Stone Manger--The Untold Story of the First Christmas

by Jeffrey R. Chadwick

If you love Christmas, you're really going to enjoy reading Stone Manger - The Untold Story of the First Christmas. You'll take a trip back in time, before the Christmas traditions we have today even existed - back in time to Nazareth and Jerusalem and Bethlehem at the time Joseph and Mary actually lived, to experience the story of the birth of Jesus. And you'll learn the equally fascinating and broader story behind the birth of Jesus. You'll get to know two of the most remarkable people in history, Joseph and Mary of Nazareth, a young couple whose determination and self reliance in the face of challenges was magnified by their faith and reliance upon God in bringing to pass the greatest miracle in our history. But this is no fictional treatment, its not a novel or a screenplay - it's actually biographical. It's the real story of Joseph, Mary, and the birth of Jesus, told by an archaeologist and historian who has researched, excavated, and taught in the Land of Israel for over three decades. Join author Jeffrey R. Chadwick, professor of archaeology and religious studies, as he introduces Joseph and Mary and their remarkable journey to Bethlehem in a way you've never experienced the story before. You'll learn a hundred things about the first Christmas you never imagined. Did you know, for example, that the manger in which the baby Jesus was laid was actually made of stone? That archaeological artifact, the stone manger, will be the starting point for a reading adventure into the authentic story of Christmas that will surprise and delight at every turn. You'll never feel the same about Christmas after reading Stone Manger!

Genres: Nonfiction, Christmas, History, Church, Religion

133 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2011

Reviews

[Matt Willden · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, particularly for the reader who wants to challenge preconceptions about the birth of Jesus Christ. The careful parsing of fact from fiction makes for thought-provoking chapters. I can't say I loved the tone of the book--I'm curious what tone the author attempted to strike in writing it, because it struck me as entirely too didactic, particularly the first few chapters. The phrasing of his chapters about what he's stating really happened back then feel more smug and finger-wagging than a friendly attempt to educate. And although I credit his expertise with some great insights, he is guilty a few times of cherry-picking facts that support his thesis, such as working so hard to disprove the traditional view of Mary and Joseph as the poor young couple that he conveniently leaves out the 2nd reference from Leviticus (he includes only the 1st) about why a couple like them would be allowed to use doves or pigeons for their sacrificial offering (those unable to afford the larger animals prescribed by the Mosaic law). That citation wouldn't necessarily disprove his claim that they were economically independent "working class" people, but he does a disservice to the credibility of his claim by leaving out so well known and relevant scriptural point. Such oversights or omissions are not frequent, but enough of them appeared that his selectivity smacks of glossing over any contradicting evidence. That's a rhetorical miss that any English teacher worth her or his salt would never allow to pass the rough draft smell test. But my stylistic and rhetorical frustrations aside, I enjoyed his treatment of the topic, especially the application of his well-earned credentials as a near-East expert. For some time I've been familiar with the belief of Joseph (and Jesus) being a stone mason rather than a wood carpenter, and have always found it an idea that "tastes good", and Dr. Chadwick's thorough investigation of this and its countless scriptural, historical, and traditional implications is a thought-provoking and worthwhile study. A keeper.

[Jasmyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book about some of the background of the Christmas story. As mentioned in other reviews the author's tone was a little too snooty for my tastes...can't you be educated and humble at the same time?! A hard thing to do... He also writes as though his theories are entirely accurate, even though of course they're just theories. But I did like hearing his insights into certain details of the birth of the Savior. Things like Joseph likely being a stone mason, not a wood carpenter, and the reality of a virgin birth being entirely possible. Before 1970 no one believed conception was possible without sexual relations, but now there are millions of babies conceived through IVF and no sexual relations, so it's entirely possible that Mary was a virgin when Christ was born. I also thought his opinions on the timing of Christ's birth were fascinating and the idea that Christ really could have been born around the winter solstice...the Light of the World coming at the darkest part of the year. In the end, it doesn't really matter, but I enjoyed this very different look into the events and details surrounding this well known story and definitely think it will influence the way I look at the Christmas story each year now. Worth a read!

