Bible / Matthew
Matthew 2
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, CCC
2 Saying: Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to adore him. CCC · Fathers
3 And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. CCC
5 But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: CCC
6 And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel. CCC
7 Then Herod, privately calling the wise men learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them;
8 And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come and adore him.
9 Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was.
10 And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. CCC
12 And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.
13 And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. CCC
14 Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod: CCC
15 That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son. CCC · Fathers
16 Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry: and sending killed all the menchildren that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. CCC · Fathers
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: CCC
18 A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. CCC
19 But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, CCC
20 Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child.
21 Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee.
23 And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by the prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text. The Catechism uses modern verse numbers, so these are listed by chapter.
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 439 “Many Jews and even certain Gentiles who shared their hope recognized in Jesus the fundamental attributes of the messianic "Son of David",…”
- CCC 528 “The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. the great feast…”
“… also Balaam thus prophesied: "There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a leader shall rise in Israel." But Matthew says that the Magi, coming from the east, exclaimed "For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter IX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 528 “The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. the great feast…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 528 “The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. the great feast…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 528 “The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. the great feast…”
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- CCC 724 “In Mary, the Holy Spirit manifests the Son of the Father, now become the Son of the Virgin. She is the burning…”
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- CCC 530 “The flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents 217 make manifest the opposition of darkness to the light: "He came…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 530 “The flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents 217 make manifest the opposition of darkness to the light: "He came…”
“… when speaking of the angel, says, "The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in sleep." Of what Lord he does himself interpret: "That it may be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter IX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 530 “The flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents 217 make manifest the opposition of darkness to the light: "He came…”
“… send them on before into His kingdom; He, since He was Himself an infant, so arranging it that human infants should be martyrs, slain, according to the Scriptures, for the sake of Christ, who was born in Bethlehem of Judah, in the city of David.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 530 “The flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents 217 make manifest the opposition of darkness to the light: "He came…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 530 “The flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents 217 make manifest the opposition of darkness to the light: "He came…”
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- CCC 333 “From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When…”
- Matthew 2:56 in modern BiblesCCC 1618
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- CCC 1618 “Christ is the center of all Christian life. the bond with him takes precedence over all other bonds, familial or social. From…”
A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.