Protoevangelium Of James

[Lil Red]

what is it and why was it not considered to be part of the canon of the Bible?

[Laudate_Dominum]

It is a gospel-type narrative that embellishes accounts already contained in Matthew and Luke with early traditions surrounding these events. The document itself is believed to have been written around 150 AD but many of the extra-biblical traditions it contains are thought to be of earlier origin due to the fact that references to such things can be found in earlier writings.

It was not considered to be part of the N.T. canon because it is not an authentic apostolic writing. It is better described as second century pious literature (although again I must remark that it expresses pre-existent traditions and is not simply a spontaneous fiction; or at least there is evidence to this effect). The canonicity of the four gospels -- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John -- is affirmed by the earliest of fathers and there are early fathers who attest to the late and non-apostolic origin of this document, often called the "Book of James".

There are many aspects of small "T" tradition that can be seen in this document, in particular the birth of Mary of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the dedication of Mary to the temple as a child and the controversial idea that St. Joseph was an older fellow when he took Mary as his wife and that the "brothers" of Jesus were the sons of Joseph from a previous marriage. I call this latter element controversial because it was a subject of dispute in the early Church -- and to this day really. This ancient controversy should not be confused with the modern controversy between Catholics and Protestants regarding the "brothers" of Jesus; the ancient dispute was between whether these "brothers" were sons of Joseph from a previous marriage or were simply cousins of Jesus. The perpetual virginity of Mary was not a matter of dispute back then as it was to become after the emergence of Protestantism.