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started to read this book after hearing Jeffrey Chadwick on the Follow Him Podcast right before Christmas. I was so intrigued by the information he shared on the podcast as a lot of it was new information for me. For example, I had no clue that Joseph was not in fact a carpenter but a stone mason. The book didn't actually have that much that the author didn't share in the podcast, so I think I'd recommend listening to those two parts—links below:
Part one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfyRL...

Part two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACgc8...

I enjoyed the book's content; however, sometimes the tone and assumptions were slightly off-putting. I know the author was trying to paint Mary and Joseph as real people, but sometimes in doing that, they were a bit too perfect or one-dimensional—I know that sounds petty, but there were just several times I had to remind myself it might have happened that way or maybe it was slightly different. Overall it was an insightful read and I have a new and better perspective on the Christmas story.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful re-telling of the Christmas story, told from the perspective of an archaeologist who has specialized in the area of ancient Israel and has lived and taught in Jerusalem.
As told in the preface, this is the re-telling, based on his research, that his mom always wanted him to write down for her. As I read, I pictured the author talking to his mom.

I loved the insights into the culture, language, traditions, and religious customs that helped Mary and Joseph, and the story of the babe lying in a stone manger, come alive.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for actual content, 3 for delivery so 3 1/2. The information is interesting, but the book reads like a research paper. Luckily it's short so it wasn't too difficult to get through. If you're at all interested in the real historical facts of Christ's birth and how Joseph and Mary fulfilled prophecy, this may be of interest to you.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just...wow! And to think, this “untold” story has been in plain sight in the Bible this whole time!

[Marjean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book based on historical and archeological records and findings. Joseph and Mary moved to Bethlehem purposefully to fulfill prophecy that the Messiah's parents were registered as residents of Bethlehem. Joseph was likely a stone mason and the grotto where Christ was born was likely on their own property, the house the magi entered was likely the home Joseph built them and the "inn" where there was "no room" was likely a boarding with a midwife for Mary's delivery as the house wasn't completed. Their intent was to return to Bethlehem from Egypt, but as Herod's successor in Judaea was Archelaus and the family would still be in danger, they were inspired to go back to Nazareth. I enjoyed it and it did not discourage me to still display all my wooden stables, mangers and wise men at the manger for Christmas!

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. As more and more research is performed and translations of the original texts' tricky words with more than one meaning, and archeological discoveries being made, it's fun to discover a totally plausible more real version of how the Christmas story unfolded such as a stone manger emptied of water instead of a wooden manger filled with hay and a cave camp instead of a barn with animals walking around. No cattle lowing or sheep baaing. Kinda ruins "Away in a Manger" song, but I'd rather have an accurate picture than keep the tradition of barn animals and hay. Among other things.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author takes a more than a few leaps of faith in this book but they are very educated leaps and he never professes to know for sure exactly what happened with Mary, Joseph, and the young baby, Jesus. It was a new perspective on the Christmas story and nativity for me and added much to my contempation of the Savior this holiday season.

[Evan Sproul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will educate you, but it might also frustrate you. But if you can put away the frustration, the book is thought provoking, and I recommend it. I caution any reader, however, to be wary of possible cognitive dissonance as one navigates through the blanks every archeologist encounters, filled in by the author with educated imagination.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the theories that hold a possibility. I didn't love that this author writes as if he is right and there are not other possibility. I would prefer that an author present his theories and then allow the reader to decide for themselves. Other that that small detail. I really liked the book.

[John Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought Provoking

You don’t have to agree with every one of the author’s conclusions to feel inspired by his unfolding of the Christmas story from a practical point of view that draws from the relevance of ancient Hebrew culture.

[Terry L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Perspectives on the Birth of Jesus Christ

For the past year, my wife and I along with millions of other members of our church have studied the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. We have learned that understanding the ancient texts in context is critical to deriving meaning from them. We have learned that modern scholarship renders different translations of Hebrew and Greek words. These new translations clarify passages and even change the meaning of certain scriptures.

So it is with Dr. Chadwick's telling of the Christmas story. Joseph (Yosef) was probably not a carpenter, but a stone mason based on newer translations of the Greek text. He might have built a Stone Manger to water a donkey and maybe a goat. In this Stone Manger, Mary (Miryam) laid her newborn baby boy named Jesus (Yeshua). Additional careful translation and reading of the text changes much of the Nativity narrative.

