Referenced Articles 1 - The Life of Jesus

The Cult of Mary                                                                                                      1                                                                                                                                                           

The Roman Empire Prior to Jesus’ Birth                                                              5                                                                                                            

The Allegorical Interpretation of the Apocryphal Gospel of Thomas                 7                                       

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 THE CULT OF MARY

HOW MARY BECAME A SAINTE WORTHY OF VENERATION 

5th Century – Is it proper to call Mary the Mother of God?  It took a church council to determine that is was proper.

16th Century – Protestants criticized veneration of and prayer to Mary.  Protestants and Catholics argue over this even til today.

In the Gospels there is an ambivalent or even mildly negative view of Mary.  It is in  the early apocrypha that Mary becomes a leader of the Saints and special attributes of virginity worthy of worship.

She can intercede with God.  Mary’s death differ from an ordinary death.  Apocryphal texts give a special role for Mary in human salvation.

1)  The Gospel of James (or the Protoevangelium of James) is a 2nd-century infancy gospel telling of the miraculous conception of the Virgin Mary, her upbringing and marriage to Joseph, the journey of the couple to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, and events immediately following.  It is the earliest surviving assertion of the perpetual virginity of Mary, meaning her virginity not just prior to the birth of Jesus, but during and afterwards, and, despite being condemned by Pope Innocent I in 405 and rejected by the Gelasian Decree around 500, became a widely influential source for Mariology.

The Gospel of James is assumed to have been in circulation soon after c.150 AD. The author claims to be James the half-brother of Jesus by an earlier marriage of Joseph, but in fact his identity is unknown.

Mary is presented as an extraordinary child destined for great things from the moment of her conception.  Her parents, the wealthy Joachim and his wife Anna (or Anne), are distressed that they have no children, and Joachim goes into the wilderness to pray, leaving Anna to lament her childless state.  God hears Anna's prayer, angels announce the coming child, and in the seventh month of Anna's pregnancy (underlining the exceptional nature of Mary's future life) she is born.  Anna dedicates the child to God and vows that she shall be raised in the Temple.  Joachim and Anna name the child Mary, and when she is three years old they send her to the Temple, where she is fed each day by an angel.

When Mary approaches her twelfth year the priests decide that she can no longer stay in the Temple lest her menstrual blood render it unclean, and God finds a widower, Joseph, to act as her guardian: Joseph is depicted as elderly and the father of grown sons; he has no desire for sexual relations with Mary.  He leaves on business, and Mary is called to the Temple to help weave the temple curtain, where one day an angel appears and tells her that she has been chosen to conceive Jesus the Savior, but that she will not give birth as other women do.  Joseph returns and finds Mary six months pregnant, and rebukes her, fearing that the priests will assume that he is the guilty party.  They do, but the chastity of both is proven through the "test of bitter waters".

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The Roman census forces the holy couple to travel to Bethlehem, but Mary's time comes before they can reach the village.  Joseph settles Mary in a cave, where she is guarded by his sons, while he goes in search of a midwife, and for an apocalyptic moment as he searches all creation stands still.  He returns with a midwife, and as they stand at the mouth of the cave a cloud overshadows it, an intense light fills it, and there is suddenly a baby at Mary's breast.   Joseph and the midwife marvel at the miracle, but a second midwife named Salome (the first is not given a name) insists on examining Mary (she is still a virgin), upon which her hand withers as a sign of her lack of faith; Salome prays to God for forgiveness and an angel appears and tells her to touch the Christ Child, upon which her hand is healed.  

The gospel concludes with the visit of the Three Magi, the massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem, the martyrdom of the High Priest Zechariah (father of John the Baptist), and the election of his successor Simeon, and an epilogue, telling the circumstances under which the work was supposedly composed. 

The ordeal of the bitter water serves to defend Jesus against accusation of illegitimacy levied in the 2nd century by pagan and Jewish opponents of Christianity.  Christian sensitivity to these charges made them eager to defend both the virgin birth of Jesus and the immaculate conception of Mary (i.e., her freedom from sin at the moment of her conception).

(Mary is mentioned in the Gospels of Thomas and Mary, maybe Mary the mother of Jesus, but probably Mary Magdalene.  So these books are not included here.)

2)  The questions of Bartholomew

The text draws heavily on Jewish mysticism such as the Book of Enoch, itself a non-canonical text.

The time is after Jesus’s resurrection.  Peter and Mary dispute things.  Who should pray?  Mary (the vessel of Jesus) or Peter (the rock of Christ’s church)?   Next they argue over who should ask Jesus a question.  Mary?  Peter?  Bartholomew says skip it, I will.

Mary also does explain the vision of how she was to give birth to the Christ.  She warned them fire will come from her mouth – and it did.

