Born of a Woman

An Episcopal bishop dismantles biblical literalism to uncover the origins of the nativity stories and their impact on women.

John Shelby Spong, bestselling author and Episcopal bishop of Newark, NJ, challenges the doctrine of the virgin birth, tracing its development in the early Christian church and revealing its legacy in our contemporary attitudes toward women and female sexuality.

Drawing on biblical scholarship and Jewish midrash, the author compares the divergent nativity stories in Matthew and Luke, tracing how early Christians adapted Hebrew traditions to interpret Jesus’ origins.

This volume explores the compromised status of the four women in Matthew’s genealogy and the marginalization of Mary Magdalene, uncovering the patriarchal motives behind an idealized virgin mother.

• Biblical Studies: An examination of how the infancy accounts of Matthew and Luke diverge on genealogies, geographical movements, and historical settings.
• Historical Jesus: An investigation into the first-century realities of Nazareth, assessing ancient betrothal laws and the legal significance of Joseph naming the child.
• Christology: A critique of how early church theologians detached Jesus from his Jewish context, replacing the primitive proclamation of Easter exaltation with Greek metaphysical categories.
• Women's Studies: A critical look at the evolution of Marian dogmas, tracing how fourth-century asceticism transformed an obedient peasant girl into an untouchable symbol of perpetual purity.
• Also by This Author: Unbelievable, Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy and The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic.