In David's city
of Bethlehem

Chapter 6

ㅇㅊㅁ

Logical flow so far

Doubtful factuality of Matthew and Luke

Why the development?

Why the references?

Parallelism and parabolic truth

Outline

David the Once and Future King of Israel
Matthew the closet rebel
The Lukan terms
- Lord and Savior
- Gospel and peace
Personal thoughts

David

the Once and Future King of Israel

The world as recovering from WW2

Prophetic medley

more in the theological future than the historical present

"against the LORD and against his Anointed" (Ps 2:2c)

“As for me, I have set my Kingon Zion, my holy hill.” (2:6)

“today I [God] have begotten you” (2:7)

“I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession” (2:8)

“I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him” (89:20)

“I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him” (89:23)

“I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (89:27)

On that day I will raise up the booth of David (Am 9:11)

there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom (Is 9:7)

The days are surely coming, ... when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch (Jr 23:5)

In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David (Jr 33:15)

Messianic expectations

Questions asked in Chapter 3

Human?
or
Transcendent?

Violent?
or
Non-violent?

Jewish

Christian

Matthew's Christmas story

Anti-Roman title

"King of the Jews"

"Messiah"

... only used in scenes with Herod and Pilate

The clash began from birth.

not "King of Israel"↴

Birth parallelism

Dream/Prophecy

↓

Fear

↓

Interpretation/Advice

Birth of Moses

Birth of Jesus

Exodus 1–2
Targum of Jerusalem I
Josephus
Book of Memoirs

Matthew 2

Jesus the new Moses

... didn't really need to stop by at Herod's

... somewhat deliberate

Other facets

The Magi (pagans) were pro-Jesus
while Herod and Jerusalem were anti-Jesus.
- Overture to the Great Commission:
  "Go therefore and make disciples
  of all nations" (Mt 28:19)
Westward-guiding star
- Foundation myth of Rome:
  Trojan refugees following Venus to Italy
Egypt — to and fro
- doom and death for Moses
- refuge and life for Jesus

Lord and Savior

according to Luke

Traditional account

Luke's highly doubtful narrative
of the Nazareth→Bethlehem trip

A census of the entire Roman Empire?
Quirinius then governor of Syria?
"Their own towns"?
Bethlehem for being David's descendent?
Mary's company necessary?

"Oikumene"

Why so written?

To present Jesus and earliest Christianity
as historical located, imperially dated,
and cosmically significant events.
To draw contrast between Caesar Augustus
and Jesus Christ
The existence of Gemma Augustea →
showing metaphoric correctness
of Luke

Oikumene, personifying
the inhabited world

Gemma Augustea,
from Wikimedia Commons

Do we see intent

Lord: both God and God as revealed in Jesus
Shepherds: the socially marginalized
(also, David's first job)
Recurring format:
Angel→Fear→Reassurance→Message→Sign
"Messiah" framed with "Savior" and "Lord"

Judaism within the Roman Empire

Pledging allegiance to someone other than Caesar Augustus
Confrontation between peace through violent victory versus
peace through nonviolent justice

Against Augustus,
who "saved" the Roman Empire from civil-war suicide
Against the general belief of Roman citizens, who celebrate Augustus as "savior of the whole world"

Lord

Savior

Gospel and Peace