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Initially, the text describes how Jesus descended into hell in his own words, and then jumps to discussing the virginal conception when Mary arrives amongst the apostles. Next, the apostles ask for a vision of hell, and angels roll up the earth to let them, and then return the earth when they have glimpsed it. 

Mary’s Dormition – How Mary falls asleep and ascends into heaven.  Taken from a large number of stories, hymns, and sermons describe her last days.  Mary’s body did not decay in the ground.  She was miraculously transformed and transported to heaven.  These stories relate Mary’s knowledge of mysteries because of her special relationship with the Lord.  Mary has the ability to intercede on behalf of others because of her relationship with her son.  Two main texts are below:

3)  The Book of Mary’s Repose (the 3rd century - the Palm of the Tree of Life Traditions)

An angel appears to Mary and tells her she will soon die.  Mary receives a book (later editions a palm branch) from an angel.  The angel is Jesus.  He and Mary reminisce.  Jesus reveals great mysteries to Mary including a secret prayer to enable her soul to bypass the rulers of the cosmos and enter directly to heaven.  The chief demonic power is a beast with a lion body and a snake tail.   Very heretical thinking – that the cosmos is ruled by evil powers represented by animals and you need secret passwords to get past them – GNOSTICISM.

The disciples are transported miraculously to the sight of Mary’s death.  Mary’s soul is taken by Jesus and given to the angel Michael.  The apostles take Mary’s body.  The Jews try to intervene and burn Mary’s body.  One touches Mary’s body and his hand shrivels.  Mary is buried.  Jesus returns and takes Mary’s body and reunites it with her soul.  She is transported to a place beside the Tree of Life in Paradise.  She is ASSUMED into paradise.  

Mary and the apostles get to see the damned in hell.  They cry our to her, Mary, we beseech you.  Have mercy.  Give us a little rest.  The apostles have no mercy, but Mary does.  Jesus will give the damned 3 hours of relief every Sunday.  Mary can intervene and obtain relief from her son.  Mary “the Queen.”

Mary has special esoteric knowledge of mysteries that Christ has shared with her.

Her body is pure and spotless.  She does not die but lies down and sleeps and is transported to heaven.

She can intervene on people’s behalf with Christ.

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4)  The 6 Books Dormition Apocryphan (the 4th Century – The Bethlehem Traditions)

The piety of Mary perceived by Christians in the 4th Century.

The apostles gather around Mary in Bethlehem where she has moved from Jerusalem as she is about to die.  Each apostle kisses her breast and her knee, where Jesus suckled and where Jesus was held.  Acts of veneration – worship.  These Christians have undoubtedly begun to worship Mary as well by this time.  Mary starts performing miracles.  Healing blind and deaf.  Casting out demons by making the sign of the cross.  Large crowds are attracted to Mary.  They are to be arrested.  Mary and the disciples “fly” to Jerusalem to escape where the miracles continue.  Mary and apparitions are linked, a phenomenon that continues to today.  A Jew tries to attack Mary.  His hand shrivels.  But Mary heals him.  Christ and Michael take Mary to heaven.  The text says to venerate Mary and have special days.  Especially over agriculture and bread.  The trend was to venerate the saints and especially Mary – a holy and pure woman.  Mary became the one to petition to her son for mercy, healing, etc.

Debate swirled around Mary and her position as “mother of God.”  Theologists debated but the people were adamant she was.  In 431 a declaration was made that Mary was declared the mother of God.

In Roman Catholicism, the Assumption of Mary is an official dogma of the Vatican affirming that the mother of Jesus never actually experienced physical death, and instead entered into Heaven in bodily form accompanied by a host of angels.  Roman Catholics believe that Mary was transported into Heaven with her body and soul united. The feast day recognizing Mary's passage into Heaven is celebrated as The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Roman Catholics. This doctrine was defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, in his Apostolic Constitution, Munificentissimus Deus. In those denominations that observe it, the Assumption is commonly celebrated on August 15. 

Although the assumption was only recently defined as dogma, and in spite of a statement by Epiphanius of Salamis (315-403 C.E.) in 377 C.E. that no one knew of the eventual fate of Mary, stories of the assumption of Mary into heaven have circulated since at least the fifth century, although the Catholic church itself interprets chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation as referring to it. 

In 1950 Pope Pius made official Catholic Doctrine the assumption of Mary into heaven.  The church was fully behind a position that was put forth in apocryphal texts.

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 The Roman Empire Prior to Jesus’ Birth

By James Spangler

Julius Caesar - a ruler who tried to spread the wealth - to redistribute land among the people.

He was romantically involved with Cleopatra of Egypt.

He had a triumvirate of leaders, Cassius, Brutus, and Pompey.  Pompey was the military leader who conquered Jerusalem.  

