"The Real Mary"

Many of us evangelicals have had little to do with Mary. Many have over reacted to the past Catholic over emphasis on Mary. Yet, there is, in the simply but powerful story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. much for reflection. Mary's Song or the Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55 is such a powerful piece of scripture.

Scott McKnight has a new book coming out this fall: "The Real Mary: Why Evangelical Christians Can Embrace The Mother Of Jesus", available from Paraclete Press in November.

Here is a description of the book from the publishers:

Mary, the mother of Jesus—who was she, really? What kind of woman would compose a song as powerful as the Magnificat?

The real Mary was an unwed, pregnant teenage girl in first century Palestine whose response to the angel Gabriel shifted the tectonic plates of history. Far from the saccharine caricatures so often seen today, the Mary of the Scriptures was a woman of courage, humility, spirit, resolve and guts. By meeting this Mary, the first disciple and teacher of Jesus, we are brought even closer to her Son.

In his warm style, backed with biblical scholarship, Scot McKnight travels through the contours of Mary’s life as she struggled to come to terms with the mission that her son would accomplish.

Paraclete is also making two sample chapters, along with Table of Contents available here. Check them out, as well as the special deal Paraclete is offering as well. I will review the samples in a seperate post, but I will say in advanced that this is an exciting project.

Take the time to read the samples here:
Sample Chapters Of "The Real Mary" by Scot McKnight (PDF)

The book is being released in time to tie in with the discussion that will be taking place around the release of the film The Nativity Story on December 1.