Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary

Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah

By: Brant James Pitre

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Best-selling 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 worshiping 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 listeners 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.

©2018 Brant James Pitre (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Mystified by the way Catholics speak about Mary? Join the club! But if you - like me - have longed for a book that makes a good biblical case for Catholic teachings relating to Mary, then look no further! Brant Pitre has produced an absolutely riveting, page-turning read, surely the most thought-provoking and stimulating I have ever read on the subject.” (Chris Tilling, graduate tutor and senior lecturer in New Testament studies)

“I did not think a single book could be written about Mary that would excite and unite Catholic and Protestant readers - scholars, clergy and laity alike. What Pitre does with the Bible and Marian typology is clear and compelling. A joy to read, this is the best biblical study of Mary I have ever read. A true masterpiece.” (Scott Hahn, author of The Lamb's Supper and The Fourth Cup)

"Brant Pitre takes important theological truths and makes them not only interesting, but exciting. This book will revolutionize your understanding of the most important woman in history." (Jennifer Fulwiler, author of One Beautiful Dream)

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.

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.

Mary, God’s Grace to Israel and His Church

Dr. Pitre draws out the Divine Providence of our Blessed Mother, through his understanding of historicity, theology, and apologetics. He does it in a readable, straight-forward, and clear manner. I strongly recommend his book to both those who are grounded in the faith, as well as those who are searching.

Loved It!!

I loved how deep but clearly it detailed how the Christian faith is rooted in Judaism. I learned a lot about our Holy Mother and gained much knowledge to defend my faith with.

Amazing

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

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!

Outstanding - I highly recommend this book

I was raised by two Evangelical minister parents. So dinner-table discussion consisted of a lot of theology and Bible stories, etc. But there was very little about Mary, ever.

Fast forward, and later in life, I went through RCIA to become Catholic. One of the things that was a bit of a hindrance of understanding was the level of veneration/adoration Mary gets in the Catholic church. I had no frame of reference for it. There was so little in the Bible itself, or so I thought, and since I hadn't been raised with any lineage back to the Early Church Fathers or anything like that, it was so new.

So when I ran across this book, I was intrigued, because I LOVE diving into the Jewish roots of Christianity already, and to hear that there could be a greater understanding of Mary by looking at the Jewish roots, I was like "how in the world can they do that?" -- and boy was I pleasantly surprised!

This book has so much MEAT in it. It is so well-done. So well researched. So well laid out. I can't recommend it highly enough. Whether you're Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, or just curious, THIS IS A GREAT BOOK.

I come away from it wanting to listen again because there was so much I never knew, and never saw before, and now my eyes have been opened. Thank you.

Superb and illuminating!

Excellent book that is well researched and makes a compelling case for the Catholic position on Mary. Highly recommended.

Eye opener

This compact text brings the Old Testament and the New Testament together to form one beautiful truth. It is like bringing several pretty flowers together to form one beautiful bouquet.

Awesome Work!

This has to be the most comprehensive explanation of Mary's role in salvation history. It is so amazingly well-done I listened to it 2x in one week! Ave Maria!! Vivat Jesu!!