This ecumenical effort to study the basics about Mary in the NT was undertaken in the mid-70's and is still the standard almost thirty years later. A truly exhaustive, balanced, and informative work that keeps its focus on Scriptural interpretation and probabilities...seeing a number of sides of the sectarian coin on Mary but always opting for the most plausible interpretation, based upon the flat-out *science* of understanding Scripture. Excellent. The best part is the extra chapter on Mary in the 2nd century Christian experience, following-up on what the post-Apostolic churches garnered from the original records and traditions. An absolute MUST for any student or Christian scholar's library.