Accounts Quote by Samuel Sharpe
“We have the Annunciation, the Conception, the Birth and the Adoration, as described in the first and second chapters of Luke's gospel; and as we have historical assurance that the chapters in Matthew's gospel which contain the miraculous birth are an after addition not in the earliest manuscripts, it seems probable that these two poetical chapters in Luke may also be unhistorical, and borrowed from the Egyptian accounts of the miraculous births of their kings.”
About This Quote
The passage suggests that Luke's accounts of Mary’s life may be literary creations drawn from earlier Egyptian royal birth stories, not factual history.
In simple terms: Luke’s Mary stories might be borrowed myths, not true events.
Key Takeaway
Question sources critically and compare manuscripts.
Themes
historical criticism
religious texts
mythology
literary borrowing
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
scholarly
When to use this quote
- theology studies
- biblical scholarship
- comparative mythology
Key Concepts
source analysis
intertextuality
canon formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we differentiate myth from history?
- What impact does this have on faith?
A Different Perspective
These claims rely on limited manuscript evidence and may overlook oral traditions.