Caesar, because of his “ambitions,”  was deemed unfit and on the Ides of March he was stabbed by his associates Cassius and Brutus.

A power struggle developed and “Roman Palestine” - which describes the area perfectly but also was never called that - was in the thick of it.
The sides were Cassius and Brutus vs. a team of Octavian and Marc Antony.

Marc Antony got the upper hand; Cassius and Brutus were in dire straits and needed troops.  And money.  Up stepped just the men to help them, Antipas and his sons - Phasaelus and a guy named Herod.

Herod taxed his agricultural area to death.   And his subjects hated him for it. A theme that will be repeated over and over in Herod’s reign.

Cassius and Brutus were defeated, one committed suicide, the other had his attendant kill him.  

Antipater and his sons had backed the wrong side.

Herod - a Smooth Operator

Antipater, Herod’s father, is poisoned and dies.

Herod, a friend of Marc Antony, was able to convince him Antipater helped Brutus and Cassius only under military threat.  Marc Antony falls for it and executed Antipater’s murderer.   

But Roman Palestine hit another bump.  The Parthians, urged by the Hasmonian Antigonus, attacked and conquered the area in 40 B.C.   A shrewd Herod pulls off a slick deal, going to Rome and convincing the Senate he can retake the area.  

In a brutal campaign - 3 years of massacre - Herod retakes Palestine for the Roman Empire.

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Octavian and Marc Antony co-ruled the empire, Antony based in Egypt.  Marc Antony is married to Octavian’s sister, but he also fell for Cleopatra and became co-ruler with her in Egypt.  They tried one last push at establishing an Egyptian empire but Octavian declared war on Egypt, crushing them in a sea battle with the end result the suicide of Marc Antony and Cleopatra.  

The area is now under Roman rule.  And the new ruler is Octavian, soon to be known as Caesar Augustus.  Augustus was a most progressive emperor who ruled for 40 years, building impressive buildings, cities, and infrastructure (water, sewage, roads) that literally changed the world by opening trade from China to Scotland.

And in “Roman Palestine” Augustus put the area under the rule of Herod whom he named “King of the Jews.”  Hence his concern when the Magi visited and said a new “king of the Jews” had been born (the Massacre of the Innocents)?  

Herod also hedged his bet by marrying Miriam, a member of the old Hasmonean dynasty.  Miriam's brother was next in line to the Hasmonian throne.  

Herod matched Augustus’ progressive building of cities and buildings and worshiping Hellenistic Gods.  

Jewish subsistence farming is changed forever.  Somebody had to feed Augustus’ cities.  And the farmers are bled dry again WITH TAXES, stolen land (via TAX COLLECTORS), creating mega farms.  Overseen by cruel landlords.  Hence two very relatable topics for Jesus’ parables and lessons.

Note:  Is it really a wonder why Jews were confused with Jesus-person preaching pacifism,  not power, to oppose this life under Herod and Roman rule?

SEE ALSO History of the Herods

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An Allegorical Interpretation of 

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas

By James Spangler

For a background on The Infancy Gospel of Thomas See The Life of Jesus - Part 1 Chapter 6.  Stories of Jesus’ Childhood from the Apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas.  

The entire translation of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas can be found at the following link:  https://www.gospels.net/infancythomas

How can this possibly be taken as a serious collection of material about Jesus?  Jesus was PERFECT.  No Sin.  Yet cursing?  Murder?  Of a child?

Is there anything more despicable than taking the life of a child?  Could anything be more reprehensible?  Should we toss this book in the trash bin?  

(My opinion:  I really like this book.  Strange.  But the message is there.)

Think for a minute.  What was the state of Christianity when this book was written?  (Although some say 60 A.D. it is more likely 150-200 A.D.  160 A.D. being a consensus.)  The late 2nd century?  Different than the late 1st century (90 A.D.)?  What was written then?  The apocalypse of John.  Revelation.  What genre did John write in?  Some sort of code.  Some sort of parable.  Symbolic language.  Metaphors.  What stands for what?  Why was this bizarre account written?  Who was it written for?  What does it mean?  Was there persecution of Christians when The Infancy Gospel of Thomas was written?  Or was it a jarring tale meant to spread the ministry of Jesus?  

Really?  From non-canonical, from heretical, from GNOSTIC, condemned from every angle...  TO A SYNOPSIS OF JESUS’ MESSAGE TO THE JEWS!   WOW!

1.  The book is about Jesus’ youth growing to the age 12.  Significant?  Perhaps.  12 is a recurring number in the Bible.  12 sons of Jacob.  12 tribes of Israel.  12 disciples.  Growing to age 12…  WHAT WOULD 12 MEAN HERE???

