Nobody commented on the gap between the writing and the event suggested by the LIBERAL PROF!!! This is an attempt to open up the whole oral transmission idea and the documentary hypothesis. That is the point of a "time gap" to allow sufficient time for embellishment. THIS IS FLAWED THEOLOGY! It is an attack on the inspired Word of God, plain and simple, period!
If the Bible (autographs) is not the Word of God, your ideas are no better than anyone elses. Who made you the authority?!?!
If the Bible is not the Word of God, let's all go party, for tomorrow we die.
Was Jesus really born in a manger?
Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by BillyG, Dec 17, 2004.
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Here are the choices:
Go with the gospel narrative or
make something up -
The statement that Mary "laid him in a manger" suggests to me that he was not born in a manger.
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Yeah.
"It's freezing cold outside and there's ice on the ground" suggests to me that it's the middle of summer. -
Thanks for the responses to my question.
Here is a brief statement by the CIU professor: Vantage Point: Jesus was not born in a stable in back of the village inn. Bible professor Dr. Terry Hulbert of Columbia International University says Jesus was more likely born in the house of a relative of Joseph. Hulbert says the Christmas story as we know it comes from a mistranslation of the Greek word for "inn" in the Gospel of Luke and a misunderstanding of Middle Eastern culture.
Any other comments?
Billy -
Luke 2:7:
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." -
J. Hampton Keathley, III , Th.M.
J. Hampton Keathley III, Th.M. is a 1966 graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and a former pastor of 28 years. In August of 2001 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and on August 29th, 2002 he went home to be with the Lord.
Dr. Keathley wrote this: And laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.” The problem of the inn is still unsolved. The fact is we do not have any information regarding these Palestinian inns. In the rest of the Roman empire, we know they were places of ill repute and travelers, whenever possible, stayed with friends. Thus, we have the emphasis in the New Testament on showing “love to strangers.” Jewish inns may have been better, but this is only conjecture.
Some believe the word “inn” should be translated “caravansary.” Another translation might be “guest house” because the word can mean “guest room.” It was, however, a place where travelers stayed. The earliest non-scriptural reference to the birth of Christ is found in Justin Martyr, an early church father, and is dated about A.D. 140. He stated that Christ was born in a cave. Origen said the same in A.D. 248 as did Jerome, one of the most brilliant scholars of the early church.
Sometimes caves were used as a house, other times as the stable. Tradition says it was a cave in the side of the hill behind the inn or guest house of the village. The main point is that whatever the exact nature of the place, the city was so crowded with people because of the census that the only place left for them was the stable.
Billy -
Now ya got me really confused, my friend. In your original post, you said:
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I heard an explanation that the Greek word for 'inn' really refers to a guest house, and the 'stable' was really a kind of storage room for grain, not for animals. In their culture, once you gave a guest a room for the night, you could not take it back. That would be incredibly rude. So the idea is that some friend or relative of Joseph had lent his guest room to another guest (possibly in town for the census as well) and Joseph and Mary had to be crammed into a small grain storage room for the night.
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-- King James
Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
-- American Standard
Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
-- Living Bible
Luke 2:7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.
-- Revised Standard
Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
-- Simple English
Luke 2:7 She gave birth to her first son and wrapped him with cloths. There were no rooms left in the hotel. So she laid the baby in a box where cattle are fed.
-- Transliterated, Pronounceable
Luke 2:7 kai' e'teken to'n Huio'n autee's to'nprooto'tokon, kai' esparga'noosen auto'n kai' ane'klinen auto'nen fa'tnee, dio'ti ouk ee'n autoi's to'pos en too' katalu'mati.
-- Transliterated, Unaccented
Luke 2:7 kai eteken ton Huion autes tonprototokon, kai esparganosen auton kai aneklinen autonen fatne, dioti ouk en autois topos en to katalumati. -
I think it was more of a tent and He was born in the Fall during the Feast of Tabernacles. :cool:
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Why is it that some folks try to interpret things to be saying just about anything other than what they plainly say?
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
means:
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
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They're just straining at a gnat Jim.
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Not sure exactly what the principal point is of this thread in the first place. :confused:
Christ probably wasn't born in a wooden barn-like structure that we so commonly see today in our so-called "Nativity Scenes." Certainly having only three (how do we KNOW it was only three?) "Wise Men" in attendance isn't correct. ;)
And why bash the "innkeeper" (whoever or whatever that meant) or his guests? Does the NT specifically state that either was told that Messiah was to be born that night? :confused:
It's fine with me to speculate over all the little minute details concerning the first human incarnation of Jesus [including the precise time of the year it occurred], but to argue over things in which the Holy Spirit didn't choose to necessarily emphasize (and, therefore, probably aren't really that vital) can sometimes cause us to overlook WHY He came to earth in the first place.
He didn't come so that we could all enjoy Christmas parties and gift-giving (nothing wrong with those things either!). He came to be not only to be the perfect example for us and a great teacher of what His Father meant in the OT, but also He was our sinless substitute and by whose blood we have been redeemed and given new life, both here on this earth and throughout eternity. He is everything He claimed to be, did everything He was supposed to do back then (just as He did BEFORE He was made flesh...earlier than Day One), He is doing everything perfectly well today, and He'll continue to do all things to perfection.
He IS the LORD of hosts, He IS the Great I AM, He IS the King of Glory, He IS the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of this earth. Herod couldn't kill Him, the Pharisees couldn't stop Him, Pilate couldn't bargain with Him, death couldn't conquer Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him!
He IS Altogther Lovely, and He IS my Savior! -
I think some people should take a comprehensive reading course then read the bible agin to see what it says.
7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
People would know these minute details if they would open the Bible and read and study it for themselves.
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