Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament (18 page)

you have vouched for, has committed a

praise to God, the serpent came and

great sin.” The priest replied, “What has

found Eve alone, and led her astray. This

he done?” He said, “He has defiled the

too has now happened to me.”

virgin he received from the Lord’s temple

2
Joseph rose up from the sackcloth,

and has stolen her wedding rights.b And

called Mary, and said to her, “You who

he has not revealed this to the sons of

have been cared for by God: why did you

Israel.”
3
The priest asked, “Joseph, has

do this? Have you forgotten the Lord

done this?” Annas the scribe replied,

your God? Why have you humiliated

“Send some servants, and you will find

your soul—you who were brought up in

that the virgin is pregnant.” The servants

the Holy of Holies and received your

went off and found that it was just as he

food from the hand of an angel?”
3
But

had said. They brought her back to the

she wept bitterly and said, “I am pure

judgment hall, along with Joseph.

and have not had sex with any man.”

3
The priest said, “Mary, why have

Joseph replied to her, “How then have

you done this? Why have you humiliated

you become pregnant?” She said, “As the

your soul and forgotten the Lord your

Lord my God lives, I do not know.”

God? You who were brought up in the

Holy of Holies and received your food

14 Joseph was very afraid and let from the hand of an angel, and heard the her be, debating what to do

hymns, and danced before him—why

about her: “If I hide her sin, I will be

have you done this? But she wept bitterly

fighting the Law of the Lord; if I reveal

and said, “As the Lord my God lives, I

her condition to the sons of Israel, I am

am pure before him and have not had sex

afraid that the child in her is angelic, and

with any man.”

I may be handing innocent blood over to

4
The priest then said to Joseph, “Why

a death sentence. What then should I do

have you done this?” Joseph replied, “As

with her? I will secretly divorce her.”

the Lord my God lives, I am pure towards

Then night overtook him.

her.” The priest said, “Do not bear false

2
Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid of this child. For that which

bOr:
eloped
with
her

THE PROTO-GOSPEL OF JAMES

69

witness, but speak the truth. You have

cause my eyes see two peoples, one

stolen her wedding rightsc and not reweeping and mourning and the other vealed it to the sons of Israel; and you

happy and rejoicing.”

have not bowed your head under the

3
When they were half way there,

mighty hand that your offspring might be

Mary said to him, “Take me down from

blessed.” Joseph kept his silence.

the donkey. The child inside me is pressing on me to come out.” He took her The priest said, “Hand over the

16

down from the donkey and said to her,

virgin you received from the

“Where can I take you to hide your

Lord’s temple.” And Joseph began to

shame? For this is a wilderness area.”

weep bitterly. The priest said, “I will have

both of you drink the Lord’s ‘water of

refutation,’ and it will reveal your sins to

18 He found a cave there and took

her into it. Then he gave his

your own eyes.”
2
The priest gave it to

sons to her and went out to find a Hebrew

Joseph to drink, and sent him away to the

midwife in the region of Bethlehem.

wilderness. But he came back whole. He

2
But I, Joseph, was walking, and I was

then gave it to Mary to drink and sent

not walking. I looked up to into the air,

her off to the wilderness. And she came

and I saw that it was greatly disturbed. I

back whole. All the people were amazed

looked up to the vault of the sky, and I

that no sin was revealed in them.

saw it standing still; and the birds of the

3
The priest said, “If the Lord God has

sky were at rest. I looked back to the

not revealed your sins, neither do I judge

earth and saw a bowl laid out for some

you.” And he released them. Joseph took

workers who were reclining to eat. Their

Mary and returned home, rejoicing and

hands were in the bowl, but those who

glorifying the God of Israel.

were chewing were not chewing; and

An order went out from the

17

those who were taking something from

king, Augustus, that everyone

the bowl were not lifting it up; and those

from Bethlehem of Judea was to be regwho were bringing their hands to their istered for a census. Joseph said, “I will

mouths were not bringing them to their

register my sons. But what should I do

mouths. Everyone was looking up. And

about this child? How should I register

I saw a flock of sheep being herded, but

her? As my wife? I would be too

they were standing still. And the shepashamed. As my daughter? But all the herd raised his hand to strike them, but

sons of Israel know that she is not my

his hand remained in the air. I looked

daughter. This day of the Lord will need

down at the torrential stream, and I saw

to turn out as he wishes.”

some goats whose mouths were over the

2
He saddled the donkey and seated

water, but they were not drinking. Then

her on it; and his son led it along, while

suddenly everything returned to its nor

Joseph followed behind. When they apmal course.

