Does this title scare you? At least I hope it did attract your attention!
This is the first of a series of posts that I want to do on Christian myths. You might ask: “What is a Christian myth?” I don’t know if this is a common term, but I made this up myself while thinking about this subject. I see a Christian myth as a story or part of a story that is in the Bible, but is changed during the years. This might be a slight change or a major change. Does this make it clear? Maybe you would like to continue reading…..
Let me give a few examples to make it a bit more clear. Christmas holds a lot of myths that seem to be biblical, but when you check the biblical text, it’s not there! Like the myth of Jesus being born in a stable.
Luke describes the birth of Jesus as follows (taken from the ESV): Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when [1] Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, [2] who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (text in italics done by me)
Both John and Mark don’t even describe the birth of Jesus and Matthew only says that Jesus was born.
It might be possible that Jesus was born in a stable, because of the manger where He was laid in. But there’s no evidence of Him actually being born in a stable.
Aren’t you curious to hear more? Then come back soon, because I will post another myth about Christmas later today…..
