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Class 6bJESUS’ INFANCY & CHILDHOODOutline§ Dig Sitesú Nazareth and Bethlehem§ Recap: Criteria of Historicity§ Four Infancy Narratives: How Historical Are They?ú Gospel of Matthewú Gospel of Lukeú Infancy Gospel of Jamesú Infancy Gospel of ThomasDig Sites:Nazareth& BethlehemIAA dig near the Church of theAnnunciation in Nazareth,revealing Roman-erafoundations of a house1
Israeli Archaeologist at work at an excavation in NazarethRECAP: CRITERIA OF HISTORICITYEvaluating HistoricityFor Literary TextsSomething in the texts is MORE likely to be historical if it is§ IN the text (not an argument from silence)§ eyewitness testimony§ embarrassing to the author§ multiply attested in independent witnesses§ coherent with other sayings/actions established as historical§ discontinuous with known Jewish or Christian tradition§ consistent with Jesus’ execution2
Evaluating HistoricityFor Literary TextsSomething in the texts is LESS likely to be historical if it is§ NOT actually said anywhere (not in any text)§ a later tradition (though it may still be named for an apostle)§ NOT embarrassing; it actually bolsters author’s claimsú adds laudatory epithets, legends, miraculous eventsú adds interpretation (ties to Jewish figures, traditions, prophecies)ú explains problems in earlier stories§ only reported in one witness§ continuous with later Christian traditionFOUR INFANCY NARRATIVES:HOW HISTORICAL ARE THEY?Matthew’s Infancy NarrativeA Genealogy that Reveals Jesus’ Significance (Matt 1:1–2:23) Genealogy1:1-17How is it organized, and what does this symbolize?3
Matthew’s Infancy NarrativeFive Vignettes in a Highly Structured Narrative (Matt 1:1–2:23) Genealogy1:1-17 Joseph’s dream1:18-25Isaiah 7:14 (1:22-23) The magoi and the king Flight into exileWhat eventsin Jewish historydo these episodesrecall or echo?2:1-12Micah 5:1 (2:5-6)2:13-15Hosea 11:1 (2:15) Slaughter of infants2:16-18Jeremiah 31:15 (2:17-18) Exodus from Egypt2:19-23Unknown prophecy (2:23)Matthew’s Infancy NarrativeThe more highly structured the narrative, and themore it self-consciously mirrors Jewish tradition,the less likely it is historical, the more likely it is anartistic emphasis on the significance of Jesus tothe author’s eyes.Luke’s Infancy NarrativeHighly Structured – in a Very Different Way (1:5–2:52)John the BaptistJesusBefore birthsBirthChildhood4
Luke’s Infancy NarrativeDo any of the episodes match up to the criteria ofhistoricity, or do they demonstrate latertheological reflection and embellishment (and ifso, of what sort)?Infancy Gospel of JamesManuscript EvidenceJames was one of Jesus’ brothers, hence the tradition that hereported on Jesus’ infancy.This gospel was very popular and was collated in severalliturgical collections.Because the text was not regarded as canonical, it was amendedmore often, so the versions are quite different from one another.There are over 140 Greek mss (the oldest isPapyrus Bodmer 5 from the 300s), andmultiple translations:v 4 Syriacv 1 Irishv 2 fragments in Copticv 2 Georgianv 3 Armenianv 1 Ethiopic paraphrasev 1 Latin ( extracts)v 1 Arabicv 169 Church Slavonic mssInfancy Gospel of James§ Date150–200 CE later additions,place§ GenreA narrative like the NT gospels, but confinedto stories of parents and Jesus’ birth§ GospelPresupposes and conflates the canonicalcomparison infancy stories, adding legendary elements(1 Sam 1:1-2:11; 2 Chr 24:20-22)§ ContentMary’s conception, birth, upbringing,betrothal to older Joseph (with sons from aprior marriage), birth of Jesus, virginity inpartu and post partum5
James’ Infancy NarrativeDo any of the episodes match up to the criteria ofhistoricity, or do they demonstrate latertheological reflection and embellishment (and ifso, of what sort)?Infancy Gospel of ThomasManuscript EvidenceThe name “Thomas” is the Aramaic word for “twin.” Anearly tradition imagines the disciple Thomas to be Jesus’ twin(metaphorical, of course).A version of this circulated in Arabic and would later influence theQur’anic portrait of Jesus’ childhood.Our oldest copies of this gospel date to the fifthcentury CE:v 8 Greek (1300s )v 3 Syriac (500s ) v 2 Latin (400s–500s )v 1 Georgianv 1 Ethiopicv 15Church Slavonic mss (1000s )Infancy Gospel of Thomas§ Date100s CE, Syria?§ GenreCollected traditions loosely strungtogether in a narrative form§ GospelVignettes of Jesus’ childhood unlikeanything in the NT gospels, thoughsome scenes are modeled on theadult Jesus’ miracles in canonical NTcomparison§ ContentImagine an impulsive and willful childwith divine powers6
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Thomas’ Infancy NarrativeDo any of the episodes match up to the criteria ofhistoricity, or do they demonstrate latertheological reflection and embellishment (and ifso, of what sort)?8
1 JESUS’ INFANCY & CHILDHOOD Class 6b Outline §Dig Sites úNazareth and Bethlehem §Recap: Criteria of Historicity §Four Infancy Narratives: How Historical Are They? ú Gospel of Matthew ú Gospel of Luke ú Infancy Gospel of James ú Infancy Gospel of Thomas Dig Sites: Nazareth & Bethlehem IAA dig near the
