The Quest for the Historical Mary, Mother of Jesus - Bible and Beyond Discussions

In this archival Zoom recording of the August 26, 2024, Bible and Beyond Discussion, Dr. Shirley Paulson interviewed Dr. James Tabor.

Everyone knows the Mary of theology and tradition, but what about the “real Mary,” the widowed Jewish mother of seven children—four sons and two or more daughters—the names of whom we know. Tabor begins to uncover the extraordinary and revolutionary role of Mary as the Matriarch of the Jesus movement—not as the “Mother of God,” but as the “Godmother.” Tabor is convinced she could rightly be called the real “Founder” of Christianity—which was led by three of her sons up through the end of the first century—all who ended up executed by authorities. Women like her, along with Mary Magdalene and others, who were influential leaders in their time, have been largely written out of the story.

Texts:

---Mary in the New Testament---

-Birth-
Matthew 1 & 2: Genealogy of Joseph; conception of Jesus; Joseph’s dream; birth of Jesus; flight to Egypt; settling in Nazareth
Luke 1 & 2: Annunciation; visit to Elizabeth; birth of Jesus; back to Nazareth
Genealogy of “Mary” as Hasmonean and Davidic (Luke 3:23-38)

-Age Twelve in Jerusalem-
Jesus at age 12: His mother said…Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously (Luke 2:48);
His mother kept all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51)

-Wedding at Cana-
Mother mentioned but not named at wedding at Cana (John 2:1-12)
Jesus takes his mother and brothers to Capernaum after wedding at Cana (John 2:12)

-At Capernaum-
And his mother and his brothers came…contrast to disciples (Mark 3:31; Matt 12:46; Luke 8:19; cf. Luke 11:27-28, indirect reference)

-At Nazareth-
Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses and Judas, and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us? (Mark 6:3)
Is not his mother called Mary? (Matthew 13:55)
Is this not Jesus son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? (John 6:42)

-In Jerusalem
We were not born of fornication; you are a Samaritan (John 8:41, 48)

-At the Crucifixion-
Standing by the cross were his mother and “her sister” Mary wife of Clopas (John 19:25)
Mary the mother of James & Jose (Mark 15:40, 47); Mary the mother of James (Mark 16:1 Luke 24:10) The “other Mary” (Matthew 27:56, 61; 28:1)

-With Twelve after Jesus Death-
Mary, the mother of Jesus and his brothers in Jerusalem after Jesus’ death with Twelve (Acts 1:14)

---Paul---
God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the Law (Galatians 4:4)

---Jesus’ Paternity in the New Testament---
Is this not Joseph’s son? Luke 4:22 at Nazareth

[xifangyangren]

I bet she played on Bible Hill as a kid across from Mt. Zion.