Mary: What the Bible Really Says
by Douglas Connelly
Downer's Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press; 1998
ISBN: 0-8308-1950-9

Reviewed by Cat Clark

One of my favorite things to collect is Bibles, and I have many of them. I have Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, Jehovah's Witness, Deist, and Gnostic Bibles in a variety of formats, languages, and translation styles. Douglas Connelly's new book has the fascinating subtitle What the Bible Really Says. I was very disappointed to find that it is overflowing with things the Bible really does not say. What Bible is he using?

One of the great temptations of Bible reading is called "eisegesis" or "reading into" the text. Sometimes the Bible's authors simply don't provide all the information we desire to know, but that silence does not give us license to put our personal speculations and opinions into the author's original intentions (2 Pt. 1:20-21). Connelly's title is misleading because the vast majority of his book is speculation--very interesting, but speculative.

Here's an example: "The second genealogy of Jesus recorded in Luke's Gospel [sic] most likely traces Jesus' heritage through Mary," (36). When Matthew 1:1-16 is compared to Luke 3:23-38, one cannot help noticing many differences, including the name of Joseph's father. But one thing is certain-the name before Jesus' in both trees is "Joseph." In both cases "Joseph" refers to the husband of Mary: "...Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born" (Matt. 1:16) and "Jesus... being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli..." (Lk. 3:23). Protestant theories that "Joseph" was the name of Jesus' maternal grandfather are interesting, but not substantiated by scriptural (or traditional) evidence.

Another example on page 82 reads: "One common misconception about [the finding of Jesus in the Temple] is that Jesus was teaching the religious leaders of Israel. Luke makes it clear that Jesus was listening to the teachers and asking them questions (Luke 2:46). In this setting, Jesus was the learner, not the teacher." This opinion is not only unfounded, but called into question by the fact that Jesus frequently taught by asking questions (Matt. 5:46-47, 6:27, 7:3, 22:41-45; Mk. 8:36; Lk. 6:9). Jesus may have been "the learner" or "the teacher" or both. All who heard Him that day were astonished by "His answers," (Lk. 2:47).

Some of Connelly's claims are amazing: "[Jesus' brothers] just saw him as the older brother-the one everybody (including their mother) always compared them to," (98). Although this happens in many families, it does not happen in all families, and I defy anyone to cite a Bible passage in which Mary says "why can't you be more like your brother Jesus?" (Note: although the Bible does say Jesus had "brothers and sisters," no one but Jesus is ever called a son or daughter of Mary until John 19:26-27.)

Connelly speculates about every subject imaginable, from Joseph's age to what Mary was thinking at any number of moments. This information is not found in the pages of the Bible. I don't mind good historical fiction, but the book is called Mary: What the Bible Really Says not Likely Stories of the Life of Mary.

One of my favorite passages appears on page 116 in a "biblical" argument against Marian apparitions: "The Bible never hints or suggests that a believer who has died will ever appear on earth...." Turn to Deuteronomy 34:5-7 and consider for a moment the long and noble life of Moses. Consider the faith of Moses in Hebrews 11:24-29. Now read Matthew 17:1-8 and ask yourself if there is precedent in the Bible for believers who have died to appear on earth. It was not a one time event, apparently (Matt. 27:52-53). Far from excluding the possibility, or even silence, the Bible shows that such a thing has certainly happened in the past.

Connelly's book has some good features. He considers Mary, too often ignored by Protestants, a model of persevering obedience, active reflection and meditation, and courageous vulnerability. All Christians, he believes, would indeed do well to imitate her virtues. But the title of the book belies its speculative content. The majority of the book is not What the Bible Really Says.

This review by Cat Clark originally appeared in Catholics United for the Faith's magazine Lay Witness (October, 1998).

For similar writings, call 800-MY-FAITH and request the following FAITH FACTS: All in the Family: the Communion of Saints, It Works for Me: the Church's Teaching on Justification, Persevering to the End: the Biblical Reality of Mortal Sin, St. Augustine's Real Faith in the Real Presence, Signs & Symbols, St. Nonna: Patroness of Information Services

Go home.