Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith

by Marcus J. Borg

In Matthew, the genealogy of Jesus goes back to Abraham, the father of the Jewish people, and from David onward is traced through the kings of Israel. In Luke, the genealogy of Jesus goes back to Adam, the father of both Jews and Gentiles, and from David onward is traced through the prophets of Israel. In Matthew, the family of Jesus lives in Bethlehem, where Jesus is born at home, and moves to Nazareth after returning from the flight into Egypt. In Luke, the family of Jesus lives in Nazareth and travels to Bethlehem because of the census, and so Jesus is born “on the road” in a stable, after which the family returns to its home in Nazareth. In Matthew, the people who come to the birth are the wise men following the star. In Luke, there is neither star nor wise men; rather, there are shepherds. In Matthew, King Herod the Great orders the slaughter of male infants in Bethlehem, which leads Jesus’ family to seek refuge in Egypt. In Luke, there is no such slaughter and no flight into Egypt. These differences are the basis upon which most scholars conclude that the birth stories are not historical accounts but symbolic narratives created by the early Christian movement. To some extent, they reflect themes important to each evangelist. For example, with his tracing of Jesus’ genealogy through the kings of Israel and with his story of the wise men seeking the one who is born “king of the Jews,” Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ kingship. Luke, with Jesus’ genealogy traced back through...