response . No equivalent in Matthew as he focuses on Joseph
-Manger is where animals lived, basic birth, poor at times , Jesus had a humble birth not fit for a king. A manger is the bottom tier level of birth
-The angels appear to the shepherds the marginalised group (Luke’s the,e or reversal) saviour ,Christ the lord . Gloria in verse 14 is L source hymnody (Gloria in Excelsis)
-Hymnody is a composition of hymns
➡️Jerome says annunciation to Mary confirms virginal conception. Luke’s Greek is the most literary of the evangelist .magnificent echo’s Hannah song in 1 Samuel:2
-Jesus is circumcised on the 8th day which shows Jewish law observance also shows parents obey angels instructions
-Presentation at the temple a holy location for Jews is only in Luke (l source)
➡️Brown says Luke’s infancy narrative is independent of Matthew. Canticles (magnificent, Benedictus) are pre-Luke Jewish Christian hymns . Luke emphasises the Holy Spirit and universalism from the outset.
-Presentation at the temple fulfils Simeon’s prophecy “a light for all gentiles “ undermines Luke’s universal scope
➡️Peakes say Luke’s parallel between John the Baptist and Jesus is deliberate. John is great but Jesus is greater . Census is historically problematic but theologically places Jesus in Bethlehem a Davidic city
-“sword will pierce your soul too” foreshadows passion of Christ and crucifixion to Mary which is entirely l source
-Anna an 84 year old prophetess speakers about Jesus , who will be recognised as Israel’s redemption
-Anna is l source figure as she is absent from all gospels and she helps Jesus grow in wisdom and grace
What happens in John 1:1-18?
What happens in Matthew 3:13-4:11?
What happens in Mark 1:2-8;9-13?
What happens in Luke 3:21-22 and 4:1-13?
What happens in Mark 2:23-28?
What happens in Matthew 13:54-58?
What happens in mark 6:1-6?
What happens in Luke 4:16-30?
What happens in Mark 8:27-33?
What happens in mark 9:2-8?
What happens in Mark 10:46-52?
What happens in Mark 11:1-11?
What happens in John 12:12-15?
What happens in Mark 11:15-18
What happens in John 2:13-17?
What happens in Mark 14:1-11?
What happens in John 12:1-8?
What happens in Acts 2:2-13?
What happens in Acts 2:14-40?
What happens in Acts 10:34-43?
What happens in Acts 2:41-47; 3:1-10; 4:32-37; 5:12-17; 6:1-7?
What happens in Acts 4:1-22?
