[Salvation]

The following is by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D

Different Contents of the Two Accounts:

Matthew 1–2 (only 48 verses, including genealogy)	Luke 1–2 (total of 132 verses, plus 16 more in genealogy)
1:1 - Title of the Gospel	1:1-4 - Literary introduction to the Gospel
1:2-17 - The Genealogy of Jesus (from Abraham to King David to Exile to Joseph)	(Genealogy included later, in Luke 3:23-38)
-	1:5-25 - Angel Gabriel announces John the Baptist’s birth
1:18-24 - An unnamed angel announces Jesus’ birth to Joseph in a dream	1:26-38 - Angel Gabriel announces Jesus’ birth to Mary while awake
-	1:39-56 - Mary visits Elizabeth (incl. Mary's “Magnificat”)
-	1:57-58 - Elizabeth gives birth to her son (John the Baptist)
-	1:59-80 - John the Baptist is circumcised & named (incl. Zechariah's “Benedictus”)
-	2:1-5 - Joseph & Mary journey to Bethlehem for the census
1:25 & 2:1a - Mary’s son is born in Bethlehem of Judea, and named Jesus	2:6-7 - Mary gives birth to her son in Bethlehem of Judea
-	2:8-14 - Angels appear to some shepherds (incl. the "Gloria" of the angels)
-	2:15-20 - Shepherds visit Mary & Joseph & the infant lying in a manger
-	2:21 - The infant is circumcised & named Jesus
-	2:22-38 - Jesus is presented to God in the Temple (incl. Simeon's "Nunc Dimittis")
2:1b-12 - Magi from the East come; they first visit Herod, then Jesus	-
2:13-21 - Joseph & Mary flee to Egypt with the child Jesus; the Innocents are murdered; the Holy Family returns to Israel	-
2:22-23 - They journey to Nazareth	2:39-40 - The family returns to Nazareth
-	2:41-52 - At age twelve, Jesus & his parents visit the Jerusalem Temple

Click here for more detail on the structure of Luke's Infancy Narrative

Different Theological Emphases of Each Narrative:

.	Matthew 1–2	Luke 1–2
Driving Force:	Hebrew Scriptures are fulfilled (1:22-23; 2:5-6, 15, 17-18, 23)	Holy Spirit is at work (1:1, 35, 41, 67; 2:25-27)
Jesus' Heritage:	* Son of David, son of Abraham (1:1-17) * Legal son of Joseph, but child of the Holy Spirit (1:18-25)	* Son of God, son of Mary by the Holy Spirit (1:26-38) * Heir to David's throne, over the house of Judah (1:32-33; 2:4)
Names & Titles:	* Messiah (1:1, 16-18; 2:4) * Jesus: "For he will save his people from their sins" (1:21, 25) * Emmanuel: "God with us" (1:23) * King of the Jews (2:2) * "A ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel" (2:6) * Nazorean (2:23)	* Jesus (1:31; 2:21) * Son of the Most High; Son of God (1:32, 35) * He will be great, holy, full of wisdom and grace (1:32, 35; 2:40) * "Of his kingdom there will be no end" (1:33) * A Savior is born... who is Messiah and Lord (2:11, 26) * A light for revelation to Gentiles and for glory to Israel (2:32)
Characters Emphasized:	Men: King David, Joseph of Nazareth, Magi from the East, King Herod, chief priests & scribes, Ethnarch Archelaus	Women: Virgin Mary of Nazareth, Elizabeth, Anna Poor & Aged: Shepherds, Zechariah, Simeon
Themes:	obstacles, conflict, fear, murder, politics	glory, praise, joy;  poverty, humility, faith
OT Parallels:	Dreamer Joseph (Genesis 37–41) Baby Moses (Exodus 1–2)	Birth of Samson (Judges 13) Birth of Samuel (1 Sam 1–2)
Number Symbolism:	[King] David = 14 (DVD = 4+6+4); three groups of 14 generations in genealogy; focus on royalty	70 weeks from Gabriel's first Annunciation to Presentation in Temple? related to 70-week prophecy by angel Gabriel in Daniel 9:24-27?

 

[Fester Chugabrew]

The Word becoming flesh is not a thing that is done without ample notice and detail. Since God in Christ Jesus reconciles the world to Himself, He will not keep silent, but reveal Himself at just the right time, in just the right way, through just the right means, and will do so until the end of time as the Body of Christ is built up into the perfection that awaits all of creation, and for which the entire creation awaits eagerly.