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to God? Therefore, from Bethlehem—which is a place of Judaea, not far distant from Jerusalem—it is said that someone who exists from eternity will come forth, and from there we find no other glorious one to have come except David alone, and then after him our Savior Jesus the Christ of God, but besides these, no one. 7.2.4 But David, having lived before the times of the prophecy, had died many years before the prediction; nor had he made his goings forth from "days of eternity." Therefore, it remains that the things that are written are fulfilled in the one born after these things from Bethlehem, the true Emmanuel, the God Word who pre-existed before all creation, and is called "God with us," since also his birth in Bethlehem clearly signified the presence of God through the wonders associated with it. 7.2.5 For Luke writes, relating it in this way: "Now it came to pass in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn son, 7.2.6 and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of God shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 7.2.7 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day a savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 7.2.8 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 7.2.9 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds." 7.2.10 So much from Luke. And Matthew also, relating the events of our Savior's birth, writes in this way: "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 7.2.11 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And you, Bethlehem, house of Ephrathah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 7.2.12 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. And when they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the

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θεῷ; ἐκ τοίνυν τῆς Βηθλεέμ χωρίον δέ ἐστιν τῆς Ἰουδαίας οὐ πόρρω τῆς Ἱερουσαλὴμ διεστώς, λέγεταί τις ἐξ αἰῶνος ὑπάρχων προελεύσεσθαι, οὐδὲ ἕτερον ἐνθένδε ἢ μόνον τὸν ∆αβὶδ εὕρομεν ἐπίδοξον γεγενημένον, καὶ ἔπειτα μετ' ἐκεῖνον τὸν ἡμέτερον σωτῆρα Ἰησοῦν τὸν Χριστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, ἕτερον δὲ παρὰ τούτους οὐδένα. 7.2.4 ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ∆αβὶδ τοὺς χρόνους τῆς προφητείας προειληφὼς τετελευτήκει πλείστοις πρότερον ἔτεσιν τῆς προρρήσεως· ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἀφ' «ἡμερῶν αἰῶνος» οὗτος τὰς ἐξόδους πεποίητο. οὐκοῦν λείπεται ἐπὶ τὸν μετὰ ταῦτα ἐκ Βηθλεὲμ γενόμενον, τὸν ἀληθῶς Ἐμμανουήλ, τὸν πρὸ πάσης κτίσεως προόντα θεὸν λόγον, καὶ «μεθ' ἡμῶν θεὸν» λεγόμενον, συμπληροῦσθαι τὰ γεγραμμένα, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἡ ἐν Βηθλεὲμ γένεσις αὐτοῦ ἄντικρυς θεοῦ παρουσίαν ἐδήλου διὰ τῶν κατ' αὐτὴν παραδόξων. 7.2.5 Γράφει γοῦν ὁ Λουκᾶς, τοῦτον ἱστορῶν τὸν τρόπον· «ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθεν δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου τοῦ ἀπογράψασθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην. αὕτη ἡ ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου. καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν. ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲθ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν ∆αβίδ, ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλεέμ, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς ∆αβίδ, ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαρίᾳ τῇ μεμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ. ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ αὐτοὺς εἶναι ἐκεῖ ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν, καὶ ἔτεκεν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον, 7.2.6 καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν ἐν φάτνῃ, διότι οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τόπος ἐν τῷ καταλύματι. καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ ἀγραυλοῦντες καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν. καὶ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοῖς καὶ δόξα θεοῦ περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν. 7.2.7 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄγγελος, μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ἰδοὺ γὰρ εὐαγγελίζομαι ὑμῖν χαρὰν μεγάλην, ἥτις ἔσται παντὶ τῷ λαῷ, ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑμῖν σήμερον σωτήρ, ὅς ἐστιν Χριστὸς κύριος, ἐν πόλει ∆αβίδ. καὶ τοῦτο ὑμῖν τὸ σημεῖον· εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωμένον καὶ κείμενον ἐν φάτνῃ. 7.2.8 καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἐγένετο σὺν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων τὸν θεὸν καὶ λεγόντων, δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη, ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία. καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἀπῆλθον ἀπ' αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οἱ ἄγγελοι, οἱ ποιμένες εἶπον πρὸς ἀλλήλους, διέλθωμεν δὴ ἕως Βηθλεέμ, καὶ ἴδωμεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο τὸ γενόμενον, ὃ ὁ κύριος ἐγνώρισεν ἡμῖν. 7.2.9 καὶ ἦλθον σπεύσαντες, καὶ εὗρον τὴν Μαρίαν καὶ τὸν Ἰωσήφ, καὶ τὸ βρέφος κείμενον ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ. ἰδόντες δὲ ἐγνώρισαν περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τοῦ λαληθέντος αὐτοῖς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου τούτου. καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν περὶ τῶν λαληθέντων ὑπὸ τῶν ποιμένων πρὸς αὐτούς.» 7.2.10 ταῦτα μὲν ὁ Λουκᾶς, καὶ ὁ Ματθαῖος δέ, τὰ περὶ τὴν γένεσιν τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ἱστορῶν, τοῦτον γράφει τὸν τρόπον· «τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρώδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ μάγοι παρεγένοντο ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ λέγοντες· ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων; εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ, καὶ ἤλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ. ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἡρώδης ἐταράχθη, καὶ πᾶσα ἡ Ἱεροσόλυμα μετ' αὐτοῦ. 7.2.11 καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ ἐπυνθάνετο παρ' αὐτῶν ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται. οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ, ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας· οὕτως γὰρ γέγραπται διὰ τοῦ προφήτου, καὶ σὺ Βηθλεέμ, οἶκος τοῦ Ἐφραθά, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα· ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ. τότε Ἡρώδης λάθρα καλέσας τοὺς μάγους ἠκρίβωσεν παρ' αὐτῶν τὸν χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος. 7.2.12 καὶ πέμψας αὐτοὺς εἰς Βηθλεὲμ εἶπεν, πορευθέντες ἐξετάσατε ἀκριβῶς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου· ἐπὰν δὲ εὕρητε, ἀναγγείλατέ μοι, ὅπως κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν προσκυνήσω αὐτῷ. οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπορεύθησαν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