By Andrew Holowienka, Ben Sobsey, and Vincent Hess

The infancy narrative of Matthew’s Gospel forms the prologue of the gospel and consists of Jesus’ genealogy.

Jesus’ genealogy shows the continuity of God’s plan from Abraham.

The infancy narrative proclaims who Jesus is. There are three sets of fourteen generations;

however, in the last set, there are only thirteen. Scholars believe this could possibly be a fault of Matthew.

http://www.recoveryversion.org/matthew.html

You can find the genealogy on this site

Jesus was born between 4 to 6 B.C.

The birth narrative contains both historical and biblical records. Biblical records cannot exactly be proven true, and historical records can. Biblical records include miracles and glorious events.

Biblical Interpretation of Birth Story

Not historically accurate:The massacre of the infantsMary impregnated through the Holy SpiritAngel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a

dream.Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea.Magi followed the star to Jesus’ birth place

and bore gifts.Flight to Egypt

Historically accurate: Jesus was born near the end of Herod’s reign.His father figure was named Joseph.Birth was between 6 and 4 B.C.He was known as Jesus of Nazareth.He was not born in a manger, but, most likely, in an

ancestral home. Joseph intended to divorce Mary when he discovered

that she was pregnant. Jesus was born to a Jewish mother. Pregnancy was unexpected. Joseph wanted to break their union because Mary’s

pregnancy violated the law of the time.

According to the Bible, Mary and Joseph take Jesus to Egypt in order to avoid Herod.

Biblical and non-biblical traditions about Moses are applied to the child Jesus.

Egypt was a traditional place of refuge for those fleeing danger from Palestine, but the main reason why the child was taken to Egypt is so that he would relieve the Exodus experience of Israel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0K617ZjWno

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hImgrd_4Cds

"Genealogy of Jesus." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogy_of_Jesus>.

"The Genealogy of Jesus from Matthew Chapter One." Recovery Version. Living Stream Ministry. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.recoveryversion.org/matthew.html>.

Matthew's Gospel - The New American Bible. Wichita, Kansas: Fireside Catholic. Print.