Abstract:
The article is meant to offer a comment on the thesis of Andries G. van Aarde about the socalled
fatherlessness of Jesus. The author argues for a more critical disposition towards a
historical-psychological approach of ancient texts. Jesus’ attitude towards children, which is
illustrated in Mark 10:13–16, and the story of Jesus’ birth and of Herod’s reaction to it as told
by Matthew, are used as test cases.
