Part I
Chapter 3 begins when Fisk starts on a journey to Bethlehem, but only after reviewing the similarities and differences of the birth narratives in the Gospels (Mathew and Luke). One of the first theological questions that arise is one that concerns whether the virgin birth is historically supported. While Mathew and Luke have some overlapping details, the majority of their narrative
is conflicting. Guilder provides insight that Mathew and Luke wanted to portray Jesus from their own perspective. Fisk learns that perhaps Mathew aims at portraying Jesus as Moses and that’s why he includes various Old Testament parallels in his stories. Guilder explains to Fisk that it is a possibility that Mathew intended for the reader to not dwell on facts, but to understand them
metaphorically in order to receive Mathew’s message about Jesus. By the end of the chapter Fisk realizes that the Gospels are possibly meant to be interpreted as part biography, part novel, and part sermon.
Part II
When Fisk first begins his synopsis on the comparison of the birth narratives in Mathew and Luke, he set up tables to show comparisons/differences which I found much easier to follow and understand (77-79). It was also insightful to learn that maybe some aspects of the Gospels aren’t meant to be taken literally because then the significance of the story becomes distorted.
Another aspect that shocked me was the speculation of the possibility that Jesus was an illegitimate child (82). The reader can only imagine how that would drastically influence Christianity if it was proven that Jesus was not born from a virgin (85). Modred explains an aspect of artistic freedom that story tellers’ use makes sense to me because it explains that the Gospel writers wanted to draw the audience in while assuring that the moral of the story was successfully understood (92-93).
Chapter 3 begins when Fisk starts on a journey to Bethlehem, but only after reviewing the similarities and differences of the birth narratives in the Gospels (Mathew and Luke). One of the first theological questions that arise is one that concerns whether the virgin birth is historically supported. While Mathew and Luke have some overlapping details, the majority of their narrative
is conflicting. Guilder provides insight that Mathew and Luke wanted to portray Jesus from their own perspective. Fisk learns that perhaps Mathew aims at portraying Jesus as Moses and that’s why he includes various Old Testament parallels in his stories. Guilder explains to Fisk that it is a possibility that Mathew intended for the reader to not dwell on facts, but to understand them
metaphorically in order to receive Mathew’s message about Jesus. By the end of the chapter Fisk realizes that the Gospels are possibly meant to be interpreted as part biography, part novel, and part sermon.
Part II
When Fisk first begins his synopsis on the comparison of the birth narratives in Mathew and Luke, he set up tables to show comparisons/differences which I found much easier to follow and understand (77-79). It was also insightful to learn that maybe some aspects of the Gospels aren’t meant to be taken literally because then the significance of the story becomes distorted.
Another aspect that shocked me was the speculation of the possibility that Jesus was an illegitimate child (82). The reader can only imagine how that would drastically influence Christianity if it was proven that Jesus was not born from a virgin (85). Modred explains an aspect of artistic freedom that story tellers’ use makes sense to me because it explains that the Gospel writers wanted to draw the audience in while assuring that the moral of the story was successfully understood (92-93).
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