Articles in this study path

  1. PER005 Mary's visit to Elizabeth

    Mary's visit to Elizabeth, recounted in the Gospel of Luke, highlights Mary's faith and the prophetic importance of this event in the fulfilment of Scripture. The article explores the historical and theological context of this encounter.

    Luke 1.39-45 (King James Version) :
    And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  2. PER007 The birth of John the Baptist

    The article discusses the birth of John the Baptist, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. His birth, described as miraculous, is accompanied by prophecies and recalls ancient biblical accounts. John, whose name means "God is gracious", is announced by Gabriel and will become a forerunner of the Messiah.

    Genesis 22.1-18 (King James Version) :
    And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.NoteBehold…: Heb. Behold meAnd he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.Notelamb: or, kidThen on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.NoteJehovah-jireh: that is, The Lord will see, or, provideAnd he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,Noteshore: Heb. lipAnd said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  3. PER003 Announcement of the birth of John the Baptist

    This article describes the announcement of John the Baptist's birth, recounted exclusively in the Gospel of Luke, highlighting the attention to historical detail and John's prophetic significance as the forerunner of Jesus.

    Luke 1.5-25 (King James Version) :
    There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  4. PER004 Announcement of the birth of Jesus the Messiah

    The article discusses the announcement of Jesus' birth by the angel Gabriel to Mary in the Gospel of Luke, emphasising his conception through the Holy Spirit. It also explores the prophetic and family contexts surrounding this major event in Christianity.

    Daniel 9.21 (King James Version) :
    Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  5. PER006 Mary's praise, or the Magnificat

    This article examines Mary's Magnificat, a hymn of praise in which she expresses her gratitude to God, acknowledging her role in the plan of redemption. An analysis of Luke 1:46-55.

    Luke 1.46-55 (King James Version) :
    And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  6. CHR007 The date of birth of Jesus the Messiah

    The study explores the date of Jesus’ birth, linking prophecies, Gospel testimonies and historical data to propose a birth around October 12, -2 BC, during the Feast of Tabernacles.

    Daniel 9.24-27 (King James Version) :
    Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  7. CHR008 The death of King Herod the Great

    The study explores the chronology of the death of Herod the Great, which affects the dating of the birth and ministry of Jesus. Based on the work of Schürer, who proposes the year 4 BC, it stresses the importance of reconsidering historical interpretations in light of the texts of Flavius Josephus.

    Luke 3.1-23 (King James Version) :
    Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

Further reading
  • ANN012 The Magi from the East in Bethlehem

    This article examines the account of the Magi who came from the East to pay homage to Jesus, highlighting the historicity of Matthew's account and its resonance…

  • ANN007 The family relationship between Mary and Elizabeth

    An analysis of the family relationship between Mary and Elizabeth based on the Gospel of Luke. The article examines the apparent contradiction between their kinship and…

  • ANN009 The censuses of Quirinius

    Article ANN009 examines the question of the censuses of Quirinius mentioned in the Gospel of Luke (Lk 2,1-2) and their apparent discrepancy with the census historically…

Nativity and Childhood of Jesus

The "Nativity and Childhood of Jesus" is a study path that explores in depth the accounts surrounding the birth and early years of Jesus Christ. These accounts, primarily found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, provide details of significant events such as the Annunciation, the visits of the shepherds and the Magi, and the flight into Egypt.

Jesus' childhood, though sparsely documented in Scripture, is crucial to understanding the setting in which he grew up. Shortly after his birth in Bethlehem, his family has to flee to Egypt to escape King Herod. They later settle in Nazareth, where Jesus grows up in a humble family with his mother Mary and his father Joseph, a carpenter by trade.

This study path is particularly interesting because it brings together history, prophecy and the Jewish culture of the time. It also invites reflection on how the events surrounding Jesus' birth influenced the development of his teachings and the message he would carry throughout his life. Such a study deepens our understanding of the foundations of Christianity and of Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Further reading
  • ANN042 Travel times

    This appendix examines means of travel and journey times in the first century. In Jesus' time, people travelled mainly on foot, in caravans or…