Did the flight into Egypt by the Holy Family really happen or was this just made by St Matthew to fit the scriptures?

Answer 1

John Shelby Spong (Born of a Woman: A bishop rethinks the birth of Jesus) says that the story of the flight to Egypt was created by Matthew to show a parallel between Jesus and Moses. Matthew had Joseph take his family to Egypt just as the patriarch Joseph had done, in order to escape death. The killing of all male babies reflects the very similar account in the story of Moses. He says that Matthew was clearly writing Christian midrash.

Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament ) agrees, saying that Joseph is shaped by Matthew in the image of the patriarch Joseph.

Burton L. Mack (Who Wrote the New Testament) says that scholars have frequently remarked on the stories of Jesus' birth and infancy. They are seen as incredible, implausible, far-fetched fictions that some believe to signal Matthew's naivete with regard to legendary material.

Answer 2

The flight into Egypt by the Holy Family is described in the Gospel of Matthew. While there is no direct historical evidence to confirm this event, it is generally believed to be a literary device used by Matthew to connect Jesus to the Old Testament and fulfill prophecies. Whether it actually happened or not is a matter of faith and interpretation.