Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography: Reopening a Closed Case

by Caleb T. Friedeman

Overview

Scholars today tend to view the birth narratives of Jesus as substantially less reliable than the rest of the canonical Gospel accounts. Indeed, many recent studies of the historical Jesus pass over his birth altogether or provide only scant commentary. A primary reason for this skepticism is intent oriented: ancient birth narratives (so the argument goes) were meant to be legendary, not historical, and so the Gospel birth narratives, too, should be understood as essentially legendary. Caleb Friedeman challenges this skepticism and argues that ancient birth narratives—including the accounts of Matthew and Luke—were intended to be historical.

The core argument of Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography proceeds along three lines: (1) The Gospels are ancient biographies. (2) In ancient biographies, birth narratives were not intended to be legendary but historical. (3) Therefore, the Gospel birth narratives are not intended to be legendary but historical. Part 1 examines birth material in a representative sample of ancient biographies from the works of Cornelius Nepos, Philo of Alexandria, Plutarch, and Suetonius. In each case, Friedeman demonstrates that the writer presents his birth material with historiographic intent (e.g., citing sources, noting differences between sources, evaluating the truth of sources). To show that the samples are not biased, Friedeman provides a summary chart for each author that details historiographic features in both the birth material and non-birth material of their biographies. Part 2 turns to the Gospel birth narratives to consider how the historiographic nature of birth narratives in ancient biography should shape our reading of Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2.

The overarching aim of Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography is not so much to argue that the Gospel birth narratives are historically true as that they are meant to be historically true. Friedeman thus reframes the discussion of Gospel birth narratives and historiography and in so doing opens a previously closed horizon for historical Jesus scholarship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481324212
Publisher:	Baylor University Press
Publication date:	11/01/2025
Pages:	270
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Caleb T. Friedeman (PhD, Wheaton College) is David A. Case Chair of Biblical Studies and associate research professor of New Testament at Ohio Christian University. He is the author of  The Revelation of the Messiah and coauthor of  The Doctrine of Good Works Gospel and Holiness.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1 Ancient Birth Narratives and Historiography
1 Cornelius Nepos
2 Philo
3 Plutarch
4 Suetonius
5 Ancient Birth Narratives and Historiography: Conclusions
Part 2 Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography
6 Matthew
7 Luke
Conclusion

What People are Saying About This

Michael Licona

Caleb Friedeman’s Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography is a groundbreaking work that reclaims the Gospel birth narratives as serious contributions to ancient historiography. With scholarly precision and literary insight, Friedeman challenges long-standing assumptions about the birth narratives and invites a fresh reading of Jesus’ origins. Matthew and Luke composed their accounts with genuine historical intent, creatively combining Jewish scriptural tropes with Greco-Roman biographical conventions. They intended their birth narratives to be understood as historically true. This book is essential for anyone seeking to understand the Gospels as both theology and history.

Craig S. Keener

Unlike most books today, this one actually breaks new ground. Caleb Friedeman makes a compelling argument that authors of full biographies near the first century based the primary features of their birth narratives on prior information. He also provides evidence that Matthew and Luke likewise depend on prior sources. If Friedeman is correct, scholars will need to begin to reevaluate historical memory in our first-century stories about Jesus’s infancy.

Amy Peeler

Thoroughly engaging with scholarship in such a way that allows readers to see the substance of the arguments, Friedeman demonstrates why history matters to theology. An insightful trip through several pertinent ancient biographies situates the Gospels in their historical context and also demonstrates the power of what they achieved. As someone with a keen interest in the reliability of Jesus’ conception and birth—an interest all Christians should share—I cannot wait to share this vital contribution with others. Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography leaves me more confident and more in awe of how God chose to enter the world.

Kenneth T. Wessner Professor of New Testament

Thoroughly engaging with scholarship in such a way that allows readers to see the substance of the arguments, Friedeman demonstrates why history matters to theology. An insightful trip through several pertinent ancient biographies situates the Gospels in their historical context and also demonstrates the power of what they achieved. As someone with a keen interest in the reliability of Jesus’ conception and birth—an interest all Christians should share—I cannot wait to share this vital contribution with others. Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography leaves me more confident and more in awe of how God chose to enter the world.