Mary in the Scripture

Mary in the Old Testament

Mary is not directly mentioned in the OT and no one has ever
claimed that any of the prophets traced the personal
characteristics of Mary, the Mother of Jesus of Nazareth.
 Some scholars and theologians draw parallels and symbolism
between Mary and certain figures or themes in the Old
Testament.
 These connections are interpretative and symbolic rather than
explicit identifications.
Prefigures of Mary in the Old Testament
 Eve
 Ark of the Covenant
 Prophetic references
 Wisdom Literature

Eve
 Some draw a parallel between Mary and Eve, suggesting that
Mary’s obedience contrasts with Eve’s disobedience. Mary is
seen as the “new Eve” who plays a role in the redemption of
humanity through her cooperation with God’s plan.
Ark of the Covenant
 In the Old Testament contained the tablets of the Ten
Commandments, manna, and Aaron’s rod.
 In a symbolic sense, Mary is sometimes compared to the Ark
because she carried within her womb Jesus, the Word of God,
who fulfills and surpasses the significance of the items in the
Ark.
In the Old Testament it mentions the three items that were placed
in the Ark:
1. The 10 Commandments ~ which represents the word;
2. The manna that fell from Heaven, which represents the
bread; and
3. The rod of Aaron (who represented the high priest)
In the New Testament, Mary carried in her womb the following
three:
1. Jesus, who is the Word of God in flesh.
2. Jesus – the true bread from Heaven
3. Jesus – the true High Priest
 In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed
by the Spirit of God, was the instrument through which God
came to dwell among men; in the New Testament, Mary,
overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, is the instrument through
which God came to dwell among men. She is the Ark of the
New Covenant. (Ex 25:11-21) made to hold the living Word of
God: a holy tabernacle made not of the purest gold, but of the
purest flesh.
Prophetic References
 Some see foreshadowing of Mary in certain prophetic
passages, like Isaiah 7:14, where a virgin is said to conceive
and bear a son. Christians often interpret this as a foretelling
of the virgin birth of Jesus, with Mary as the fulfillment of this
prophecy.
Prophecies As Biblical References to Mary
 Gen. 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your
offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike
at their heel.
 Is 7:14
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young
woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him
Emmanuel.
 Jer 31:21
Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway,
the road that you take. Return, Virgin Israel, return to your towns
 Mi 5: 2-3
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the
clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler
over Israel….
Wisdom Literature
 Personification of Wisdom in the Wisdom literature of the Old
Testament, particularly in Proverbs and Sirach, is sometimes
seen as a prefiguration of Mary. Wisdom is described in
feminine terms and associated with understanding and
righteousness.

