Matthew 2:11
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

Luke 2:1-9
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

uplawal:

christianity and fables,i just wonder why human being would survive WINTER then,talkmore of  labour in the WINTER,and how on earth will sherpherd be watching his flock of sheep OUTSIDE IN THE COLD WINTER,


I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THOSE THAT CHANGED GOD'S MESSAGE FOR A LITTLE GAIN,WOE TO THEM AS SAID BY GOD(ALLAH)

uplawal:

christianity and fables,i just wonder why human being would survive WINTER then,talkmore of  labour in the WINTER,and how on earth will sherpherd be watching his flock of sheep OUTSIDE IN THE COLD WINTER,


I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THOSE THAT CHANGED GOD'S MESSAGE FOR A LITTLE GAIN,WOE TO THEM AS SAID BY GOD(ALLAH)

mazaje:

"Raymond Brown points out that the Gospels present two very different accounts:[31] the Gospel of Matthew relates the appearance of an angel, in a dream, to Joseph; the wise men from the east; the massacre of the innocents; and the flight to Egypt. The Gospel of Luke mentions none of these but describes the conception and birth of John the Baptist; the appearance of an angel to Mary; the worldwide census; the birth in a manger, and the choir of angels; none of these is mentioned in Matthew.]32] Brown also emphasizes the contradictions between the accounts, which explain the birth in Bethlehem in different ways (Luke says they lived in Nazareth and only moved to Bethlehem briefly for the census, Matthew implies that they lived in Bethlehem and only moved to Nazareth on their return from Egypt);[33] give two different genealogies of Jesus,[34] and appear to use a contradictory time frame (Matthew's account places the birth during the reign of Herod the Great, who died in 4 BC, but Luke dates it to the census of Quirinius ten years after Herod's death).[35]

As a result, many scholars see the nativity stories either as completely fictional accounts,[36][37] or at least constructed from traditions which predate the Gospels.[38] Brown, for instance, who observes that "it is unlikely that either account is completely historical",[1] suggests that the account in Matthew is based on an earlier narrative patterned on traditions about the birth of Moses.[39]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesus#Gospel_of_Luke

naijacutee:

In 2008, a British girl died in Goa. Here are two different newspaper reports on the case

Report 1
PANAJI: Goa Police said its investigations reveal that the British teen-aged girl Scarlett Keeling died due to drug overdose and drowning in beach water. (Times of India)
http://sify.com/news/scarlett-died-due-to-drug-overdose-drowning-news-national-jegnzDehjhb.html

Report 2
New Delhi: Goa Police claim to have solved the controversial Scarlette Keeling despoil and murder case with the arrest of a second suspect on Wednesday night. (IBN Live)
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/scarlette-was-despoiled-twice-and-left-to-drown-cops/61074-3.html


In this day and age of advanced technology and equipment, we still have two different reports of one event. Because these reports don't use the same language, or even say the same thing, would it be rational to say that this young girl Scarlett never existed in the first place, never went to Goa, never died and thus the story is merely fictional? It would be completely irrational and myopic for anyone to come to such a conclusion (unless of course he has a different agenda).

Deep Sight:

Naijacutee, you have nailed away the weak points made by mazaje and wirinet in decisive terms. Well done.

Even if the supposed contradiction mooted by wirinet is actually a contradiction (and the jury is still out on that) i cannot see how it is a relevant or decisive contradiction worthy of mention.

wirinet:

The Traditional story of the birth of Jesus was that he was born in a manger in Bethlehem on their way to be counted in a census, because all the inns(hotels) were filled. Immediately after birth, three wise men from the east, lead by a moving star, brought in gifts of Frankincense, myrrh and gold for the child, and then left.

Image123:

Hopefully, it's been settled now that Jesus was born in a manger and visited in a house. Just a familiar as being born in an hospital and receiving 'wellwishers' at home,even that same day in some cases

Image123:

You dey mind them? When they're used to 'prophetic' meetings and praisco gatherings, instead of Bible studies. You reap what you sow.

OLAADEGBU:

A lot of people have been taking the nativity story forgranted assuming what is not accurate. The fact that shepherds visited Jesus in the manger has been confused with the wise men (how many was not stated) who visited Jesus in the house when Jesus was about two years of age. [/b]Folks just take it forgranted that they know the story and go on to make spurious claims that they have found holes in the story. The earlier we read the scriptures meditatively the better it will be for us and our generation.

mazaje:

Where does the bible say that the Magi visited jesus when[b] he was about two years old[/b]?

OLAADEGBU:

Read the Bible, it has all the answers.

mazaje:

OLAADEGBU Pls don't keep me waiting for so long where is it written that the magi visited jesus[b] when he was two years old[/b]?

mazaje:

I have read the story too and there is NOTHING like that in the story. . . . Pls prove me wrong and show me where it says that the Magi visited jesus when he was two years old. . . . That shouldn't be a difficult thing for you no?

OLAADEGBU:

If religious folks still have misconceptions about the nativity story why will I expect an atheist who doesn't believe in the existence of God to get it right?  Your first assignment is to get a good KJV Bible and then read it paying attention to details then you will know how old Jesus was when the Magi came to pay a visit.

OLAADEGBU:

@mazaje,

Remember to check up on the number of Magi (wise men from the east), when and where they visited i.e. was it in the manger or a house, and how old Jesus was when they visited.

mazaje:

Mary according to the story gave birth to jesus in a house and placed him in a manger that was inside the house. So how can the Magi visit a manger

mazaje:

I read it and I did not see it any where, all I saw in the KJV were reports about a non historical event. Can you show me where it is written that the magi visited jesus when he was two years old?

OLAADEGBU:

Do you see what I mean?  Why don't you quote where you found the "cock and bull" stories you are referring to and let us continue from there.

mazaje:

I got it from the bible. . . Where did you get your own Idea that the Migi visited Jesus when he was two years old.?

OLAADEGBU:

Anyone can claim that they got it from the bible, why don't you quote the chapter and verse if you are sure that it was not a grapevine saying?

mazaje:

This is called shifting the burden. . .You said "The fact that shepherds visited Jesus in the manger has been confused with the wise men (how many was not stated) who visited Jesus in the house when Jesus was about two years of age. "

Where is this part written in the bible. . . .I admit that I was only trying to reconcile the two VERY different accounts in matthew and luke which have nothing to do with each other by the way because they were written very differently and are not even reporting the same thing. Matthew has jesus being born(When herod was king) 10 years before Luke(when Quirinius was governor of Syria). . .

OLAADEGBU:

The onus is on you my friend. You that claim that there is no God, that the Bible is full of holes, that the account is not accurate etc. If you cannot get your facts right in little things why do you expect me to take other assumptions of yours serious. All I asked was for you to quote what you alleged in your post before I explain what you don't understand, is that too much for you to do?

mazaje:

You are being dishonet here my friend. . .You said that the Magi visited Jesus when he was about two years old. . .will you show me where it is written in the bible that Jesus was two years old when the migi visited him? YES OR NO?