Blessed Among Women?
Mothers and Motherhood in the New Testament
Alicia D. Myers
Reviews and Awards
"Myers's particular contribution is the extensive, albeit some-what repetitive, investigation of how maternal bodies were constructed and interpreted in ancient Mediterranean contexts. Although this takes up considerably more than half of the book, it is not reflected in the title or subtitle. Nor is the fact that early Christian extra-canonical texts are also included. This fascinating background information adds considerable depth to her reading of Christian texts containing images and tropes of motherhood." -- Alicia D. Myers, Journal for the Study of the New Testament
"this book is an excellent resource for both biblical scholars and practical theologians seeking background knowledge ... an insightful piece unearthing the contemporary culture's assumptions that broaden and question how we continue to interpret these important passages today." -- Jo Winn-Smith, Anvil
"Blessed among Women? provides an outstanding resource for New Testament scholars. Myers's ability to pull together the varied ancient sources on physiology and philosophy makes this book a must read for any scholar or student looking at the birth/origin narratives in the gospels or the status of women in the early Christian movement. Conscious of the complex and wide-ranging nature of the material covered, Myers provides summaries at key points. Her conclusions in each chapter and at the end do an excellent job of pulling information together and drawing out implications for understanding and interpretation. I will recommend this book to my own students and use it for advanced seminars." --Matthew S. Collins, Review of Biblical Literature
"Blessed Among Women? should provide a rich-perhaps even revelatory-resource for college and divinity-school students interested in its themes. The gender analysis throughout is conventional, and many intriguing questions are left open for others to explore." --Reading Religion