Were the writers of the infancy narrative inspired by God?

Answer 1

If the authors of the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke were not inspired by God, it is hard to know how they had such detailed knowledge that they disclose in their narratives nearly a century after the birth of Jesus.

On the other hand, if they really were inspired by God, we could expect that both Infancy Narratives would be in substantial agreement as to the facts. Yet it would be hard to imagine two accounts that could differ so dramatically in describing the same event. Either:

• Nazareth was the home of Joseph and Mary, or Bethlehem was;
• Either the young family fled from Bethlehem to Egypt after the birth of Jesus, or they travelled peacefully to Jerusalem only a few weeks after the birth, then returned home to Nazareth;
• Either Joseph and Mary were returning home from Egypt to Bethlehem after the death of Herod but, being warned in a dream , turned aside and travelled to Nazareth instead, or they went immediately to Nazareth just a few weeks after the birth of Jesus;
• Either the angel told Joseph that the virgin Mary was to have a baby, or he told Mary - the two accounts can not both have been true;
• Either the father of Joseph was called Heli, or he was called Jacob.

This analysis tells us that the evangelists were writing midrash and were not inspired by God.