The Armenian Gospel of the Infancy with three early versions of the Protevangelium of James
Synopsis
The various versions of the Infancy Gospels illustrate how stories about the Virgin and Child lend themselves to be told and retold - much like the stories in the canonical Gospels. This first translation of the full text of the Armenian Gospel of the Infancy, itself derived from a sixth-century Syriac text that no longer exists, provides two variants of the famous narrative and several recensions or ancient editions. Stories about Jesus, many of them unique to thisgospel, are included to show how he exercised his sovereign and divine will even as a child.
This edition also contains three early Armenian versions of the Protevangelium of James, which with other ancient sources dependent on it (like the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew) constitute the basic tradition in the formation of the later Infancy Gospels. These writings are our earliest sources about the parents of the Virgin Mary (Joachim and Anne) and her miraculous birth. They also form the basis for the dogma of her Immaculate Conception and perpetual virginity
after the birth of Jesus, and lay the ground for certain of the Marian feasts celebrated since the fourth century.
Terian's engaging introduction and annotation of the texts place this rare document clearly in its cultural and historical context and provide extensive references to the surrounding textual tradition. These extraordinary stories will appeal to all with an interest in the early church.
Book details
- Author:
- ISBN:
- 9780191562068
- Related ISBNs:
- 9780199541560
- Publisher:
- OUP Oxford
- Pages:
- N/A
- Reading age:
- Not specified
- Includes images:
- No
- Date of addition:
- 2023-06-27
- Usage restrictions:
- Copyright
- Copyright date:
- 2008
- Copyright by:
- N/A
- Adult content:
- No
- Language:
- English
- Categories:
- History, Nonfiction, Religion and Spirituality