The Protoevangelium of James (the Less) was not only rejected, but it was even condemned by Popes Damasus I, Innocent I, and Gelasius I, as well as St. Jerome and other Church Fathers. Biblical scholars point out that the precise Greek of Luke says "man" for Joseph and not "old man" as it does for Zachariah in close proximity in the same infancy passage. The three most ancient icons of Joseph (3rd - 5th c.) also do not show him as an old man. The first icon to show Joseph as elderly does not appear until the 7th c. Some scholars point to Tatian the Heretic, whom Eusebius the Church Historian says is the author of the Encratite heresy, as the author of the Protoevangelium of James. This is why the aforementioned Popes rejected/condemned this apocryphal book due to its Gnostic leanings. Additionally, the West has held to the ancient tradition that Joseph remained a virgin like the Virgin Mary until he died. It is only in the East that Joseph began to be depicted as an elderly widower to "protect" Mary's virginity as Origin admits. We've studied this topic in detail on the Josephology Facebook group and Josephology UA-cam channel as we research all things Joseph.
Love any conversation that makes you want to delve deeper...Thanks for posting!
Ty
interesting
So that was 18'18" long. Cunningham spoke for appx 5' - Tom spoke the rest ! Bizarre!
Mary is the Mother of God in not just the Eastern Church but also the Western
The Protoevangelium of James (the Less) was not only rejected, but it was even condemned by Popes Damasus I, Innocent I, and Gelasius I, as well as St. Jerome and other Church Fathers. Biblical scholars point out that the precise Greek of Luke says "man" for Joseph and not "old man" as it does for Zachariah in close proximity in the same infancy passage. The three most ancient icons of Joseph (3rd - 5th c.) also do not show him as an old man. The first icon to show Joseph as elderly does not appear until the 7th c. Some scholars point to Tatian the Heretic, whom Eusebius the Church Historian says is the author of the Encratite heresy, as the author of the Protoevangelium of James. This is why the aforementioned Popes rejected/condemned this apocryphal book due to its Gnostic leanings. Additionally, the West has held to the ancient tradition that Joseph remained a virgin like the Virgin Mary until he died. It is only in the East that Joseph began to be depicted as an elderly widower to "protect" Mary's virginity as Origin admits. We've studied this topic in detail on the Josephology Facebook group and Josephology UA-cam channel as we research all things Joseph.
This is not a discussion! Its a monolgue interrupted (rarely) by Cunningham! Extraorodinary to suggest its a discussion - its not!