Alternative lives of Jesus : noncanonical accounts through the early Middle Ages / Roland H. Worth, Jr.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Worth, Roland H., 1943-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jesus Christ--Biography--Apocryphal and legendary literature.

Jesus Christ.

Genre:

Biographies.

Apocryphal and legendary literature.

Physical Description:

viii, 200 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., 2003.

Summary:

There is a body of religious literature, most of which was written centuries after the New Testament, that attempts to provide supplemental or alternative accounts of the life of Jesus Christ. The most exhaustive surviving alternative versions to the New Testament come from orthodox circles and are often creative imaginings that try to fill holes in the canonical gospel accounts of Jesus life.

This work investigates the origins and nature of noncanonical retellings in detailboth orthodox and heretical as well as Roman and traditionalist Jewish ones. Extensive summaries of the text as well as substantial verbatim extracts of key incidents and assertions are provided to give the reader a feelfor the character and intents of the various sources. A concise introduction to a much neglected area of Biblerelated study that should be of potential use to students of Biblical literature, comparative religion, and early medieval thought.

Contents:

Part I The Documents

1 Detailed Surviving Gospels 11

The Infancy Gospel of James (also known as the Protevangelium of James) 11

History of Joseph the Carpenter 19

Infancy Gospel of Thomas 21

Pseudo-Matthew 24

Arabic Infancy Gospel 27

Gospel of the Nativity of Mary 28

Gospel of Peter 29

Gospel of Nicodemus (consisting of Acts of Pilate and Christ's Descent into Hell) 32

2 Fragmentary Surviving Gospels 36

Gospel of the Hebrews (also known as Gospel According to the Hebrews) 36

Gospel of the Ebionites 37

Egerton Gospel (Papyrus Egerton 2) 38

Unidentified Gospel (Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 840) 40

Secret Gospel of Mark 40

3 Surviving "Acts" and Other Documents 47

Acts of John 47

Pistis Sophia 48

Epistle of the Apostles (Epistula Apostolorum) 49

Toldoth Jeshu 49

Part II The Life of Jesus

4 Mary and Joseph Before Jesus' Birth 53

Birth and Childhood of Mary 53

Betrothal of Mary to Joseph 57

Annunciation of Jesus' Coming Birth to Mary 61

Mary Visits Mother of John the Baptist 63

Joseph Learns He Is to Be a Father 63

Joseph Blamed for Mary's Pregnancy 65

5 Birth of Jesus 68

Jesus Born in Bethlehem 68

Visit of the Magi 74

Slaughter of the Bethlehem Children 76

6 Egyptian Exile 79

Flight into Egypt and Life While There 80

Return to Palestine from Egypt 86

Miracles of Healing and Protection While Still a Baby 87

7 Youthful Years in Palestine 92

Childhood Miracles of Self-Protection 93

Playful Childhood Miracles 94

Childhood Miracles to Benefit His Parents 97

Childhood Healings 98

Childhood Resurrections 100

Childhood Duplication of Food 101

Childhood Protection of Others from Dangerous Animals 102

Hurtful and Injurious Childhood Miracles 103

Supernatural Childhood Executions 104

Jesus' Supernatural Brilliance as a Childhood Student 107

Jesus' Relationship to His Parents 111

Death of John the Baptist's Mother 112

Jesus' Jerusalem Pilgrimage at Age Twelve 114

Jesus Is Commissioned to Preach at Age Twelve 116

Death of Joseph 117

Jesus Starts to Hide His Miraculous Abilities 119

Jesus' Childhood Receipt of the Holy Spirit 120

A Jewish Alternative Version of Jesus' Birth and Adolescence 121

8 Jesus' Adult Life and Teaching Ministry 124

Roman Allusions to Jesus' Life and Death 127

Jesus' Baptism by John 129

Jesus' Forty Days of Temptation 131

Jesus' Physical Appearance 133

Jesus' Unique Physical Inability 134

Appointment of Apostles 135

Healing of a Man with a Bad Hand 135

Every Meal a Miracle 136

Jesus' Miracles: A Hostile Interpretation 136

Jesus' Second Egyptian Stay 137

The Second Transfiguration 138

A Rich Man Seeking Divine Acceptance Stumbles Over His Own Riches 139

Healing of Contagious Leprosy 140

A Woman Accused of Sin 140

A Challenge to Jesus' Ritual Purity in the Temple 141

Jesus' Final Passover with the Disciples 143

9 Betrayal, Arrest, and Trial 144

A Jewish Account of the Events 144

Defenses of Jesus before Pilate by Friendly Witnesses 145

Roman Subordinates and Standards Give Honor to Jesus 147

Pilate's Challenge to the Jewish Leaders 148

Mary's Grief over Jesus' Death 148

Crucifixion of the Wrong Man 149

Place of Crucifixion 150

The "Departure" of Christ While Jesus Dies 150

Earthquake at Jesus' Death 152

Jesus' Disciples Pursued After His Death 152

Pilate's Reaction to the Phenomena at Jesus' Death 153

Joseph Asking for the Body of Jesus 154

Punishment of Joseph for Burying Jesus 155

10 Triumph Over Death 157

A Description of the Resurrection Event Itself 157

The Decision to Hush Up the Guards' Report 161

Appearance to Women at the Tomb 163

Departure of the Apostles to Galilee 164

Instruction to All the Apostles to Verify the Physical Reality of the Resurrection 165

Appearance to James to Convince Him to Break His Fast 166

Post-Resurrection Period of Teaching 167

Ascension into Heaven 167

The Imposture of Resurrection Exposed 169.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0786415819

OCLC:

52055841