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manger

Telling the Christmas story without a stable for children

December 12, 2025December 10, 2025

Contrary to popular tradition, Jesus was not born in a stable! Why? Because the ‘manger’ where he was laid was at the bottom of the main living area of a house in any normal first-century Jewish home. The guest room on the roof was not big enough for Mary to give birth, so she did …

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Categories Biblical Studies 15 Comments
Ian Paul

Ian Paul

Theologian, author, speaker

Associate Senior Research Fellow, Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology; Associate Minister, St Nic's, Nottingham; Managing Editor, Grove Books; chair, Tyndale NT group; member of General Synod, formerly of Archbishops' Council. Mac user; chocoholic. Tweets at @psephizo

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Gospel Commentary Index, Lectionary Year B

An index to all the commentary articles on the gospel lectionary readings for the whole of Year B, together with links to video discussions.

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Books by Ian Paul

What is Sex For? A Pastoral Theology of Our Sexed Bodies

What is Sex For? A Pastoral Theology of Our Sexed Bodies

Revelation (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)

Revelation (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)

The Practice of Evangelical Spirituality

The Practice of Evangelical Spirituality

Kingdom, Hope and the End of the World

Kingdom, Hope and the End of the World: The 'Now' and 'Not Yet' of Eschatology

View all Ian's Publications

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