Protevangelium of James

Overview and Contents

The Protevangelium of James is an apocryphal work (a writing outside the canon) and is not among the sixty-six books of the Bible. It presents itself as the work of James, the brother of Jesus, but scholars generally regard it as pseudonymous. The title "Protevangelium" means "a narrative preceding the Gospels." The name is thought to have been given in the sixteenth century, when a Latin translation was introduced to the West. The oldest surviving manuscript bears the title "The Birth of Mary."

The narrative runs as follows:

• Joachim and Anne, who had been childless, receive an angel's promise and become the parents of Mary.
• At the age of three, Mary is dedicated to the Temple in Jerusalem and is raised there.
• At about twelve, Mary is entrusted to Joseph, an elderly widower chosen by the high priest through a sign.
• Mary receives the Annunciation and conceives. Joseph and Mary are vindicated through the ordeal of the "bitter water" (Numbers 5).
• Mary gives birth to Jesus in a cave near Bethlehem, and a midwife attests to Mary's virginity.
• During Herod's persecution, Elizabeth hides the infant John, and Zacharias is killed in the Temple.

Background

Drawing on the nativity accounts in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2, the work fills in details the Gospels do not provide about Mary's birth, her childhood, and her relationship with Joseph. It shows a clear intent to emphasize Mary's purity and the miraculous nature of Jesus' birth. At the same time, its portrayal of the Jewish Temple system is judged to be inaccurate in many respects.

Relationship to the Bible as a Whole

Some scenes overlap with the canonical Gospels, such as the visit of the Magi. However, material such as Mary's life in the Temple, Joseph's children from a previous marriage, and the midwife's testimony does not appear in Scripture. The work has also been used to support the explanation that the "brothers of Jesus" in Mark 6:3 were Joseph's children from an earlier marriage.

Interpretations and Points of Debate

• Catholic Church and Orthodox Church: Neither recognizes this book as Scripture. Nevertheless, it has influenced tradition and liturgy, including the names of Mary's parents (Joachim and Anne), the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, and the commemoration of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. It is also cited as an early source supporting the belief that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life. In the West, some, such as Jerome, did not accept the view that Jesus' brothers were Joseph's children by a former wife.
• Protestantism: Because the book is not part of the canon, Protestants do not use it as a basis for doctrine but treat it as a historical source illustrating the early church's understanding of Mary. Regarding the "brothers of Jesus," the view that they were children born to Joseph and Mary is widely held.

The stories that Mary grew up in the Temple, that Joseph was an old man, and that Jesus was born in a cave are commonly found in Christmas art and storytelling. These details, however, come not from the biblical text but from apocryphal traditions such as this book.

In the Korean Church

Korean Protestant churches rarely address the work in preaching or teaching; it is mainly cited as an example when explaining the difference between apocryphal and canonical writings. The Catholic Church in Korea observes the memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, whose names derive from the tradition preserved in this book.