Electronic New Testament Educational Resources
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Contents of Luke 1-2:
1:1-4 - Prologue: Literary Introduction to the Gospel |
1:5-25 - Angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah to announce the birth of John (the Baptist) |
1:26-38 - Angel Gabriel appears to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus (the “Annunciation”) |
1:39-56 - Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth (the “Visitation”; incl. Mary's “Magnificat”) |
1:57-80 - The Birth of John the Baptist (incl. Zechariah's “Benedictus”) |
2:1-5 - Joseph and Mary journey to Bethlehem |
2:6-7 - The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea (the “Nativity”) |
| 2:8-14 - Angels appear to some shepherds (incl. the angels' “Gloria”) |
2:15-20 - Shepherds visit the baby Jesus |
2:21 - Jesus is circumcised & given his name |
2:22-38 - Jesus is presented to God in the Jerusalem Temple (the “Presentation”) |
2:39-40 - Jesus' family returns to Nazareth |
2:41-52 - The boy Jesus is found in the Temple (incl. Simeon's “Nunc Dimittis”) |
Parallels in Biblical Birth Narratives:
| . | Birth of Samson (Judg 13:2-25) |
Birth of Samuel (1 Sam 1:1--2) |
Birth of John (Luke 1:5-25, 57-80) |
Birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-40) |
Mother's Situation |
Anonymous Wife: barren | Hannah: barren | Elizabeth: barren, old | Mary: virgin, not yet married |
| Father's Role | Manoah: dialogues with wife | Elkanah: comforts Hannah | Zechariah: priest in temple | Joseph: no major role |
| Child Requested | (not explicit) | by Hannah's prayer | by Zechariah's prayer (implicit) | (not requested) |
| Birth Announced | by an angel to the woman | by Eli's assurance to Hannah | by angel Gabriel to Zechariah | by angel Gabriel to Mary |
| Initial Reaction | Woman tells her husband | Eli thinks Hannah is drunk | Zechariah questions / doubts | Mary questions / believes |
| Result of Announcement | Angel appears again to both | Hannah conceives from husband | Elizabeth conceives from husband | Mary conceives from Holy Spirit |
| Birth of Child | brief mention (13:24a) | very brief mention (1:20) | brief narration (1:57-58) | extensive narration (2:1-20) |
| Circumcision | (not mentioned) | (not mentioned) | extensive narration (1:59-79) | brief mention (2:21) |
| Boy's Name | Samson (13:24a) | Samuel (1:20) | John (1:13, 59-63) | Jesus (1:31, 35; 2:21) |
| Reaction Praising God | (sacrifice offered before birth) | by Hannah (2:1-10) | by Zechariah (1:67-79) | by Mary (1:46-55); by angels (2:8-14); by shepherds (2:20) by Simeon (2:28-32) |
| Child Grows | mentioned briefly (13:24b-25) | (1:24-28; 2:11) | mentioned only briefly (1:80) | incident at age twelve (2:40-52) |
Electronic New Testament Educational Resources
Return to the HOME PAGE of Felix Just, S.J.
This page was last updated on
April 11, 2007
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