" A mixed bag, really. Papa B does a good job showing how infancy narratives reflect the hopes and aspirations of Israel and anticipate the life, teachings, passion and resurrection of Jesus. But it falls short when Benedict weighs in on the current historical controversies surrounding the texts. The book does not possess the length or scope to address such complex questions, in my humble opinion. In addition, he tends to be a bit too dismissive of the historical critical method used in biblical scholarship. Is 7:14 is a case in point. There is no conflict in searching for a more immediate object of the prophecy, while holding to the belief that the prophecy is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And the fact that there are multiple theories as to what that object is does not relieve scholars of the responsibility of searching for one. "
— Brian, 2/16/2014