The five classic Christmas story elements that DON'T actually appear in the Bible

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The five classic Christmas story elements that DON'T actually appear in the Bible

Daily Mail
By SHIVALI BEST
18 December 2024

Every December, millions of children across the UK take part in their school nativity play.

The nativity, also known as the Christmas pageant, claims to tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

But if your child has been cast as the inn keeper or the little donkey, there's bad news.

Professor Chris Greenough of Social Sciences at Edge Hill University says that these Christmas story characters actually don't appear in the Bible.

'Some of best-known parts of the Christmas story aren't in the Bible at all,' he wrote in an article for The Conversation.

'Although Christmas is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Bible offers scant information on when Mary gave birth.

'In fact, there's very little about Jesus' birth and infancy in the gospel accounts as a whole – his early life only became of interest later because of his ministry.

'What the Bible does tell us is that there were few people at Jesus' birth: only his parents, shepherds who attended later, followed by a visit from the magi (the wise men).'

(more)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14205119/christmas-story-elements-dont-appear-bible.html

[Hoodat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s74pvLWoYzU

[Gefn]

Years ago I head a tale that a small tabby cat was able to crawl inside the manger with the baby Jesus and helped keep him warm. Mary blessed said tabby by putting a "M" on it's forehead- so all its ancestors would know it was blessed by Mary.

I don't know if it is true or not but it is a lovely story nevertheless.

@Cyber Liberty

[roamer_1]

[...] the manger with the baby Jesus

It wasn't a manger. It was a sukkot.  It wasn't christmas. It was Sukkot (harvest time). And he was circumsized on the Great Eighth Day - Which is why it is such a celebration - When the Messiah was brought under the covenant in order to save us all. Sukkot was fulfilled in Yeshua, every bit as much as Pesach (Passover) was. The story is so much more rich and meaningful than most Christians can possibly know.

[Hoodat]

It wasn't a manger. It was a sukkot.  It wasn't christmas. It was Sukkot (harvest time). And he was circumsized on the Great Eighth Day - Which is why it is such a celebration - When the Messiah was brought under the covenant in order to save us all. Sukkot was fulfilled in Yeshua, every bit as much as Pesach (Passover) was. The story is so much more rich and meaningful than most Christians can possibly know.

It marks the fulfillment of G-d's promise to us all.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas, @roamer_1

[Texas Yellow Rose]

It wasn't a manger. It was a sukkot.  It wasn't christmas. It was Sukkot (harvest time). And he was circumsized on the Great Eighth Day - Which is why it is such a celebration - When the Messiah was brought under the covenant in order to save us all. Sukkot was fulfilled in Yeshua, every bit as much as Pesach (Passover) was. The story is so much more rich and meaningful than most Christians can possibly know.

[Cyber Liberty]

Years ago I head a tale that a small tabby cat was able to crawl inside the manger with the baby Jesus and helped keep him warm. Mary blessed said tabby by putting a "M" on it's forehead- so all its ancestors would know it was blessed by Mary.

I don't know if it is true or not but it is a lovely story nevertheless.

@Cyber Liberty

I have four grey Tabbies with M-heads....

[Texas Yellow Rose]

Appendix 179 of the Companion Bible, E. W. Bullinger

I.  PARALLEL DATINGS OF THE TIMES OF OUR LORD.

II.  DATES OF "THE BEGETTING" AND THE NATIVITY, ETC.

III.  "THE COURSE OF ABIA".
https://www.companionbiblecondensed.com/AP/ap179/index.html?page=1

The Complete Companion Bible
https://www.companionbiblecondensed.com/

[PeteS in CA]

1. Jesus was not born on a 'silent night'

Ummm, OK. So?

2. There was no 'little donkey'
...
'The account does not tell us how they travelled – and riding a donkey while heavily pregnant would likely have been deeply uncomfortable.'

Ummmmmmm ... walking the ~90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem would have been comfortable? That Mary rode a donkey seems much more likely.

3. In fact, there were no animals at all

Ummm, OK. There was a feeding trough (manger, φάτνη) but no animals about who ate from it?

4. The inn keeper and his stable

The inn keeper is one of the pivotal characters in the school nativity play, tasked with delivering the classic line of 'there's no room in the inn' to Mary and Joseph.

So, how did Joseph learn there was not room at the inn? A Ouija board?

  This "debunker" article is pathetic. I think people would learn more had The Daily Mail simply published Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-21

[bigheadfred]

Ummm, OK. So?

Ummmmmmm ... walking the ~90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem would have been comfortable? That Mary rode a donkey seems much more likely.

Ummm, OK. There was a feeding trough (manger, φάτνη) but no animals about who ate from it?

So, how did Joseph learn there was not room at the inn? A Ouija board?

  This "debunker" article is pathetic. I think people would learn more had The Daily Mail simply published Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-21

 

[roamer_1]

It marks the fulfillment of G-d's promise to us all.]

Sukkot does, yes indeed, @Hoodat .

And the holy days will herald his second coming too. And his victory.
And TORAH will go forth from Jerusalem.
And the nations will come to Jerusalem on the holy days or they will see no rain.

THEN it is fulfilled.

Remember... The whole world is deceived.