Part I
In this chapter of his journey, Norm takes on the topic of Jesus’ birth as he travels to Bethlehem. He looks first to the birth stories in Matthew and Luke for comparison (77-79), noting that there are two key differences in their stories: 1) the itinerary of the holy family and 2) the central character in each (Joseph in Matthew and Mary in Luke). Still, Norm notes that there is no obvious borrowing in either direction, so the ideas they are sharing must be older than either of them (78). Norm then centers his focus on the controversial topic of the virgin birth. Norm’s professor, Guilder, offers several reasons to doubt the idea of the virgin birth: silence in Paul and Mark, different paths in Matthew and Luke, parallels to Greek mythology, and attempts to refute rumors of illegitimacy (81-83), which Norm then counters with ideas of his own (84). Norm spends the remainder of his time in Bethlehem countering and weighing ideas with some fellow theologians he meets along the way (92-99). Again the challenge of discerning history from story is presented. With many parallels to the Old Testament, the historical facts behind Jesus’ (especially his birth) are questioned, which leaves us to ask the question: Do the Gospels scripturize history or historicize prophecy (98)?
Part II
The exchange between Norm and Guilder illustrates the challenge of examining the historical Jesus. Both Norm and Guilder look at the same material, with much common knowledge, and draw conclusions in two different directions. Guilder argues that there was not a virgin birth and perhaps Christians borrowed ideas from Greek mythology (81), while Norm points to the Hebrew tradition of miracle births in the Old Testament which leaves Mary’s pregnancy Jewish themed (84). This shows that with lack of historical fact, much of the details of historical Jesus are left up to personal interpretation. Later in the chapter, the similarities of Jesus’ birth and Moses’ birth and Israel and Jesus are noted (94, 97). Initially Norm believes that this proves the Gospels care more about allusion than reality, however one of the professors notes that the borrowing isn’t to distort reality but rather to add weight to the present (97-98).
In this chapter of his journey, Norm takes on the topic of Jesus’ birth as he travels to Bethlehem. He looks first to the birth stories in Matthew and Luke for comparison (77-79), noting that there are two key differences in their stories: 1) the itinerary of the holy family and 2) the central character in each (Joseph in Matthew and Mary in Luke). Still, Norm notes that there is no obvious borrowing in either direction, so the ideas they are sharing must be older than either of them (78). Norm then centers his focus on the controversial topic of the virgin birth. Norm’s professor, Guilder, offers several reasons to doubt the idea of the virgin birth: silence in Paul and Mark, different paths in Matthew and Luke, parallels to Greek mythology, and attempts to refute rumors of illegitimacy (81-83), which Norm then counters with ideas of his own (84). Norm spends the remainder of his time in Bethlehem countering and weighing ideas with some fellow theologians he meets along the way (92-99). Again the challenge of discerning history from story is presented. With many parallels to the Old Testament, the historical facts behind Jesus’ (especially his birth) are questioned, which leaves us to ask the question: Do the Gospels scripturize history or historicize prophecy (98)?
Part II
The exchange between Norm and Guilder illustrates the challenge of examining the historical Jesus. Both Norm and Guilder look at the same material, with much common knowledge, and draw conclusions in two different directions. Guilder argues that there was not a virgin birth and perhaps Christians borrowed ideas from Greek mythology (81), while Norm points to the Hebrew tradition of miracle births in the Old Testament which leaves Mary’s pregnancy Jewish themed (84). This shows that with lack of historical fact, much of the details of historical Jesus are left up to personal interpretation. Later in the chapter, the similarities of Jesus’ birth and Moses’ birth and Israel and Jesus are noted (94, 97). Initially Norm believes that this proves the Gospels care more about allusion than reality, however one of the professors notes that the borrowing isn’t to distort reality but rather to add weight to the present (97-98).
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