The Sunday Mail
IS the Gospel of Luke’s full narration of Yohanne the Baptist’s conception an exact copy from Genesis?
In the article, the Authorised King James Version (AKJV) has been used and the following substitutions have been done: “God/the Lord” changed to “the Divine”; “Mary” changed to “Myriam; and “Zacharias” changed to “Zachariah.”
1. Righteous man
Genesis – “(The Divine) appeared to Abram and said…”walk before me and be blameless.” — Genesis 17:1.
Gospel of Luke – “There was a priest named Zachariah . . . walking in all the commandments of (the Divine)…blameless.” — Luke 1:5-6.
2. Childless wife
Genesis – “Now Sarai was barren, she had no child.” — Genesis 11:30.
Gospel of Luke – “They had no child because Elizabeth was barren.” — Luke 1:7.
3. Annunciation (“archaic word for the announcement of something”)
Genesis – “I will bless her and . . . I will give you a son by her.” —Genesis 17:16
Gospel of Luke – “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.” — Luke 1:13.
4. Disbelief
Genesis – “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah who is ninety bear child?” — Genesis 17:17.
Gospel of Luke – “How shall I know this? For am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” — Luke 1:18.
5. Maid conceives
Genesis – “Sarah, Abram’s wife took Hagar…her maid and gave her to Abram her husband, as a wife.” — Genesis 16:3. Hagar means ‘contemplative meditation.’
Gospel of Luke – ”You will conceive in your womb and bear a son,”…(Myriam) said, “I am the handmaiden of (the Divine). Let it be to me according to your word.” — Luke 1:31-38.
6. Second child preferred
Genesis – “O that Ishmael might live in thy sight! (The Divine) said, No…I will establish my covenant with Isaac.” — Genesis 17:18-19.
Gospel of Luke – “When Elizabeth heard the greeting of (Myriam), the baby leaped in her womb . . . she cried, “Blessed is the fruit of your womb” — Luke 1:41-42.
7. Maid leaves
Genesis – “Then Sarah dealt harshly with her and she (Hagar) fled from her.” — Genesis 16:6.
Gospel of Luke – “(Myriam) remained with her for about three months and returned to her home.” — Luke 1:56.
8. Prophecy
Genesis – “Your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you.” — Genesis 17:5-7.
Gospel of Luke – “Zachariah . . . prophesied . . . ”Blessed be the (Divine) of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people. . . to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to our father Abraham.” — Luke 1:73-75.
9. First son
Ishmael – “(The Divine) was with the boy, and he grew up; and he lived in the wilderness.” — Genesis 21:20.
Yohanne the Baptist – “And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness.” — Luke 1:80.
10. Second son
Isaac –“I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year.” — Genesis 17:18-21.
Yahoshua the Nazarene –“He has raised for us a horn of salvation…to remember the oath, which he swore to our father Abraham.” — Luke 1:69-73.
The narratives of the conceptions of a possibly historical Yahoshua the Nazarene and Samuel (last week’s article), and that of Yohanne the Baptist and Ishmael leads one to informedly deduce that they are the same.
This may suggest two things: 1) Scriptures are literal and historical and therefore the scribes of the Christian Greek Scriptures (Luke) adopted a lot of the Judaic Hebrew Scriptures’ narratives. 2) Scriptures are neither literal nor historical.
This indicates that there is a hidden cosmic or universally infinite or perennial truth being protected from profanity and to be cautiously communicated to deserving persons in progressive stages.
The following is a wisdom tale from around the world about Truth:
Truth always put on clean clothes while Falsehood had dirty clothes. They then went swimming in a river. Unbeknown to Truth, Falsehood then stole the clean clothes that Truth had left on the river-bank.
Truth refused to wear Falsehood’s dirty clothes and went away naked.
Truth then walked down the street naked.
When the naked Truth came into town, people grabbed their families and shut themselves up in their homes, locking their doors and closing their shutters.
No one wanted to see the naked truth.
Parable arrived, draped in decoration. People greeted Parable with celebration.
Truth sat alone, sad and naked, “Why are you so miserable?” Parable inquired. Truth replied, “I’m not welcome anymore. No one wants to see me. They chase me from their door.”
“It is hard to look at Truth who is naked,” Parable explained. “Let me dress you up a bit. Your welcome will be gained.”
Parable dressed Truth in fine attire, with allegory and metaphor, poignant prose, and plots to inspire thinking. With laughter, tears and adventure to unveil, together they went forth to live a full life.
People opened their doors and served them their best. Truth, well dressed, was a welcome guest. – H. Forest, ‘Wisdom tales from around the world’, (1996).
In the next article, we humbly examine the marital status of Yahoshua the Nazarene.
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