Christmas
The Original Story
Christmas
The Original Story
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Paperback / softback
£12.99
Publisher: SPCK Publishing
ISBN: 9780281060504
Number of Pages: 192
Published: 23/10/2008
Width: 13.8 cm
Height: 21.6 cm
In Christmas the Original Story Margaret Barker explores the nature of the Christmas stories and the nature and use of Old Testament prophecy.
Beginning with John's account, it then goes on to include Luke and Matthew, the apocryphal gospels, and the traditions of the Coptic Church, to throw light upon wise men and their gifts, the character of Herod, Matthew's use of prophecy, the holy family in Egypt.
This book also discusses the stories we get from the Infancy Gospel of Jesus and the development of the Orthodox Christmas icon, as well as the Christmas story and the Mary material in the Koran.
This is an accessible book based on scholarly work.
Preface ix
Introduction xi
1 The setting 1
The world of the temple 2
Telling the stories 16
The politics 23
2 Other voices 31
Adam 36
The Lady 39
The hidden descent 44
3 Luke 50
The first annunciation: the birth of John 53
The second annunciation: the birth of Jesus 59
The meeting of Elizabeth and Mary 65
The birth of John 70
The birth of Jesus 74
The annunciation to the shepherds 78
The Lordin his temple 82
4 Matthew 93
The genealogy 97
The Virgin birth 100
The star 108
The magi 115
The flight into Egypt 123
5 The Infancy Gospel of Jamesand translation
of the text 128
The story 133
Mary 136
The veil 142
The resting-place 144
The cave 145
The Infancy Gospel of James 151
6 The Qur'an and translation ofselected passages 162
Primary sources 175
Index of primary sources 177
Index of persons, places and subjects 187
"'Margaret Barker's interpretation of temple theology should not be ignored by anyone interested in Judaism and the origins of Christian faith.' John McDade, Principal of Heythrop College, University of London"
