Naive about the nativity

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What is the "nativity"?

What type of key do you need to put on a Nativity play?

A don-key. It's a major effort. The shepherds, with their staff, gee, needed to see sharp. If the camels stampeded, they might be flat. Naturally.

Often the shepherds and the magi are in the same scene. Look closer.

They may have not been there at the same time.

There may have been a visitor limit in addition to any masking requirement.

Luke 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. [kjv]

και εσται χαρα σοι και αγαλλιασις και πολλοι επι τη γενεσει αυτου χαρησονται [gnt]

… gaudium … exultatio … nativitate … gaudebunt [v]

The first "live nativity" was done by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 in Greccio in central Italy.

Today, many churches have a "live nativity" reenactment.
The Latin "nativitas" ≈ "birth, nativity". From this we get "native", "nativity", "naive", etc. The corresponding ancient Greek word "γέννησις" ≈ "producing, beginning, birth"and is the source of the English word "genesis".

Luke 1:14

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KJV: And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

Greek: και εσται χαρα σοι και αγαλλιασις και πολλοι επι τη γεννησει γενεσει αυτου χαρησονται

Latin: et erit gaudium tibi et exultatio et multi in nativitate eius gaudebunt

John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. [kjv]

και παραγων ειδεν ανθρωπον τυφλον εκ γενετης [gnt]

… nativitate [v]

… nacimiento. [es]

… nascença. [por]

Is sin the reason for pain and suffering?

9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? [kjv]

9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. [kjv]

Gothic:

John 9:1 jah thairhgaggands gaumida mann blindamma us gabaurthai. [got]

German:

Und Jesus ging vorüber und sah einen, der blind geboren war. [lu]

Old English:

Ða se haelend for; þa ge-seah he aenne man. þe waes blind ge-boren. [wes]

John 9:1

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KJV: And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

Greek: και παραγων ειδεν ανθρωπον τυφλον εκ γενετης

Latin: et praeteriens vidit hominem caecum a nativitate

Wessex: Ða se haelend for; þa ge-seah he aenne man. þe waes blind ge-boren.

Gothic: jah thairhgaggands gaumida mann blindamma us gabaurthai.

Luther: Und Jesus ging vorüber und sah einen, der blind geboren war.

Spanish: Y pasando Jesús, vio a un hombre ciego de nacimiento.

Portuguese: Ao passar, Jesus viu um homem cego de nascença.

John 9:2

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KJV: And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Greek: και ηρωτησαν αυτον οι μαθηται αυτου λεγοντες ραββι τις ημαρτεν ουτος η οι γονεις αυτου ινα τυφλος γεννηθη

John 9:3

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KJV: Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Greek: απεκριθη ο ιησους ουτε ουτος ημαρτεν ουτε οι γονεις αυτου αλλ ινα φανερωθη τα εργα του θεου εν αυτω

The song "Silver and gold" was sung by Sam the Snowman in the 1964 film Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. Note the secular viewpoint of the lyrics:

Silver

gold

Silver

gold

silver

gold

Silver

gold

Silver

gold

silver

gold

Silver

gold

Silver

gold

After the resurrection, a beggar in the temple expects money from Peter.

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. [kjv]

ειπεν δε πετρος αργυριον και χρυσιον ουχ υπαρχει μοι ο δε εχω τουτο σοι διδωμι εν τω ονοματι ιησου χριστου του ναζωραιου περιπατει [gnt]

3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. [kjv]

Folklore story: (paraphrased):

Pope to Francis of Assisi, showing him a treasure of gold and silver: "They can no longer say gold and silver have we none.".
Francis of Assisi to Pope: "But now you cannot say, in the name of Jesus get up and walk.".

The KJV (King James Version) uses "have I none" where the Greek is "does not exist".

More: Existence is not is existence

More: The bottom line on riches

Acts 3:5

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KJV: And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Greek: ο δε επειχεν αυτοις προσδοκων τι παρ αυτων λαβειν

Acts 3:6

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KJV: Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Greek: ειπεν δε πετρος αργυριον και χρυσιον ουχ υπαρχει μοι ο δε εχω τουτο σοι διδωμι εν τω ονοματι ιησου χριστου του ναζωραιου εγειραι και περιπατει

Acts 3:7

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KJV: And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.

Greek: και πιασας αυτον της δεξιας χειρος ηγειρεν αυτον παραχρημα δε εστερεωθησαν αυτου αι βασεις αυτου και τα σφυρα σφυδρα

Matthew 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? [kjv]

τι γαρ εστιν ευκοπωτερον ειπειν αφιενται σου αι αμαρτιαι η ειπειν εγειρε και περιπατει [gnt]

Paraphrase: Which is the better toil, to say your sins are forgiven or to say arise and walk?

