Lectora
11th December 2011, 02:45 PM
In 2008, Margaret Barker (an independent Bibical scholar and Methodist local preacher) was awarded a DD by the Archbishop of Canterbury ‘in recognition of her work on the Jerusalem Temple and the origins of Christian Liturgy, which has made a significantly new contribution to our understanding of the New Testament and opened up important fields for research.’
In this book, published in 2008, Margaret Barker, who is a Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Greek and Latin scholar, ranges far and wide through the Bible as we have it, the Septuagint (early Greek OT), early extra Biblical material, the Qur'an, early art and icons to provide a rich picture of the beliefs the early Christians had concerning the birth of Jesus, showing us that the material we have in Matthew and Luke is the bare minumum. MB points out that since the NT canon was not set until the 3rd c. we miss out by not considering extra Biblical material like the Protevangelium and Infancy Gospel of James as well as scrolls that have come to light amongst the Dead Sea scrolls.
MB may be one of the most learned of Biblical scholars but her writing style is far from dry and boring. The excitement of discovery is infectious and she carries the reader with her. How did the ox and ass get into the nativity when they are not mentioned in the Bible? Or are they? Look at Habbakuk 3.2 in the Septuagint, purged out in our OT by Jewish translaters who did the same to any prophecy Christians were claiming were of Christ. Look what happened to "A virgin/young woman shall bear a child..."(cf Isaiah 7.14 in RSV, NRSV with Matthew 1.23 - 99% of OT quotes in the NT are Septuagint as the latter was the "bible" of the early Christians)
The ox and ass first appear visually in a 2nd century illustration etc. How do we know there were 3 wise men? Did they come from Persia or Arabia (the latter in those days began at Damascus)? Were the Wise Men Essenes? How does the Qu'ran describe the nativity? MB's investigation of the Star imagery is fascinating, even more so is her discussion of Mary, or is she the Lady Wisdom?
Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, writes that MB's researches, "reveal previously undetected patterns and fresh significance in the NT references to the birth of Jesus. She is one of the most inspiring Christian teachers of our times."
You might like to visit her web site and read some of her papers http://www.margaretbarker.com/index.html Amazon carry all her books. May I also recommend her Extraordinary Gathering of Angels, packed full of beautiful illustrations of angel art from many traditions. The book is out of print but Amazon still have a few new copies left for £3.64 each. Her books will eventually appear as ebooks.
In this book, published in 2008, Margaret Barker, who is a Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Greek and Latin scholar, ranges far and wide through the Bible as we have it, the Septuagint (early Greek OT), early extra Biblical material, the Qur'an, early art and icons to provide a rich picture of the beliefs the early Christians had concerning the birth of Jesus, showing us that the material we have in Matthew and Luke is the bare minumum. MB points out that since the NT canon was not set until the 3rd c. we miss out by not considering extra Biblical material like the Protevangelium and Infancy Gospel of James as well as scrolls that have come to light amongst the Dead Sea scrolls.
MB may be one of the most learned of Biblical scholars but her writing style is far from dry and boring. The excitement of discovery is infectious and she carries the reader with her. How did the ox and ass get into the nativity when they are not mentioned in the Bible? Or are they? Look at Habbakuk 3.2 in the Septuagint, purged out in our OT by Jewish translaters who did the same to any prophecy Christians were claiming were of Christ. Look what happened to "A virgin/young woman shall bear a child..."(cf Isaiah 7.14 in RSV, NRSV with Matthew 1.23 - 99% of OT quotes in the NT are Septuagint as the latter was the "bible" of the early Christians)
The ox and ass first appear visually in a 2nd century illustration etc. How do we know there were 3 wise men? Did they come from Persia or Arabia (the latter in those days began at Damascus)? Were the Wise Men Essenes? How does the Qu'ran describe the nativity? MB's investigation of the Star imagery is fascinating, even more so is her discussion of Mary, or is she the Lady Wisdom?
Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, writes that MB's researches, "reveal previously undetected patterns and fresh significance in the NT references to the birth of Jesus. She is one of the most inspiring Christian teachers of our times."
You might like to visit her web site and read some of her papers http://www.margaretbarker.com/index.html Amazon carry all her books. May I also recommend her Extraordinary Gathering of Angels, packed full of beautiful illustrations of angel art from many traditions. The book is out of print but Amazon still have a few new copies left for £3.64 each. Her books will eventually appear as ebooks.