2.  Let’s suppose Joseph represents God.  The father of Jesus.  Well, he sort of is.  The father of Jesus.  Sort of…  

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3. Jesus performed miracles in the Infancy Gospel.  On the Sabbath.  Yeah, he did that.  In the Gospels. 

7 times

Mark 1:29-31 Jesus heals Simon Peter’s Mother-in-law.   

Mark 3:1-6  Jesus heals the man with the withered hand.

John 9:1-16 Jesus heals a man born blind.

Luke 13:10-17 Jesus heals a crippled woman.

Luke 14:1-6 Jesus heals a man with dropsy.

Mark 1:21-28  Jesus drives out an evil spirit.

John 5:1-18  Jesus heals a lame man by the pool of Bethesda. 

This time he made 12 clay birds.  That “12” again.  And he BREATHED LIFE into the 12.  WHAT DID JESUS BREATHE LIFE INTO?  ANY IDEAS?  Did he breathe life into Israel?  Judah?  Into the 12 tribes?  Was he rejuvenating the faith?  REDEFINING the faith?  What other 12 do we have?  12 DISCIPLES?  Did Jesus breathe the BREATH OF LIFE into the disciples???

4. Questioned by the son of Annas (the Annas of the trial of Jesus) about performing miracles on the Sabbath, Jesus curses him and he withers and dies. Well that would create some hate.  And was there hate in Annas?  Seems likely…  Could Jesus kill ANYTHING more precious to Annas than HIS SON???  Or WAS IT HIS SON?  Maybe it was Annas’ BABY.  As in: that’s “my baby.”  That’s my pet project.  My baby.  I worked on an AOA project - examining babies’ eyes for free.  The life project of Admiral David Sullins.  It was his “baby.”  That’s what his whole life was about. And for Annas?  The LAW.  The TEMPLE.  The PRIESTHOOD.  The POWER.  THAT is his “BABY.”

Jesus certainly was creating some problems for Annas, the chief priest, perhaps considered the “father” of Israel at the time.  Was Jesus killing the “old ways'' and replacing them with a new covenant?  Annas, a Sadducee, had it good.  This guy, Jesus, is making waves.  Did Annas pray to Joseph (as the father symbol of God) to shut Jesus up and tell Joseph to take his troublemaker (brat) and move away?  HIT THE BRICKS!!!  You (Jesus) and essentially God (Joseph): consider yourselves tossed out of the temple.  Excommunicated.  YOU can’t live here anymore.  YOU are not welcome in the temple anymore.   YOU are not JEWS.  You are not even JEW-ISH (in the words of George Santos).

5. A “child of Israel” (a believer in the Jewish law) bumped into Jesus.  Hey buddy, knock it off.  We can do more than just bully you, ya know.   We really could “kill you” if we wanted to.  “Oh yeah?” says Jesus, I could call a legion of angels and wipe you ALL out.

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The thing is, the Jewish leaders, the children of Israel DID plot to kill Jesus.  And they could, because he was a blasphemer.   Did Jesus call the angels to save himself?  No.  But the Gospel of Thomas showed that he could.  But he didn’t.  He had a job to do - save the world.  And he did.  

6. Let’s go back.  Jesus KILLED CHILDREN?  How could anything be more objectionable to anyone?  Then again, to the Pharisees, how could anything be more objectionable to them than the changing of the old ways of Moses?  What could be more blasphemous than a “NEW COVENANT?”   Jesus is not only changing the religion, he is destroying their jobs (and the power, fame, and cash that goes with it).

7.  Breaking the Sabbath, performing miracles like a sorcerer, interrupting the teachers, correcting the teachers, debating the leaders.  Of course the leaders in the temple point this out to Joseph, Jesus’ “father.”  Just as the Pharisees questioned God: What is this guy doing here?  Who does he think he is upsetting the apple cart here, a NEW COVENANT?  

8.  Seen only in some versions of this book, Jesus BREATHED LIFE into a dried fish.  A dead fish.  Life had gone out of it.  Like the Jewish faith?  Jesus breathed new life into the Faith.  It was reborn.  And the symbol of this faith is the "fish."  (The fish, not the cross.  Should the fish be the symbol of Christianity today?  Is loving one another more important than the resurrection?   Or at least as important?  Would Jesus be more pleased if we loved one another or if we believed in the resurrection?)

CONCLUSION:  This is a very deep book.  This book is not about Jesus’ childhood at all.  This book is not written for children.  This book is written for adults.  It refers to Israel, the 12 tribes.  It is loaded with symbolism of Jewish leadership, it is loaded with Jesus’ relationship with Jewish leaders.  It is BOLD.  It cuts to the chase.  It is effective.  It is as audacious as “not PROCLAIMING, but BEING the son of God and FULFILLING THE LAW!!!”

Referenced Articles: The Life of Jesus 2

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