The Bible’s Two Nativity Stories
Let’s explore the two stories we thought were one
The Bible’s Two Nativity Stories
Let’s explore the two stories we thought were one
We’ve all seen the manger scene around Christmas time, with Mary and Joseph near the baby Jesus likely lying in a bed made of straw. The family is surrounded by various animals, shepherds, and the three wise men/kings/magi whatever they’re called in your particular version of the Bible.
We’ve heard the story numerous times, but this particular scene doesn’t play out in the Bible at all, at least not all compiled together like this. There are actually two stories told, with some pretty profound differences. The core of the story is the same, you’ve got a miraculously impregnated virgin Mary, and her fiancé Joseph, and Jesus being born in Bethlehem, where they have visitors. Then afterward the family somehow ends up in Nazareth where Jesus grows up, but that’s basically the limit of where the stories are the same.