Mary of Nazareth

A theology of Mary's role in the incarnation as it was understood by the earliest Christians. A central figure in Christian tradition, Mary of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus, is both pivotal in theologies of the incarnation and a source of theological controversy. In this volume, bible scholar and priest Christopher Bryan examines the role of Mary in the theology of the first generations of Christians. Considering every reference to Mary in the New Testament in the order that the biblical texts were written, Mary of Nazareth situates biblical texts' treatment of Mary within first-century culture and examines changing theologies of Mary and the incarnation among the earliest generations of Christians. The book concludes with Bryan's reflections on Christian memories of Mary and their implications for some historical theological controversies.   Ideal for Bible study or group discussion, Mary of Nazareth makes current biblical scholarship accessible and engaging. Study questions conclude each chapter, and further notes in the back of the book invite interested readers to dig deeper.