The term "Nativity" refers to the birth of Jesus Christ, a foundational event in Christian theology and tradition. The Nativity is celebrated by Christians around the world, particularly during the Christmas season, as it marks the incarnation of God in human form. The primary biblical accounts of the Nativity are found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, each providing unique details that contribute to the full narrative of Jesus' birth.

Biblical Accounts

1. Gospel of Matthew: The account in Matthew 1:18-25 focuses on Joseph's perspective. It begins with the betrothal of Mary and Joseph, highlighting the divine nature of Jesus' conception. Matthew 1:20-21 states, "But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you shall give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.'" This passage emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy and the divine mission of Jesus as Savior.

2. Gospel of Luke: Luke 2:1-20 provides a more detailed narrative, including the decree from Caesar Augustus, the journey to Bethlehem, and the humble circumstances of Jesus' birth. Luke 2:6-7 records, "While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." The announcement to the shepherds by the angels, as described in Luke 2:10-11 , underscores the universal significance of the event: "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!'"

Theological Significance

The Nativity is not merely a historical event but a profound theological moment that signifies the incarnation of God. The doctrine of the Incarnation holds that Jesus, while fully divine, took on human flesh to dwell among humanity. This is encapsulated in John 1:14 : "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Prophetic Fulfillment

The birth of Jesus fulfills numerous Old Testament prophecies, affirming His identity as the promised Messiah. Isaiah 7:14 prophesies, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel." This prophecy is directly referenced in Matthew 1:23, linking Jesus' birth to the messianic expectations of Israel.

Cultural and Liturgical Observance

The Nativity is celebrated on December 25th in most Christian traditions, a date that has been observed since the early centuries of the Church. The celebration includes various customs and liturgical practices, such as the singing of carols, the reenactment of the Nativity account, and the display of Nativity scenes. These traditions serve to remind believers of the humility and grace of Christ's coming into the world.

Conclusion

The Nativity of Jesus Christ is a central event in Christian faith, embodying the mystery of the Incarnation and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for humanity. Through the accounts of Matthew and Luke, believers are invited to reflect on the profound love and humility demonstrated in the birth of the Savior.Nativity of Christ

The birth of our Lord took place at the time and place predicted by the prophets (Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 7:14; Jeremiah 31:15; Micah 5:2; Haggai 2:6-9; Dan. 9:24, 25). Joseph and Mary were providentially led to go up to Bethlehem at this period, and there Christ was born (Matthew 2:1, 6; Luke 2:1, 7). The exact year or month or day of his birth cannot, however, now be exactly ascertained. We know, however, that it took place in the "fulness of the time" (Galatians 4:4), i.e., at the fittest time in the world's history. Chronologists are now generally agreed that the year 4 before the Christian era was the year of Christ's nativity, and consequently that he was about four years old in the year 1 A.D.

1. (n.) The coming into life or into the world; birth; also, the circumstances attending birth, as time, place, manner, etc.

2. (n.) A picture representing or symbolizing the early infancy of Christ. The simplest form is the babe in a rude cradle, and the heads of an ox and an ass to express the stable in which he was born.

3. (n.) A representation of the positions of the heavenly bodies as the moment of one's birth, supposed to indicate his future destinies; a horoscope.

NATIVITY, OF MARY, GOSPEL OF THE

na-tiv'-i-ty.

See APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.

1083. gennesis -- birth.
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: gennesis Phonetic Spelling:
(ghen'-nay-sis) Short Definition: nativity, birth Definition: nativity, birth. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1083.htm - 6k

1078. genesis -- origin, birth
... origin, birth, genealogy. From the same as genea; nativity; figuratively, nature --
generation, nature(-ral). see GREEK genea. (genesei) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1078.htm - 6k

4351. mekurah -- origin
... birth, habitation, nativity. Or mkorah {mek-o-raw'}; from the same as kuwr in the
sense of dipping; origin (as if a mine) -- birth, habitation, nativity. ...
/hebrew/4351.htm - 6k

