Book description
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.
Margaret Barker is an independent biblical scholar and former
President of the Society for Old Testament Study and a member of the
Ecumenical Patriarch's Symposium on Religion, Science and the
Environment; and a Methodist local preacher.
