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Bible Question: How
did the followers of Jesus know about His childhood and what
was said at His birth? Who told them to write it in the Bible?
Bible Answer:
There has been great interest recently
in the childhood of Jesus
. There are some "gospels" that Protestants
and the Roman Catholic Church have rejected as being false
. These gospels claim to tell us about Jesus' childhood, but
the early church fathers rejected them. They are to be rejected
by us today too!
Four Gospels.
The four gospels of the New Testament are accepted by the vast
majority of Bible scholars as being inspired by God. But they
do not tell us very much about Jesus as a baby
or as a youth. Jesus' disciples focused on his adult ministry.
That is what was important to them. We are given very little
other information.
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Jesus' Birth and Childhood
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Passage
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Jesus' genealogy
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Matt. 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38
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Birth Announced to Mary
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Luke 1:26-38
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Birth Announced to Joseph
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Matt. 1:18-25
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Birth of Jesus
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Luke 2:1-7
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Shepherds' Visit
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Luke 2:8-20
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Jesus circumcised
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Luke 2:21
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Jesus dedicated
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Luke 2:22-38
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Wise Men's Visit
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Matt. 2:1-12
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Trip to Egypt
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Matt. 2:13-18
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Trip to Nazareth
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Matt. 2:21-23; Luke 2:39
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Jesus' Childhood
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Luke 2:41-52
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His Birth.
What do we know about His birth? What did the disciples know
about Jesus' birth? We only know what is recorded in the Bible.
The apostle Luke tells us how he found out.
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Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account
of the things accomplished among us, just as those
who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants
of the word have handed them down to us, it seemed
fitting for me as well, having investigated everything
carefully from the beginning, to write it out for
you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus
. . . (NASB) Luke 1:1-3
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He asked questions of many people. He carefully collected the information.
The Holy Spirit guided the apostle and directed what he recorded.
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But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture
is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for
no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will,
but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
(NASB) 2 Peter 1:20-21
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God did not let him make a mistake. God was in control of the things
he wrote.
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