A critical examination of the infancy narratives in the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke
Doctoral Thesis
1980
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
The study of Christology in the N.T. documents can be approached from a number of different directions; dogmatic, historical-critical; in terms of biblical theology' or with a hermeneutical priority. To avoid a projection of a Christology into the N.T. it is important that Christology should be grounded on a thorough exegesis of the text. Two recent critical methods which have helped to foster such a basis are redaction-criticism and structural analysis. While both methods have certain weaknesses a combination of these with the more traditional methods can produce a comprehensive 'systems' approach to the text. Such an approach is most likely to attain to the ideals which the biblical interpreter seeks to reach. In our case a particular section of the N.T. has been chosen, namely the infancy narratives in Matthew and in Luke. The first requirement is an examination of the work that has already been done. This requirement is due to the absence of a comprehensive survey on the subject and the fact that different schools of thought have developed which often ignore each other. There is therefore a need for an exposure to the full spectrum of research. The origins of research into these narratives may be traced to the enlightenment and the period of rationalism. This led to a reaction from conservative theologians. A fierce debate was provoked by these two schools of thought which had the positive result of raising all the critical issues. The study of the infancy narratives has unfortunately been somewhat blurred by a preoccupation with the doctrine of the virgin birth. Another area of preoccupation has been the linguistic origins of the Lucan infancy narrative. In more recent times the theory of midrashic creation has become popular. Redaction-criticism has brought the first step towards an exegesis of the infancy narratives which allows them to speak for themselves.
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Bibliography: leaf 429-445.
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Morphew, D. 1980. A critical examination of the infancy narratives in the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke. University of Cape Town.