2. Mary in the New Testament, history, and earliest Christianity

‘Mary in the New Testament, history, and earliest Christianity’ discusses the Virgin Mary and her role in Christianity as it is first described in the New Testament Gospels. There are two key factors that are important in the development of Marian beliefs: the evolution of Christian doctrine over time and the idea of God’s plan of salvation. Mary can be examined based on relevant archaeological and historical data. There are discontinuities between the scriptural Mary of the New Testament and many Marian beliefs and doctrines that eventually developed within the Church. It is important also to remember the doctrinal disagreements about Mary among Christian denominations that arise from differences in how they approach the Bible.