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There are different versions of the birth of Jesus told in the Bible. Why do you think this is so? These stories were written by different people, at different times and they were written for different audiences. Also over the years they have been edited. If you look at the accounts of Jesus' birth in the gospels you will see how both the style and emphasis is different. The table below takes you through the main events surrounding the birth of Jesus and lists where that part of the story can be found in the gospels (the accounts of the life of Jesus). As you look at the table what is the first surprise? Take a quick look at the start of the gospels of Mark and John and see how their versions begin... |
| EVENT |
MATTHEW |
MARK |
LUKE |
JOHN |
| The promise of John the Baptist's birth | 1 : 5-25 | |||
| Mary is told she is to have a baby - Jesus | 1 : 26-38 | |||
| Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth | 1 : 39-56 | |||
| John the Baptist is born | 1 : 57-80 | |||
| Jesus' family tree | 1 : 1 -17 | 3 : 23-34 | ||
| Jesus' birth | 1 : 18-25 | 2 : 1-20 | ||
| Jesus is circumcised and presented in the Temple | 2 : 21-40 | |||
| The visit of the wise men | 2 : 1-12 | |||
| Jesus, Mary and Joseph escape to Egypt; the killing of the babies | 2 : 1-12 |