Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary

Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah

By: Brant James Pitre

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

“Brant Pitre is one of the most compelling theological writers on the scene today.” –Bishop Robert Barron

Bestselling author of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist casts new light on the Virgin Mary, illuminating her role in the Old and New Testaments.

Are Catholic teachings on Mary really biblical? Or are they the "traditions of men"? Should she be called the "Mother of God," or just the mother of Jesus? Did she actually remain a virgin her whole life or do the "brothers of Jesus" refer to her other children? By praying to Mary, are Catholics worshipping her? And what does Mary have to do with the quest to understand Jesus?

In Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary, Dr. Pitre takes readers step-by-step from the Garden of Eden to the Book of Revelation to reveal how deeply biblical Catholic beliefs about Mary really are. Dr. Pitre uses the Old Testament and Ancient Judaism to unlock how the Bible itself teaches that Mary is in fact the new Eve, the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, and the new Ark of the Covenant.

My favorite book about Mary, Mother of God

I loved this book for the thorough and articulate unpacking of the many layers of the mysteries of the Virgin Mary. Now I understand more clearly my own unintentional relationship with her. She sought me out and brought me back to her son, in a way I have never known before. And now I can't get enough of her. So glad I found this book. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.

A Protestant Review - Hail Mary, Full of Grace

I️ am a Protestant, born and raised. I️ was brought up in the Baptist South, educated in Reformed Baptist institutions, and attendant in Baptist congregations all my life. When I️ picked up Mr. Pitre’s work initially I️ did not know what to expect. Unlike many of the Roman Catholic reviewers I️ never kept Mary as dear or subscribed to any Marian devotions. This book revealed my own biases against a beautiful historic devotion.

Brant Pitre takes historical and hermeneutical principles regarding passages speaking of Mary to their logical end. In my experience, most popular level Protestant study and scholarship rarely takes historic interpretation into account when approaching the Biblical text - and almost never will it look to Jewish tradition. With revelatory consistency the Biblical text sits in its own time and beckons us to come listen. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary exemplifies this attitude of historic humility. Pitre’s hermeneutical principles are consistent with much taught in Protestant higher education. I️ wonder how many would follow his conclusions?

Mary’s immaculate conception, her perpetual virginity, her intercession and mediatory roll, all prove reasonable by good and necessary consequence from the Scriptural text. My biases turned me against these claims from the outset. My biases were shown to be wrong. Christ is greater glorified when we see Mary as she is.

For many generations (at least in my limited circles) allegorical interpretation was viewed with an eye of skepticism. Through the work of men like Graeme Goldsworthy and Edmund Clowney, among others, this proved to be not only erroneous, but not in line with how Christ and the apostles used the text of Scripture in their own time. I️ saw many parallels in the hermeneutical ideas used herein to support Marian devotion and redemptive-historical hermeneutics as a whole. I️ found myself thereby invited into a truth of ancient Christian life long neglected in my life.

I️ would commend this work to Christians of all stripes who ask questions of Marian devotion or Catholic dogma. We must be willing to listen to one another and admit when our interpretive thoughts are wrong. You might not agree with Pitre on every point. I️ certainly do not. Nevertheless, the scholarship deserves a listen with optimism for a Christian brother.

I️ plan to read his book on the Eucharist next. I’ve got high hopes!

How Mary is our Mother

I went right to the last, large chapter on Rachel. For me, it was like the disciples on the road to Emmaus: My heart burned as I heard how Mary, the new Rachel, was, is, my Mother too. I cannot share all the details, but this closed some of the most important loops, and perhaps THE most important loop, in my life. It provided, provides, perhaps the most important insight into my own life, one that makes me cry to perceive it. I cannot guarantee it will do the same for you, but that's what it did for me.

Amazing

One of the best books I’ve read! I really enjoyed it, thorough, careful scholarship on Mary.

A light of revelation

Wonderfully done. So eye opening and beautiful. I understand the life of Our Lady. So much better. So glad I listened to this.