Introduction -- Women in early Christian tradition -- The conception and birth of Jesus -- Symbolism and metaphor in the Bible -- Mary the virgin in ancient texts -- Mary the virgin: symbolism and theology -- The family in Nazareth -- Jews and Judaism -- Mary in the Gospel of John -- The cross and tomb -- Mary of Clopas and Mary the mother of Jesus -- The anointing: the woman in Mary's image -- Jesus' ministry and Mary's vocation -- The death and resurrection of Jesus -- Mary, founder of Christianity -- Mary and the Incarnation -- Concluding summary

"A radical reassessment of the role of Mary the mother of Jesus and other women in the early Church. Despite the commonly held assumption that the Bible says little about the mother of Jesus, there are many indications that Mary preceded and inspired her son in fostering the emergence of a new faith community. In the Gospel of John, Mary instigates Jesus' first miracle, and in all four gospels she is present at the crucifixion, suggesting hers was a place of unparalleled importance in the Christian story. Setting aside presuppositions based on doctrine, Chris Maunder returns to the New Testament to answer the question 'Who was Mary?' He re-examines the virgin conception of Jesus, Mary's contribution to Jesus' ministry, and her central role in the events of the crucifixion and the resurrection. In so doing, Maunder casts a thought-provoking new light on Mary and the women, including Mary Magdalene, who stood alongside her"--Dust jacket flap