In Theology we had to do a research project on one of the Synoptic Gospels. I chose to do a research paper on the infancy narrative in Matthew’s Gospel. The term infancy narrative is used described the birth and early life of Jesus the Messiah. The infancy narrative in Matthew’s Gospel is broken into many parts; including: the genealogy of Jesus, the conception and birth of Jesus, the visit of the Magi, the flight to Egypt and massacre of the infants, and the return from Egypt. I will be discussing all of these events in greater detail, as well as an excerpt from my uncle, also known as Deacon Francis of St. Mary Magdalene in Abbeville, LA. Before getting into details of my research, I am going to start my paper with a brief introduction of
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Matthew’s Gospel started with the genealogy of Jesus, also known as Jesus’ family tree. The genealogy started with Abraham and ended with David, who is the father of Joseph, better known as Jesus’ father. The conception of Jesus occurred when an angel came to Mary one night and placed in her a child through the Holy Spirit. At the time Mary and Joseph were not married, but she was betrothed to him. This act, if it became noticed would be considered adultery, so Joseph has a plan to silently dismiss Mary, so that she would not be disgraced. The angel later on came into Joseph’s dream and told him to marry Mary and take her into his home, “for it is through the holy Spirit that the child was conceived in her” (Mt 1:20). Joseph did as he was told and took Mary as his wife. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, it was still the time of King Herod. The magi reported to King Herod that there was a newborn king upon the Jews, so King Herod sent the magi out to find the king and to pay him homage. King Herod found that Jesus was a threat to his reign, so he was trying to locate him and have him killed. Joseph received notice of this news from the angel, so they fled to Egypt until the angel said it was okay to come back. King Herod was furious when he discovered the magi outsmarted him, so he had …show more content…
Mary was engaged to Joseph when she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. In this past time it was a social disgrace to be have a child out of wedlock. According to Brown, Galilean marriage customs were stricter than those of Judean practices. In Galilee the wife must be taken into her husband’s home as a virgin, but in Judea, it was common for wife to come through the husband’s home in-between their engagement. Joseph and Mary’s home were in Bethlehem of Judea, but by the tone set for the story, Joseph and Mary practices the customs of Galilee. When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, and not from him, he was going to call off the engagement. Joseph was considered to be a “righteous man” (Mt. 1:19) because he was no going to expose her to society as an adulteress, but instead, he decides to dismiss her quietly. According to Brown, “kindness or mercy was a key factor to Joseph’s unrighteous or justice” (126) because he chose to pass judgment of Mary for being unfaithful to him instead of publically shaming her. Joseph knew that if he were to expose Mary for committing adultery, she would be stoned to death, so he was protecting her and the unborn child. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him “to take Mary as his wife, for the child is conceived in her from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and
Matthew’s Gospel started with the genealogy of Jesus, also known as Jesus’ family tree. The genealogy started with Abraham and ended with David, who is the father of Joseph, better known as Jesus’ father. The conception of Jesus occurred when an angel came to Mary one night and placed in her a child through the Holy Spirit. At the time Mary and Joseph were not married, but she was betrothed to him. This act, if it became noticed would be considered adultery, so Joseph has a plan to silently dismiss Mary, so that she would not be disgraced. The angel later on came into Joseph’s dream and told him to marry Mary and take her into his home, “for it is through the holy Spirit that the child was conceived in her” (Mt 1:20). Joseph did as he was told and took Mary as his wife. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, it was still the time of King Herod. The magi reported to King Herod that there was a newborn king upon the Jews, so King Herod sent the magi out to find the king and to pay him homage. King Herod found that Jesus was a threat to his reign, so he was trying to locate him and have him killed. Joseph received notice of this news from the angel, so they fled to Egypt until the angel said it was okay to come back. King Herod was furious when he discovered the magi outsmarted him, so he had …show more content…
Mary was engaged to Joseph when she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. In this past time it was a social disgrace to be have a child out of wedlock. According to Brown, Galilean marriage customs were stricter than those of Judean practices. In Galilee the wife must be taken into her husband’s home as a virgin, but in Judea, it was common for wife to come through the husband’s home in-between their engagement. Joseph and Mary’s home were in Bethlehem of Judea, but by the tone set for the story, Joseph and Mary practices the customs of Galilee. When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, and not from him, he was going to call off the engagement. Joseph was considered to be a “righteous man” (Mt. 1:19) because he was no going to expose her to society as an adulteress, but instead, he decides to dismiss her quietly. According to Brown, “kindness or mercy was a key factor to Joseph’s unrighteous or justice” (126) because he chose to pass judgment of Mary for being unfaithful to him instead of publically shaming her. Joseph knew that if he were to expose Mary for committing adultery, she would be stoned to death, so he was protecting her and the unborn child. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him “to take Mary as his wife, for the child is conceived in her from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and