Why are the Bible’s two Nativity accounts so different from each other?

Matthew’s and Mark’s reports are barely the same story

Modern-day Nativity scenes frequently picture the magi and the shepherds at the same time and place, even though that is inconsistent with the accounts of Matthew and Luke. Photo by Rick Oldland licensed by Unsplash.

Unless we read the accounts separately, it’s easy to forget how different the two New Testament accounts of Jesus birth are. Leave out the …