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

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.

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     

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

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