The Book of Mary: A Commentary on the Protevangelium of JamesThis commentary provides a new paradigm for understanding the Protevanglium of James, an early Christian manuscript that was marginalized in the West in the late 4th century but continued to be highly valued in the East. The Protevangelium has long been recognized as the single most important manuscript associated with the development of marian dogma in early Christianity. The theology of the manuscript and the interpretation of its contents, however, have been woefully misunderstood for almost two thousand years. The present work reveals that the Protevangelium is a theological presentation of Mary in the same genre as the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke. The story of Mary in the Protevangelium tells of a Jewish maiden whose unique vocation was to be the mother of the holy one, the Son of the Most High. The christological awareness in Gospel times was sufficient to single out Mary's place in salvation history. However, it was her role as a holy of holies of the divine presence-a role that can only be understood within the holiness tradition of the Jewish people-that first engendered her veneration among early Christians. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Joachims Offering | 5 |
Annas Lament | 13 |
Annas Song | 19 |
The Annunciation Anna | 23 |
The Birth of Mary | 37 |
Mary at Six Months and One Year | 43 |
Mary at Two and Three Years | 51 |
Trial by Ordeal | 125 |
The Road to Bethlehem | 131 |
Creation Pauses | 135 |
The Birth of Jesus | 143 |
Doubting Salome | 151 |
The Journey of the Magi | 161 |
Jesus and John Saved from Herod | 165 |
The Murder of Zechariah | 169 |
Mary in the Temple | 67 |
Joseph | 77 |
Mary and the Veil of the Temple | 83 |
The Annunciation Mary | 93 |
The Visitation | 101 |
_GoBack | 106 |
_GoBack | 107 |
_GoBack | 109 |
The Annunciation Joseph | 115 |
Joseph and Mary Are Questioned | 119 |
Zechariahs Death Discovered | 173 |
The Author | 177 |
Attributes of the Author | 181 |
The Theology of the Narrative | 185 |
Dating the Manuscript | 189 |
19125 | 197 |
Liturgical Connections | 201 |
Conclusion | 203 |
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Common terms and phrases
altar Amann angel Anna Anna’s vow annunciation appears Ascension of Isaiah behold Bethlehem biblical birth of Jesus blessing Book of Mary born cave chapter child Christian Commentary conceived conception consecrated covenant David defiled divine earthly temple Elizabeth enter Exodus Ezekiel Genesis girls God’s Greek hand Hannah heaven heavenly temple Hebrews high priest Hock holy of holies Holy Spirit Ibid indicates Infancy Gospels infancy narratives Israel Jerusalem Jerusalem Bible Jewish Joachim John John’s Joseph Judea Leviticus living manuscripts Mary’s holiness Mary’s virginity menarche Messiah midwife Mishnah Moses mother nazirite Numbers offering Old Testament overshadow prayer pregnant present prophetic Protevangelium of James Protévangile de Jacques reference Revelation ritual purity Salome Samson Samuel sanctuary saying sent his grace Septuagint story suggests Syriac theological tion Tobit took tradition translation trial by ordeal twelve unclean undefiled daughters veil wife woman womb women words Zechariah