proached the third milestone, she turned

to Joseph and he saw that she was

I saw a woman was coming

gloomy. He said to himself “Maybe the

19 down from the mountains, and

child in her is causing her trouble.” Then

she said to me, “O man, where are you

later she turned to Joseph and he saw her

going?” I replied, “I am looking for a

laughing. He said to her, “Mary, why is

it that one time I see you laughing and at

another time gloomy?” She replied, “BecOr:
eloped
with
her
70

NON-CANONICAL GOSPELS

Hebrew midwife.” She asked me, “Are

God of my fathers, remember that I am

you from Israel?” I said to her, “Yes.”

a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Ja

She asked, “Who is the one who has

cob. Do not make me an example to the

given birth in the cave?” I replied, “My

sons of Israel, but deliver me over to the

betrothed.” She said to me, “Is she not

poor. For you know, O Master, that I

your wife?” I said to her, “Mary is the

have performed my services in your

one who was brought up in the Lord’s

name and have received my wages from

temple, and I received the lot to take her

you.”

as my wife. She is not, however, my wife,

3
And behold, an angel of the Lord

but she has conceived her child by the

appeared and said to her, “Salome, Sa

Holy Spirit.” The midwife said to him,

lome, the Master of all has heard your

“Can this be true?” Joseph replied to her,

prayer. Bring your hand to the child and

“Come and see.” And the midwife went

lift him up; and you will find salvation

with him.

and joy.”

2
They stood in the cave, and a bright

4
Salome joyfully came and lifted the

cloud overshadowed it. The midwife

child, saying, “I will worship him, for he

said, “My soul has been magnified today,

has been born as a great king to Israel.”

for my eyes have seen a miraculous sign:

Salome was immediately cured, and she

salvation has been born to Israel.” Right

went out of the cave justified. And behold

away the cloud departed from the cave,

a voice came saying, “Salome, Salome,

and a great light appeared within, so that

do not report all the miraculous deeds

their eyes could not bear it. Soon that

you have seen until the child enters

light departed, until an infant could be

Jerusalem.”

seen. And it went and took hold of the

breast of Mary, its mother. The midwife

And behold, Joseph was ready

21

cried out, “This is a great day for me, for

to go into Judea. But there was

I have seen this new wonder.”

a great disturbance in Bethlehem of Ju

3
The midwife went out of the cave

dea. For wise men came saying, “Where

and Salome met her. And she said to her,

is the king of the Jews? For we saw his

“Salome, Salome, I can describe a new

star in the east, and we have come to

wonder to you. A virgin has given birth,

worship him.”
2
When Herod heard, he

contrary to her natural condition.” Sawas troubled; and he sent servants to the lome replied, “As the Lord my God lives,

wise men. He then summoned the high

if I do not insert my finger and examine

priests and asked them in the praetorium,

her condition, I will not believe that the

“What does Scripture say about where

virgin has given birth.”

the messiah is to be born?” They replied,

“In Bethlehem of Judea. For that is what

The midwife went in and said

20

is found in Scripture.” He then released

to Mary, “Brace yourself, for

them and asked the wise men, “What sign

there is no small controversy concerning

did you see concerning the king who has

you.” Then Salome inserted her finger

been born?” The wise men said, “We saw

in order to examine her condition, and

a magnificent star shining among the

she cried out, “Woe to me for my sin

stars and overshadowing them, so that the

and faithlessness. For I have put the livother stars disappeared. And thus we ing God to the test, and see, my hand is

knew that a king had been born in Israel,

burning, falling away from me.”
2
She

and we came to worship him.” Herod

kneeled before the Master and said, “O

replied, “Go and look for him. If you find

THE PROTO-GOSPEL OF JAMES

71

him, let me know, that I too may come

where is your son? For you know that I

to worship him.”

can shed your blood with my hand.” The

3
The wise men then left, and behold,

servants went to report these things to

the star they had seen in the east preceded

him.
3
Zacharias responded, “I will be

them until they entered the cave, and it

God’s witness if you shed my blood. For

stood over the entrance of the cave. The

the Master will receive my spirit, since

wise men saw the child with its mother,

you will be shedding innocent blood in

Mary, and they took from their packs

the forecourt of the Lord’s temple.” And

gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Zacharias was murdered around dawn.

4
When they were warned by a revelation

But the sons of Israel did not know that

from an angel not to enter Judea, they

he was murdered.

went home another way.

The priests came out at the time

24

When Herod realized that he

22

of greeting, but Zacharias did

had been mocked by the wise

not come out to meet them with his blessmen, he grew angry and sent murderers, ing, as was customary. The priests stood,

saying to them, “Kill every infant, two

waiting to greet Zacharias with a prayer

years and under.”

and to glorify the Most High.
2
When he

2
When Mary heard that the infants

did not come, everyone grew afraid. One

were being killed, out of fear she took

of them took courage, entered the sancher child and wrapped him in swaddling tuary, and saw blood congealed beside

clothes and placed him in a cattle manger.

the altar of the Lord. And he heard a

3
But when Elizabeth heard that they

voice, “Zacharias has been murdered,

were looking for John, she took him and

and his blood will not be wiped away