... to their newborn king. While both replications are correct, one may be surprised to learn that they are not contained in both Gospels. Luke's account does mention any magi following a star; likewise, Matthew makes no reference to shepherds. Although these are only minor differences, many more do exist and create major problems for scholars trying to reconcile these contrasts. The narrative stories of Jesus' birth may be somewhat different, yet, they do not necessarily contradict each other. This essay endeavors to illustrate a few of the similarities and differences of each evangelist's infancy narrative by exploring the antecedents and setting of Jesus' birth. From the four canonical Gospels, very little is known concerning Mary, the mother of Jesus, aside from the fact that she is pure and free from sin. If one is interested in learning about her past, one must turn to the non-canonical Infancy Gospel of James. This ...

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