Overview

"Rather than investigating the meaning and implications of the Virgin as a reified symbol, A Virgin Conceived examines the portrayal of Mary as a virgin in two important early Christian narratives: the canonical Luke-Acts and the second-century Protevangelium of James. Mary F. Foskett reveals the multiple meanings of ""virginity"" and their implications for a reader's understanding of the Virgin Mary. The virginity of Mary has been an influential tenet of Christian belief, a catalyst for Marian devotion, and a foundation for the construction of female Christian piety and practice. Rather than investigating the meaning and implications of the Virgin as a reified symbol, A Virgin Conceived examines the portrayal of Mary as a virgin in two important early Christian narratives: the canonical Luke-Acts and the second-century Protevangelium of James. In contrast to previous biblical interpreters who have drawn on either linguistic or historical evidence to ponder whether Mary the parthenos is indeed a ""virgin,"" this study takes a different course. Instead, it explores the multiple meanings and images that parthenos and virginity display in ancient literature. Then it describes how these two Christian narratives exploit this range of possible meanings in their representations of Mary. The book signals a departure from earlier biblical interpretation by emphasising neither the ambiguity of the term parthenos, nor the history of tradition concerning Mary. Instead, it displays the multiple meanings of ""virginity"" and their implications for a reader's understanding of the Virgin Mary."

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9780253340559

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Mary F. Foskett is Assistant Professor of Religion at Wake Forest University.

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