The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Volume 2, the Protevanglion

In Short

This book presents the Protevangelion—a primitive gospel attributed to James the Less—which fills the historical gaps surrounding the early life of Mary and the nativity of Jesus. It is a work of devotional imagination, recounting the prayers and trials of Mary’s parents, the selection of Joseph as her guardian, and the miraculous events accompanying the Incarnation. Though excluded from the modern biblical canon by later church councils, the text has endured as a primary source for historical, artistic, and theological traditions that have shaped Western Christianity for centuries.

The Story

The narrative begins with Joachim, a wealthy man of Israel, who is publicly shamed by the high priest for his childlessness. Distraught, Joachim retreats into the wilderness to fast and pray for forty days, while his wife, Anna, mourns her own barrenness at home, feeling abandoned by God and mocked by her maid. In a moment of intense grief, Anna observes a sparrow’s nest and cries out to the Lord, lamenting that even the animals are more fruitful than she. Her prayers are answered by an angel, who promises that she will conceive a child whose name will be spoken of throughout the world. Anna vows to dedicate the child to the service of the Lord.

Upon the birth of their daughter, they name her Mary. The child’s exceptional nature is revealed early; at nine months old, she walks nine steps before returning to her mother’s lap, prompting Anna to consecrate her room as a holy space. By the age of three, Mary is taken to the temple, where she dances upon the altar and is fed by angels. As she matures, the priests decide that she must be betrothed to protect the sanctity of the temple. They call together the widowers of Israel, each carrying a rod. When Joseph, a humble builder, steps forward, a dove emerges from his rod and alights upon his head, marking him as the chosen guardian.

Joseph initially refuses, protesting that he is an old man with children, but he eventually relents and takes Mary into his home. While Mary spins the sacred purple for the temple veil, the archangel Gabriel appears to announce her miraculous conception. Her subsequent pregnancy leads to severe trials; she is accused of infidelity, and both she and Joseph are forced to drink the "water of the Lord" to prove their innocence. They pass the ordeal, but the arrival of a census decree from Augustus forces their journey to Bethlehem. As they near the town, Mary enters labor and is placed in a cave, where she gives birth as a great light fills the space. A skeptic named Salome demands physical proof of the virgin birth; her hand withers in punishment for her doubt, only to be healed when she touches the infant. The narrative concludes with the arrival of the wise men, the flight of the holy family to escape Herod’s wrath, and the dramatic martyrdom of Zacharias at the temple altar, which is transformed into stone-hard blood.

How It Unfolds

The covenant of barrenness Joachim and Anna endure profound social and religious isolation due to their inability to conceive. Their story establishes the atmosphere of pious longing that defines the narrative’s opening chapters.

The consecration of the child Mary is set apart from the world from her infancy, raised within the temple’s holy confines. This period emphasizes her divine protection and her unique status as a vessel for the sacred.

The trial of the rods The priests seek a guardian for Mary, leading to a miraculous selection process. Joseph is reluctantly chosen, bridging the gap between his earthly trade as a builder and his role as the protector of the Virgin.

The Annunciation and the ordeal Gabriel’s visit to Mary triggers both personal and public crises. The subsequent trial by bitter water serves as a legal and spiritual test of the couple’s integrity before the community.

The nativity and the flight The journey to Bethlehem and the birth in a cave shift the focus to the cosmic significance of the event. The narrative closes with the tragic consequences of Herod’s jealousy and the ultimate preservation of the Holy Family.

The People

Joachim and Anna serve as the faithful, suffering patriarch and matriarch who must wait for God to act. Their journey from public disgrace to miraculous redemption forms the emotional bedrock of the story. Mary is portrayed as a figure of singular purity and quiet submission; she is the "handmaid of the Lord" who navigates the transition from temple devotee to the mother of a savior. Joseph is defined by his humility and deep-seated fear of God. Though he is an older man burdened by social expectations and the weight of an impossible situation, he consistently chooses obedience over his own reputation. Herod appears as the archetypal antagonist, his fear of a rival king driving the narrative’s final, violent act. Zacharias acts as a tragic witness, his martyrdom serving as a grim punctuation to the birth of the new era.

In Its Own Voice

"I am not comparable to the very beasts of the earth, for even the beasts of the earth are fruitful before thee, O Lord!"

Anna expresses the depths of her despair while sitting under a laurel tree, comparing her barren state to the natural world.

"Behold, I have taken thee from the temple of the Lord, and now I will leave thee in my house; I must go to mind my trade of building."

Joseph attempts to maintain a respectful distance from Mary after he is forced to take her into his home, underscoring his internal struggle with his new responsibility.

"A virgin hath brought forth, which is a thing contrary to nature."

The midwife reports the miraculous birth in the cave to the skeptical Salome, highlighting the central theme of the narrative.

What It's Really About

At its core, this text explores the tension between human law and divine mystery. It seeks to validate the sanctity of the Virgin Mary by placing her within the established traditions of the Jewish temple, thereby grounding her story in the lineage and rituals of the ancient world. The narrative is deeply concerned with the concept of purity—not merely physical, but spiritual—and the belief that those who remain faithful through impossible trials will ultimately be vindicated. The presence of miraculous signs, such as the freezing of time during the nativity or the petrification of blood, functions as a testament to the idea that the birth of Jesus represents a fundamental disruption of the natural and political order.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of religion or the evolution of hagiography will find this text essential. It reveals the "lost" imagination of the early Church, showcasing the specific details—such as the names of Mary’s parents or the cave birth—that eventually became standard elements in Christian art and iconography. However, the modern reader must be prepared for the archaic, often repetitive style typical of ancient apocryphal literature. The prose is functional rather than literary, reflecting its origins as an oral or early written tradition meant to serve as a devotional narrative. It can feel jarring in its casual inclusion of the miraculous, and its rigid social structures regarding gender and religious law reflect the worldview of its period. Yet, there is a compelling, raw sincerity to the story. If you have ever wondered why Mary is often depicted with a spindle or why the nativity is traditionally associated with a cave rather than a stable, this book provides the source material. It is a rewarding look at the stories that were once considered holy, helping us understand how early communities sought to flesh out the lives of the figures they held most dear.