Summary of Kenneth E. Bailey's Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 The traditional account of the birth of Jesus includes a number of critical flaws. These include: Joseph was a royal, which meant he was from the family of King David. Bethlehem was known as the City of David. Everyone knew that Jerusalem was the City of David.

#2 The traditional Christmas story, that Jesus was born the same night the holy family arrived in Bethlehem, is not supported by the text. It is important to inquire why this idea became so popular.

#3 The traditional interpretation of Luke 2:1-7 is that Joseph was returning to his home village, where he could easily find shelter. Because he was a descendent of King David, all doors were open to him. Mary had relatives nearby, and could have turned to them, but did not.

#4 The birth of Jesus was recorded in Luke, and it is evident that the story was composed by a messianic Jew at a very early stage in the life of the church. The text informs the reader that Joseph was of the house and lineage of David.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: May 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822525153

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Insights on Kenneth E. Bailey's Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 11

Insights from Chapter 12

Insights from Chapter 13

Insights from Chapter 14

Insights from Chapter 15

Insights from Chapter 16

Insights from Chapter 17

Insights from Chapter 18

Insights from Chapter 19

Insights from Chapter 20

Insights from Chapter 21

Insights from Chapter 22

Insights from Chapter 23

Insights from Chapter 24

Insights from Chapter 25

Insights from Chapter 26

Insights from Chapter 27

Insights from Chapter 28

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The traditional account of the birth of Jesus includes a number of critical flaws. These include: Joseph was a royal, which meant he was from the family of King David. Bethlehem was known as the City of David. Everyone knew that Jerusalem was the City of David.

#2

The traditional Christmas story, that Jesus was born the same night the holy family arrived in Bethlehem, is not supported by the text. It is important to inquire why this idea became so popular.

#3

The traditional interpretation of Luke 2:1-7 is that Joseph was returning to his home village, where he could easily find shelter. Because he was a descendent of King David, all doors were open to him. Mary had relatives nearby, and could have turned to them, but did not.

#4

The birth of Jesus was recorded in Luke, and it is evident that the story was composed by a messianic Jew at a very early stage in the life of the church. The text informs the reader that Joseph was of the house and lineage of David.

#5

The traditional home in which Jesus lived was a one-room house with an elongated circle in the middle, representing the manger, for animals. The home was dug out of the lower end of the living room, and it naturally fit into the birth story of Jesus.

#6

The one-room village home with mangers has been noted by modern scholars as well. The word inn in Luke 2:7 is not referring to a room in an inn, but rather to space as in There is no space on my desk for my new computer.

#7

The Greek word katalyma, which is commonly translated as inn, is actually a more general term that can refer to many types of shelters. The three options for this story are inn, house, and guest room.

#8

Christianity in the Middle East has traditionally focused on the birth taking place in a cave. The Eastern tradition has always maintained that Mary was alone when the child was born. In worship, the altar is hidden from the eyes of the faithful, and the event of the elements becoming the body and blood of Jesus takes place out of sight.

#9

The shepherds were the first people to hear the message of the birth of Jesus, and they were amazed. They left praising God for all they had heard and seen. The child was born for the likes of the shepherds, the poor, the lowly, and the rejected.

#10

The Christmas story is simplified when we look at it from a cultural perspective. Jesus was born in a simple two-room village home, not in a cold and lonely stable.

#11

The four women in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. They are all seen in pre-Christian literature as Aramean women.