Written By Lesallan August 17, 2023
If you are curious about the life of Jesus, you might wonder why the four gospels in the Bible have so little information about his childhood. Only two of them, Matthew and Luke, mention his birth and early years, and they do so briefly. The other two, Mark and John, start with his baptism as an adult. Why did the gospel writers skip or ignore such a significant part of Jesus’ life? Here are some possible explanations.
Different audiences and purposes led the gospel writers to emphasize different aspects of Jesus’ life. For example, Matthew showed Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, who fulfilled the prophecies and the law of the Old Testament. He wrote for a Jewish audience who needed to see Jesus as their king and savior. Luke, on the other hand, showed Jesus as the universal Savior, who brought salvation to all people, especially the poor and the marginalized. He wrote for a Gentile audience who needed to see Jesus as their friend and Lord. The childhood stories of Jesus were less relevant or appealing to their readers than his adult life, where he preached, healed, and died for them.
The gospel writers had few sources and information on Jesus’ childhood. They used oral traditions, eyewitnesses, and some written documents from early Christians to compose their accounts. These sources had little details on Jesus’ early years, which most people did not record or remember. In those days, childhood was not considered as important or interesting as adulthood. Children were expected to grow up quickly and follow their parents’ occupation. The gospel writers did not make up or exaggerate stories without sources. They were careful and honest in reporting what they knew about Jesus.
The gospel writers omitted or reduced Jesus’ childhood for theological and literary reasons. They focused on Jesus as the Son of God who saved humanity and fulfilled the Old Testament. They used literary devices to link Jesus with Israel’s history and God’s plan. For example, Matthew likened Jesus to Moses, who escaped from a tyrant king and led his people out of slavery. Luke likened Jesus to Samuel, who was dedicated to God from his birth and became a prophet and a judge. These devices were more important or meaningful than the actual events of Jesus’ childhood. They showed how Jesus was connected to God’s promises and actions in the past.
In conclusion, the gospel writers focused so little on Jesus’ childhood because they had different goals, sources, and methods than modern biographers. They wanted to tell us who Jesus was and what he did for us, not just what he did when he was a child. They used the information they had to present a coherent and compelling picture of Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God.
Lesallan
