Alternative Lives of Jesus: Noncanonical Accounts through the Early Middle Ages

by Roland H. Worth Jr.

Overview

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 detail--both 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 "feel" for the character and intents of the various sources. A concise introduction to a much neglected area of Bible-related study that should be of potential use to students of Biblical literature, comparative religion, and early medieval thought.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786415816
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	06/17/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.42(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The late Roland H. Worth, Jr., was the author of many books. He lived in Richmond, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface     
Introduction     

PART I: THE DOCUMENTS

1 Detailed Surviving Gospels     
The Infancy Gospel of James (also known as the Protevangelium of James)     
History of Joseph the Carpenter     
Infancy Gospel of Thomas     
Pseudo-Matthew     
Arabic Infancy Gospel     
Gospel of the Nativity of Mary     
Gospel of Peter     
Gospel of Nicodemus (consisting of Acts of Pilate and Christ’s Descent into Hell)     

2 Fragmentary Surviving Gospels     
Gospel of the Hebrews (also known as Gospel According to the Hebrews)     
Gospel of the Ebionites     
Egerton Gospel (Papyrus Egerton 2)     
Unidentified Gospel (Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 840)     
Secret Gospel of Mark     

3 Surviving “Acts” and Other Documents     
Acts of John     
Pistis Sophia     
Epistle of the Apostles (Epistula Apostolorum)     
Toldoth Jeshu     

PART II: THE LIFE OF JESUS

4 Mary and Joseph Before Jesus’ Birth     
Birth and Childhood of Mary     
Betrothal of Mary to Joseph     
Annunciation of Jesus’ Coming Birth to Mary     
Mary Visits Mother of John the Baptist     
Joseph Learns He Is to Be a Father     
Joseph Blamed for Mary's Pregnancy     

5 Birth of Jesus     
Jesus Born in Bethlehem     
Visit of the Magi     
Slaughter of the Bethlehem Children     

6 Egyptian Exile     
Flight into Egypt and Life While There     
Return to Palestine from Egypt     
Miracles of Healing and Protection While Still a Baby     

7 Youthful Years in Palestine     
Childhood Miracles of Self-Protection     
Playful Childhood Miracles     
Childhood Miracles to Benefit His Parents     
Childhood Healings     
Childhood Resurrections     
Childhood Duplication of Food     
Childhood Protection of Others from Dangerous Animals     
Hurtful and Injurious Childhood Miracles     
Supernatural Childhood Executions     
Jesus’ Supernatural Brilliance as a Childhood Student     
Jesus’ Relationship to His Parents     
Death of John the Baptist’s Mother     
Jesus’ Jerusalem Pilgrimage at Age Twelve     
Jesus Is Commissioned to Preach at Age Twelve     
Death of Joseph     
Jesus Starts to Hide His Miraculous Abilities     
Jesus’ Childhood Receipt of the Holy Spirit     
A Jewish Alternative Version of Jesus’ Birth and Adolescence     

8 Jesus’ Adult Life and Teaching Ministry     
Roman Allusions to Jesus' Life and Death     
Jesus’ Baptism by John     
Jesus’ Forty Days of Temptation     
Jesus’ Physical Appearance     
Jesus’ Unique Physical Inability     
Appointment of Apostles     
Healing of a Man with a Bad Hand     
Every Meal a Miracle     
Jesus’ Miracles: A Hostile Interpretation     
Jesus’ Second Egyptian Stay     
The Second Transfiguration     
A Rich Man Seeking Divine Acceptance Stumbles Over His Own Riches     
Healing of Contagious Leprosy     
A Woman Accused of Sin     
A Challenge to Jesus’ Ritual Purity in the Temple     
Jesus’ Final Passover with the Disciples     

9 Betrayal, Arrest, and Trial     
A Jewish Account of the Events     
Defenses of Jesus before Pilate by Friendly Witnesses     
Roman Subordinates and Standards Give Honor to Jesus     
Pilate’s Challenge to the Jewish Leaders     
Mary’s Grief over Jesus’ Death     
Crucifixion of the Wrong Man     
Place of Crucifixion     
The “Departure” of Christ While Jesus Dies     
Earthquake at Jesus’ Death     
Jesus’ Disciples Pursued After His Death     
Pilate’s Reaction to the Phenomena at Jesus’ Death     
Joseph Asking for the Body of Jesus     
Punishment of Joseph for Burying Jesus     

10 Triumph Over Death     
A Description of the Resurrection Event Itself     
The Decision to Hush Up the Guards’ Report     
Appearance to Women at the Tomb     
Departure of the Apostles to Galilee     
Instruction to All the Apostles to Verify the Physical Reality of the Resurrection     
Appearance to James to Convince Him to Break His Fast     
Post-Resurrection Period of Teaching     
Ascension into Heaven     
The Imposture of Resurrection Exposed     

Notes     
Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

the author has written clearly and subjectively on this fascinating material”—Catholic Library World.

From the Publisher

the author has written clearly and subjectively on this fascinating material

Catholic Library World