Vincent Mercado Supporter Skeptic turned believer, Catholic, father of 3

Luke 1 and 2.

December 23 2013 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

'The Christmas Story' is a phrase that many use to refer to Christ's birth. It pulls from the events of Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-20, and often takes from tradition as well. Usually, this telling merges many events into a compressed timeline (such as having the magi at Christ's birth). Actual events may be stylized by the addition of traditions (Mary on a Donkey, the magi being three kings, a cold winter's day, a bright star over the manger, etc) 

'The Christmas story' may also refer to telling a story about Christ's birth around Christmastime.

"The Christmas Story", of itself, is nowhere found in the Bible. Christmas is not mentioned in the Bible, and was not an existent celebration until a few centuries after. Christmas slowly took the place of many of the pagan solstice celebrations of the time, merging them together, until it was eventually mandated to keep by the Roman Empire.

For public use (church, general public, among friends of various beliefs, etc) it is probably best not to overuse the term 'Christmas Story' for Christ's birth as it links the two as if they were the same thing.

In summary: The story of Christ's birth is not the same thing as "the Christmas story", but "The Christmas Story" is a stylized account of Christ's birth.

[By analogy: Jesus' crucifixion is not the movie 'the Passion of the Christ', but 'The Passion of the Christ' is a stylized portrayal of Christ's last week].

July 24 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-12; Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20. 

Good question, Ricky Chapman!

December 25 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report