This book focuses on the question that will be of most interest to readers: Was the Birth of Jesus according to Scripture? It sets the scene by outlining the debate between those who think that Matthew and Luke devised their narratives on the basis of specific Old Testament texts and those who think the Gospel narratives have determined the choice and meaning of those texts. It helps the reader engage with the material by beginning with the least controversial topics (Jesus was preceded by a forerunner and was of the house of David), then moving on to the importance of particular places in the narrative (Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Egypt, Nazareth) and the historical evidence for associating Jesus with them, before ending with the most controversial topics (virgin birth and slaughter of the innocents).

This book focuses on the question that will be of most interest to readers: Was the Birth of Jesus according to Scripture? It sets the scene by outlining the debate between those who think that Matthew and Luke devised their narratives on the basis of specific Old Testament texts and those who think the Gospel narratives have determined the choice and meaning of those texts. It helps the reader engage with the material by beginning with the least controversial topics (Jesus was preceded by a forerunner and was of the house of David), then moving on to the importance of particular places in the narrative (Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Egypt, Nazareth) and the historical evidence for associating Jesus with them, before ending with the most controversial topics (virgin birth and slaughter of the innocents).