Only one way has a decision procedure to confirm that it has been done. How should "better" be defined? Which of the following do most churches do?

Get up, wave their hands, say your sins are forgiven, and sit down.
Help people get up and help them in to walk in righteousness.

Which is easier? Which is the better toil? Which is more often than not actually done?

More: Whether this or that: What is your opinion on glory?

Matthew 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? [kjv]

τι γαρ εστιν ευκοπωτερον ειπειν αφιενται σου αι αμαρτιαι η ειπειν εγειρε και περιπατει [gnt]

Mark 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? [kjv]

τι εστιν ευκοπωτερον ειπειν τω παραλυτικω αφιενται σου αι αμαρτιαι η ειπειν εγειρου και αρον τον σου και περιπατει [gnt]

Luke 5:23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? [kjv]

τι εστιν ευκοπωτερον ειπειν αφεωνται σοι αι αμαρτιαι σου η ειπειν εγειρε και περιπατει [gnt]

More: Whether this or that: What is your opinion on glory?

Did Rudolph go to school?

No. He was elf-taught.

What other reindeer laughed and called Rudolph names?

Olive, the other reindeer.

Does Santa need to pay parking fees on Christmas Eve?

No. Parking is on the house.

How much does it cost to fly Santa's sleigh?

Eight bucks. Nine during bad weather.

More: Matthew 25:38 Hosting strange and hostile guests and ghosts

The modern Greek word "γέννηση" (YN-nee-see) ≈ "birth".

The Spanish word "Navidad" ≈ "Christmas" is from the Latin word "nativus" ≈ "born" as in the "nativity".

The Spanish phrase "Feliz Navidad" ≈ "Merry Christmas".

The Mexican Christmas season begins December 12 with the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It ends two weeks after December 25.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron saint of the Americas.

Merry Christmas
Cristesmæse (Christ's Mass)
Frohe Weinachten (1170, ze den wihen nahten)
felicem natalem Christi
Feliz Navidad (Navidad = birth)
Joyeux Noël (from Late Latin gaudiosus)
καλά Χριστούγεννα (kala Christougenna)
счастливого Рождества (schastlivogo Rozhdestva)
חג מולד שמח (khag molad sameakh!)

More: Merry X-mas

The song Feliz Navidad was written in 1970 by José Feliciano (from Puerto Rico).

The Spanish phrase "Prospero Ano" ≈ "Happy New Year" as in a "prosperous new year" (in the last line of the refrain).

How does a sheep greet you for Christmas?

Fleece Navidad.

More: Song: Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad.
Feliz Navidad, prospero Ano y Felicidad.

I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of my heart.

(repeat parts)

The German word "Geburt" ≈ "birth".

Luke 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. [kjv]

και εσται χαρα σοι και αγαλλιασις και πολλοι επι τη γενεσει αυτου χαρησονται [gnt]

… gaudium … exultatio … nativitate … gaudebunt [v]

Und du wirst des Freude und Wonne haben, und viele werden sich seiner Geburt freuen. [lu]

Luke 1:14

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KJV: And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

Greek: και εσται χαρα σοι και αγαλλιασις και πολλοι επι τη γεννησει γενεσει αυτου χαρησονται

Latin: et erit gaudium tibi et exultatio et multi in nativitate eius gaudebunt

Luther: Und du wirst des Freude und Wonne haben, und viele werden sich seiner Geburt freuen.

Genesis 11:28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. [kjv]

… in terra nativitatis … [v]

και απεθανεν αρραν ενωπιον θαρα του πατρος αυτου εν τη γη η εγενηθη εν τη χωρα των χαλδαιων [lxx]

Genesis 11:28

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KJV: And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.

Hebrew: וימת הרן על פני תרח אביו בארץ מולדתו באור כשדים׃

Greek: και απεθανεν αρραν ενωπιον θαρα του πατρος αυτου εν τη γη η εγενηθη εν τη χωρα των χαλδαιων

Latin: mortuusque est Aran ante Thare patrem suum in terra nativitatis suae in Ur Chaldeorum

In Jewish culture, the day of one's death is more important than the day of one's birth. This is seen in Ecclesiastes 7:1.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. [kjv]

… nomen … mortis … nativitatis [v]

αγαθον ονομα υπερ ελαιον αγαθον και ημερα του θανατου υπερ ημεραν γενεσεως αυτου [lxx]

Ecclesiastes 7:1

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KJV: A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Hebrew: טוב שם משמן טוב ויום המות מיום הולדו׃

Greek: αγαθον ονομα υπερ ελαιον αγαθον και ημερα του θανατου υπερ ημεραν γενεσεως αυτου

Latin: melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa et dies mortis die nativitatis