Mary in the New Testament

Mary is a central figure, prominently featured in the Gospels,
particularly in the accounts of the life ministry of Jesus.
Key aspects of Mary’s presence in the New Testament
 Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38)
 Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)
 Visitation (Luke 1:39-56)
 Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25)
 Presentation (Luke 2:22-38)
 Flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15
 Simeon’s Prophecy (Luke 2:25-35)
 Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11).
 Jesus’ ministry and crucifixion (Wedding at Cana -John 2 and
Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:25-27),
 Mary at the foot of the cross (John 19:25-27).
 Pentecost (Acts 1:14).
Mary in the Gospel of Luke
 Provides a significant and detailed account of Mary’s role in
the events surrounding the life, ministry, and birth of Jesus.
Key aspects of Mary’s portrayal in this Gospel:
 Annunciation,
 visitation,
 birth of Jesus,
 Presentation in the Temple,
 Finding Jesus in the Temple,
 references in Jesus’ Ministry,
 at the foot of the Cross
 Luke’s Gospel emphasizes Mary’s humility, faith, and her
willingness to play a central role in God’s redemptive plan.
 The detailed narrative contributes significantly to the
understanding of Mary’s character and her significance in the
early events of Jesus’ life.
Mary in the Gospel of Mark
 Does not provide as extensive details about Mary, the mother
of Jesus, compared to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
 Mark’s narrative focuses more on the public ministry of Jesus.
Nevertheless, there are a couple of indirect references that
touch upon Mary:
Mark 3:31-35
In this passage, Jesus is teaching a crowd when his family,
including Mary, comes looking for him, including Mary, comes
looking for him. When informed of their presence, Jesus responds,
“Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of
God is my brother and sister and mother.” This emphasizes the
spiritual family bond and the importance of doing God’s will.
Mark 6:1-6
Mark briefly mentions Jesus as “the son of Mary” when he returns
to his hometown, Nazareth. The people there express surprises at
his wisdom and deeds, questioning how he acquired such
abilities. However, Mary’s role is not elaborated upon in this
passage.
Mark’s Gospel
 More focused on the actions and teaching of Jesus during his
ministry, and as a result, it provides fewer details about the
family background of Jesus, including Mary.
 The Gospel of Mark is known for its brevity and directness in
presenting the events surrounding Jesus’ life and ministry.
Mary in the Gospel of Matthew
 In the Gospel of Matthew, Mary, the mother of Jesus, plays a
significant role, especially in the narrative surrounding the
birth of Jesus.
Key aspects of Mary’s portrayal in Matthew’s Gospel
Genealogy and Birth (Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-23)
 Virgin Birth (Mt. 1:18-25). Matthew recounts the angel’s
appearance to Joseph, explaining the miraculous conception
of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Mary’s obedience and Joseph’s role
as the earthly father of Jesus are highlighted.
 Visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12). The Gospel of Mt.
describes the visit of the Magi to honor the newborn King.
Mary, along with Joseph, receives these visitors.
Flight to Egypt (Mt. 2:13-15)
 After the visit of the Magi, an angel warns Joseph in a dream
about King Herod’s intention to harm Jesus. Joseph, Mary, and
Jesus flee to Egypt, fulfilling a prophecy that the Messiah
would come out of Egypt (see Hosea 11:1)
Return to Nazareth (Mt. 2:19-23)
 After Herod’s death, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus return from Egypt
and settle in Nazareth. Mt. highlights how this fulfills the
prophecy about Jesus being called a Nazarene.
Reference in Jesus’ Ministry (Mt.12:46-50,13:54-58)
 Matthew mentions occasions when Jesus’ family, including
Mary, sought to speak with him during his ministry.
 In Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus emphasizes the spiritual family
bond, saying, “For whoever does the will of my Father in
heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew’s Gospel presents Mary in the context of the fulfillment
of Old Testament prophecies and the divine nature of Jesus’ birth.
The emphasis on the Virgin Birth, the flight to Egypt, and the
fulfillment of prophecies contributes to Matthew’s portrayal of
Jesus as the promised Messiah.
Mary in the Gospel of John
 The Gospel of John provides a unique perspective on the life
and ministry of Jesus, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, is
mentioned in a few significant passages:
 Women in the Gospel of John
 Wedding at Cana
 Crucifixion
 Jesus’ brothers and sisters: the controversy
Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11)
 In this passage, Mary is present at the wedding feast in Cana.
When the wine runs out, she informs Jesus, who performs His
first public miracle by turning water into wine. Mary’s
statement to the servants “Do whatever he tells you,”
underscores her faith and trust in Jesus.
At the Crucifixion (John 19:25-27)
 John’s Gospel records Mary’s presence at the crucifixion of
Jesus. While Jesus is on the cross, he entrusts the care of his
mother to the beloved disciple (traditionally identified as
John), saying, “Woman, behold your son, and to the disciples,
“Behold your mother.” This moment emphasizes the
significance of spiritual relationships in the community of
believers.
These passages in the Gospel of John offer glimpse of Mary’s
involvement in key events, emphasizing her faith, the mother-son
relationship with Jesus, and her role within the community of
believers. John’s Gospel often employs symbolic language and
deep theological reflections, contributing to a distinctive portrayal
of Mary.
The first three evangelists were mainly concerned with tracing
Christ’s ancestry as Son of Man and, therefore, as Son of Mary
 St. Matthew, writing for the Jews, stressed Christ’s descent
from Abraham
 St. Luke, disciple of St. Paul traced Christ’s origin to Adam, the
father of the human race.
 Yet both writers were at pains to point out the Mary’s Son
fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah about the Messiah. He was to
be born of a virgin to become Emmanuel, which means “God
with us”
Mary in the Acts of The Apostles
 The Acts of the Apostles, written by Luke, primarily focuses on
the early days of the Christian Church, the activities of the
apostles, and the spread of Christianity. While Mary, the
mother of Jesus, is not extensively mentioned, there is a brief
reference to her in Acts 1:14
Acts 1:14
 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves
to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of
Jesus, and with His brothers.
 This verse is situated in the context of the disciples gathering
in the upper room after the ascension of Jesus. Mary is
mentioned among the believers, both men and women, who
were united in prayer as they awaited the coming of the Holy
Spirit.
While Acts doesn’t provide in-depth details about Mary’s specific
activities or role in the early Christian community, her inclusion in
the list of those devoted to prayer suggests her continued
involvement in the life of the early Church. This brief mention in
Acts serves to highlights the unity and prayerful atmosphere
among the early followers of Jesus as they awaited the promised
gift of the Holy Spirit.

Marian typology
Typology is the study of or analysis or classification based on
types or categories
 it is a doctrine of theological types
Especially: one holding that things in Christian belief are
prefigured or symbolized by things in the Old Testament.
 Involves identifying parallels and symbolic connections
between Mary, the mother of Jesus, and various figures or
themes in the Old Testament.
 These connections are often seen as foreshadowing or
prefiguration that highlight Mary’s role in salvation history.
Eve
 Mary is sometimes referred to as the “New Eve” due to
parallels drawn between her obedience and the disobedience
of Eve in the Garden of Eden. While Eve’s disobedience
brought about the fall, Mary’s obedience played a role in the
redemption of humanity through Jesus.
Ark of the Covenant
 The ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament contained
sacred items, including the Ten Commandments. Mary is
sometimes seen as a parallel to the Ark because she carried
within her womb Jesus, the Word of God, drawing a connection
between the Old Testament Ark and the “Ark” of the New
Covenant.
Rachel-In Jeremiah 31:15
 Rachel is described as weeping for her children. In Matthew
2:18, a similar phrase is used in connection with the massacre
of infants by King Herod. Some see a typological connection
between Rachel’s lamentation and Mary’s sorrow at the loss of
innocent children.
Queen Mother (Gebirah)
 Drawing from the Old Testament tradition of the queen mother
holding a special status, some see Mary as a figurative queen
mother due to her unique role as the mother of the king,
Jesus.
Wisdom - In the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament, Wisdom
is personified and described in feminine terms. Some Christian
theologians draw parallels between this personification of Wisdom
and Mary, seeing her as embodying divine wisdom through her
acceptance of God’s plan.