4138. moledeth -- kindred, birth, offspring
... From yalad; nativity (plural birth-place); by implication, lineage, native country;
also offspring, family -- begotten, born, issue, kindred, native(-ity). ...
/hebrew/4138.htm - 6k

The Nativity
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIII THE NATIVITY. 'Now the birth ... 1.18-25. Matthew's
account of the Nativity sets Joseph in the foreground. His ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the nativity.htm

The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary
The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary. <. The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary
Unknown. Alexander Walker, Esq. (Translator) Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the gospel of the nativity of mary/

The Nativity
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CXXVII THE NATIVITY. Thou cam'st from Heaven
to Earth, that we Might go from Earth to Heaven with Thee: ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cxxvii the nativity.htm

The Nativity
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First XXVIII THE NATIVITY. B. Jonson. I sing
the Birth was born to-night,. The Author both of life and light; ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/xxviii the nativity.htm

The Nativity
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CXC THE NATIVITY. 'Shepherds, rejoice,
lift up your eyes, And send your fears away; News ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cxc the nativity.htm

Hymns on the Nativity. Hymn i. This is the Day that Gladdened Them ...
... Hymns on the Nativity. Hymn I. This is the day that gladdened them, the
Prophets, Kings, and Priests, for in it were their words ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymns on the nativity hymn.htm

On the Feast of the Nativity, vi.
... On the Feast of the Nativity, VI. On the Feast of the Nativity, VI. I. Christmas
morning is the most appropriate time for thoughts on the Nativity. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon xxvi on the feast.htm

Christ's Nativity
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First I CHRIST'S NATIVITY. W. Dunbar. Now gladdeth
every living cre?�ture,. With bliss and comfortable gladn??ss,. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/i christs nativity.htm

On the Feast of the Nativity, I.
... Sermons. Sermon XXI. On the Feast of the Nativity, I. On the Feast of the
Nativity, I. I. All share in the joy of Christmas. Our ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon xxi on the feast.htm

Appendix vii. On the Date of the Nativity of Our Lord
... APPENDIX VII. ON THE DATE OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD. (Vol. ... The accord of this with
our reckoning of the date of the Nativity has been shown in vol. ip264. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix vii on the date.htm

Nativity (9 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Nativity of Christ. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NATIVITY,
OF MARY, GOSPEL OF THE. na-tiv'-i-ty. See APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS. ...
/n/nativity.htm - 11k

Natives (6 Occurrences)
... with pendant turbans upon their heads, all of them captains to look upon, the likeness
of the sons of Babylon, even of Chaldea, the land of their nativity. ...
/n/natives.htm - 8k

Native (35 Occurrences)
... Genesis 24:7 The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and
from the land of my nativity, and who spoke unto me, and who swore unto me ...
/n/native.htm - 19k

Nation (192 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Family; lineage. 4. (n.) One of the divisions of university students in
a classification according to nativity, formerly common in Europe. ...
/n/nation.htm - 40k

Bethlehem (49 Occurrences)
... There is a church still existing, built by Constantine the Great (AD 330), called
the "Church of the Nativity," over a grotto or cave called the "holy crypt ...
/b/bethlehem.htm - 31k

Gospels
... SUPPLEMENTARY OR LEGENDARY GOSPELS 1. Gospels of the Nativity (a) Protevangelium
of James (b) Pseudo-Matthew (c) The Nativity of Mary (d) Gospel of Joseph the ...
/g/gospels.htm - 73k

Wast (84 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not
cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted ...
/w/wast.htm - 33k

Husband (154 Occurrences)
... 42). (1) Before the Nativity. ... shepherds. The latter took place immediately
after the Nativity (compare Luke 2:11, 15, 16, "is born.... ...
/h/husband.htm - 55k

Knewest (11 Occurrences)
... thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how
thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art ...
/k/knewest.htm - 10k

Nationality (5 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) The state or quality of belonging to or being connected with a nation or
government by nativity, character, ownership, allegiance, etc. ...
/n/nationality.htm - 8k

What is a Christmas nativity? | GotQuestions.org

What was the star of Bethlehem? | GotQuestions.org

What is the joy of the Lord? | GotQuestions.org

Nativity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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