Infancy Narratives

Dr. Craig Blomberg

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Lesson

The Gospel accounts of Jesus' birth and early years of life show how He accurately fulfilled specific OT prophecies made hundreds of years earlier, and how His life was intertwined with that of John the Baptist. The beginning of John's Gospel is a testimony to Jesus' nature as being both fully God and fully human.

Outline

Early Years

Part 2

II. Infancy Narratives

A. Who is Jesus – Matthew 1

1. Jesus as Son of Abraham and Son of David (1:1-17)

2. Jesus as Emmanuel "God With Us" (1:18-25)

B. Where is Jesus – Matthew 2

1. Bethlehem (2:1-12)

2. Egypt (2:13-15)

3. Ramah (2:16-21)

4. Nazareth (2:22-23)

C. Old Testament quotations as examples of different hermeneutic devices

1. "A virgin shall conceive" – Double fulfillment?

2. "Born in Bethlehem" – Single fulfillment?

3. "Out of Egypt I have called my son" – Single typology?

4. "Rachel weeping for her children" – Double typology?

5. "He shall be called a Nazarene" – General theme?

D. The Infancy Narratives: Luke

1. Similarities dominate: angel, promise, child, query

a. Birth of John the Baptist predicted (1:5-25)

b. Birth of Jesus predicted (1:26-38)

2. Accounts Intersect: mother of Lord, called blessed

3. Differences dominate: prophet vs. Savior, Christ, Lord

a. Birth of John the Baptist (2:1-40)

b. Birth of Jesus (2:1-40)

4. True Humanity

E. Two Great Reversals

1. Matthew

a. Who worships Jesus? (pagan astrologers)

b. Who opposes Jesus? (usurping "Jewish" leaders: "Herod and all Jerusalem")

2. Luke

F. The Johannine Prologue (John 1:1-18)

1. The Logos and God (vv. 1-5) [creation, humanity]

a. The Witness of John the Baptist (vv. 6-8)

b. The Witness of John the Baptist (v. 15)

2. The Logos and Humanity (vv. 16-18) [re-creation, God]