Includes bibliographical references (p. [205]-211) and index.

The infancy stories of the gospels since Raymond E. Brown / Henry Wansbrough -- Luke's nativity story : a narrative reading / Ian Boxall -- Prophetic voices of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna in Luke 1-2 / Barbara E. Reid -- Zechariah's "Benedictus" (Luke 1:68-79) : a new look at a familiar text / Leonard J. Maluf -- The significance of the inn for Luke's infancy narrative / Nicholas King -- Matthew 1-2 and Roman political power / Warren Carter -- Making sense of the Matthewan genealogy : Matthew 1:17 and the theology of history / Benedict T. Viviano -- Matthew's nativity stories : historical and theological questions for today's readers / Bernard P. Robinson -- The Magi story through the eyes of Pasolini : a Bahktinian reading / Christopher Fuller -- The nativity in recent British poetry / Ann Loades -- The Muslim Mary / John Kaltner -- Losing mystery in history : the challenge of recalling the nativity / Thomas O'Loughlin -- Appendix : Resemblances between Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2 / Patricia M. McDonald.

Description based on print version record.

The infancy narratives represent some of the most beautiful and intriguing passages in the Gospels. The stories they relate are also arguably the most well-known in the Christian tradition, from the child in the manger to the Magi paying homage to the infant Jesus. However there have been relatively few attempts to consider the stories of the Nativity from modern academic perspectives, examining them from feminist perspectives, poltical standpoints, in cinematic representations as well as more standard but up-to-date academic approaches. New Perspectives on the Nativity attempts to redress thi