Dr. Chadwick presents a beautiful, plausible, and inspiring story of two amazing people chosen to raise the Son of God. The story differs significantly from our traditional Christmas stories. It leads me to a greater appreciation of Yosef and Miryam.

[Pam DeArmon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book because it was made to sound like a factual and accurate look at the Nativity from a perspective of the culture of ancient Israel. It started off very interesting, but then the author just totally starts making up a story line about Joseph and Mary including that Jospeh worked at the Temple in Jerusalem making trip there from Bethlehem daily. Absolutely zero support or basis for his claims at all. He bills himself as an archeologist, so I expected a factual account not this mess. If you are looking for a “story” by all means, read this. It’s interesting! But not if you are looking for a non-fictional look at the account of the birth of Christ.

[Aaron Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Insights to the First Christmas

The author has expertise in the history and geography of the region. With that knowledge he does an excellent job of walking through the reader to a different perspective of the First Christmas. Those who originally translated the New Testament into English did not have the understanding of the region where Jesus Christ was born and traditions have carried on over the years tainting some of the details. This is a must read for ALL Christians to gain perspective of how the First really happened.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of fascinating, surprising information. However, as other reviews have mentioned, the tone of the book is a bit off-putting. He begins saying, essentially, "there will be no conjecture in this book," but then proceeds to claim as fact things that Mary and Joseph thought and felt. I would have appreciated a book that read less like a work of fiction and more like a scholarly work addressing the same topics.

[Natalie Fluckiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing new insights about Christ's birth! Definitely worth the short read. It leaves me with additional questions. I don't necessarily agree with everything.

Spoiler - scholars believe: The Hebrew translation in the NT is builder not carpenter. A stone mason!!! So cool! Limestone is prolific in Jerusalem. They owned land, lived in a grotto/cave and baby Jesus laid in a stone manger or water trough...no hay.

[Amber Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you ignore the tone of the author being condescending to everyone who has believed anything different than what he is writing about, then this book is very interesting. I really enjoyed the different theories and ideas. It’s okay to have different theories - as long as you realize that’s what they are.
3.5 stars - it’s worth the read

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though short, it was too long. Part fact and part fiction. It contains so many suppositions and theories not backed up by scripture that I got tired of reading it. I know the author is an educated man and well traveled in that part of the world, but saying that this story is the true story is a bridge too far. Educated guesses, yes but, guesses and supposition all the same.

[Sandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I expected something different. I cannot for a minute agree with many things the author put forth. It annoyed me that he thought he knew when Joseph walked here or did this or that. I do not agree with so much of what he stated as fact. When he would say it has to be this way instead of I believe it could have happened this way he lost me.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains some radical ideas about the birth of Jesus. Some of them make sense, and some are so mind-blowing that I'm not quite sure how I feel about them. The book is very well researched. It is the kind of book that everyone has to make up their own mind about.

[A. R. Parr Burdett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting and deep book about the birth of Jesus Christ. The research and explanations were sound. The interpretations made sense and the inferences were logic. I really enjoyed the book and learned a lot that I didn’t previously know about the birth of Jesus Christ.

[Tawni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. Loved its ideas and points and can’t wait to find out how much is true and correct in the next life ;) I really liked how it portrays Mary and Joseph’s decisions. They were weren’t victims of their circumstances but took charge.

[Joan Enders · Rating 1 out of 5]

Conjectures

The author shares much new information and theories about the birth of Christ. It was interesting but the lack of a formal bibliography makes it more historical fiction than a historical event.

[Laurie Dewberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Eye-opening Read

A quick, well thought out account of Jesus’ birth and the circumstances Mary and Joseph must have encountered. I love the new perspectives the author gave me for considering their story more authentically.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful look at the Christmas story. I loved it.

[Karen A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and faith filled. As an archeologist and a religion professor the author blends faith and tradition with actual historic science. I loved this volume!

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting ideas, but it had too much editorializing. He assume and writes too much on what Joseph and Mary were thinking and doing.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thought provoking. I felt like I mentally sorted the storyline facts in my mind as “accept it as truth”, “don’t agree with” and “not sure”.

[Betty Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone Manger

Wonderful accounting of the facts around the birth of Jesus and the lives of Mary and Joseph (Mryim and Josef)