wkmac
Well-Known Member
True as that's the majority assumption but a growing scholarship and contextual research is asking questions most would not care to ask or consider. I enjoy such questions.
Such questions for example, Matthew has Jesus born under Herod who died in 4 BCE while Luke has Jesus born during the reign Quirinius, Governor of Syria from 6 CE to 9 CE. Mark makes no mention of Jesus birth story at all and begins the story of Jesus at age 30 with John the Baptist and even that is assumption, Jesus age that is, as no date nor age is presented.
John in his gospel also makes no mention of Jesus earthy birth but rather presents the idea that Jesus existed before time and creation which interesting is an idea also advanced by many gnostic traditions as found in such works that are found in the Nag Hammadi library. The various gnostic christian sects of the 2nd and 3rd century CE is both fascinating and worthy of study.
With the bible, really it's a library but that's for later, that is alleged the absolute un-adulterated and perfect word of god, how could such differences and important events be left out? Why do Matthew and Luke differ on time by means of noting a known historical figure who can be dated? Why does Matthew have Jesus and family going to Egypt almost like the early Israelite/Moses story as if the writer is using the popular form of story telling known from the time called typology? Why does Luke however have Jesus and family making a journey right into the heart of Jerusalem, wait Herod was not alive and no killing of the innocents, and then returning home to Nazareth? Why in Matthew was it Magi who saw the star in the east and came to see the new King and in Luke it was shepherds tending their flocks who were told by angels and the heavenly host without a star in the east? Neither by the way had a drummer boy.
And in the 3rd century CE we have the first full text of what we know today as the New Testament in Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus. Before these 2 codex there is no complete collection of the New Testament in existence. Both texts are also worth study and consideration but in regards to questions, here is an interesting question concerning both codexes. Neither codex contain in the texts of Gospel of John Chapter 8: 1-11 the beautiful story of the adultress whom the elders wanted to stone and Jesus taught the great lesson on forgiveness asking the question who is without sin of the men with stones in hand and then of the woman he told to go and sin no more. IMO one of the greatest stories of christianity and yet in the first full texts it is nowhere to be found. Why? Now that is a great question to ponder and search IMO. Also worth noting that Codex Sinaiticus doesn't start Genesis until Chapter 21. Again, another fascinating question to ponder.
