Christmas, the Original Story

In Christmas, the Original Story, Margaret Barker explores the nature of the Christmas stories and the nature and use of Old Testament prophecy. Beginning with John’s account, the book then goes on to include Luke and Matthew, the apocryphal gospels, and the traditions of the Coptic Church, throwing light on the wise men and their gifts, the character of Herod, Matthew’s use of prophecy, and the holy family in Egypt. This book also discusses the stories we get from the Infancy Gospel of Jesus and the development of the Orthodox Christmas icon, as well as the Christmas story and the Mary material in the Koran.