Why is Jesus Childhood Not in the Bible?
We may wonder why Luke included so little information about Jesus’ childhood in his gospel. After all, he was trying to create an orderly account for Theophilus, his disciple. However, there may be a more interesting explanation. It may be that the gospel writers had learned more about the life of Jesus as a child and decided not to include it in their accounts. Possibly, they did not want to give up information that would have helped them spread the gospel. Another reason is that Jesus’ family chose not to share much information with him because of shame and fear.
Luke’s purpose in composing an orderly account
The purpose of Luke’s account of Jesus’ childhood is twofold. First, he wants to tell a story that will appeal to a wider Gentile audience, and second, he wants to convince Theophilus that what he has written about Jesus is true. As a result, Luke focuses on logical connections rather than chronological order. Second, he wants to emphasize the message of Jesus as the Savior of the world.
In writing the gospel of Luke, the author addresses his first reader, the priest Theophilus, as “the most excellent Theophilus.” Theophilus was an honorific title, and Luke frequently referred to such people in his writing. He also used the honorific title “Festus,” which was used to address Roman governors. Although Luke’s letter to Theophilus cites Theophilus as his first reader, he also wrote to a wider audience.
Luke was a member of the first century church at Antioch, so he was likely familiar with the teachings of Jesus. He was taught by Paul, and he was on several missionary journeys. In addition, he interacted with the apostle John Mark.
Luke’s purpose in creating a legend about Jesus’ early years
The purpose of Luke’s gospel is to tell us about Jesus’ early years. Like any good historian, he gathered facts about Jesus’ life and recorded them in detail. The gospel account includes detailed information about the birth of John the Baptist and the miraculous conception of Jesus.
Luke’s prologue establishes his purpose for writing the story. He has carefully researched the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ early years to create a detailed account. Moreover, he is a meticulous historian who wishes to confirm the Christian message. In particular, Luke is concerned with continuity between the promises made to the people of Israel and the fulfillment of these promises.
The purpose of Luke’s gospel is to convey important theological information about Jesus. While Matthew and Mark wrote their gospels with a Jewish point of view, Luke’s gospel is written in the most accessible Greek for a general Gr.-speaking audience. He also explains Jewish commonplaces to his Gentile readers, such as the fact that Jesus lived in Galilee. His gospel does not deny that Jesus is King of the Jews, but also to the people of all religions.
Matthew’s purpose in preserving an orderly account
In the Gospel of Matthew, the author establishes Jesus’ lineage within his Jewish heritage. By doing so, Matthew is able to emphasize that Jesus is more than a mere human. Throughout the Gospel, Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is God with us, as is the Hebrew tradition.
The purpose of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ childhood is to illuminate the significance of his birth in the world. The Gospel uses the Old Testament to illuminate Jesus’ significance as the Messiah, which will save mankind. In other words, Jesus’ childhood was a preparation for His mission to bring salvation to mankind.
Luke, on the other hand, shows that Jesus is fully human. He begins his account by tracing Jesus’ ancestry back to Adam and Abraham. The gospel of Luke also shows that Jesus was a fully human infant.