The History of Joseph the Carpenter Overview

Chapters 1-9 Summarized (Based on The Protoevangelium of James—Differences Noted)

Introduction. This text opens up “in the name of God, of one essence and three persons.” It claims to tell the history of the death of “our father”, Joseph the carpenter; “May his blessings and prayers preserve us all.” The opening is orthodox, but elevates Joseph and his prayers.

1. Jesus is explained to have given the story of his father Joseph to his disciples on the Mount of Olives after instructing them on what would happen and other ethics. This gives the apocryphon more authority as Jesus said it to his disciples, and it makes it clearer that the point of this apocryphon is to teach ethical instruction.

2. Joseph was a descendant of King David, educated, and made a priest in the Temple, who also knew carpentry well. He had four sons—Judas, Justus, James, and Simeon—and two daughters—Assia and Lydia—but his righteous wife died. While he is also a carpenter, Joseph is much more: he is an educated man in the Temple. Further, all Jesus’ siblings are from Joseph’s previous marriage (and he even has extra siblings not named in the Canonical Gospels).

4. After Joseph married Mary (when she was 14) and brought her to his house, Mary saw James the Less devastated because of the death of Joseph’s past wife. Mary then comforts him and raises him up, and so is called the mother of James. Mary stays a virgin even in Joseph’s house.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is identified as also being Mary, the mother of James, who went to Jesus’ tomb and reported it empty to the disciples (Luke 24:10). Mary remains a virgin even after marriage and for the rest of her life.

7. The cave where Mary gives birth to Jesus is the cave near the tomb of Rachel, the wife of Jacob, where she also died giving birth to Benjamin. Mary is the new Rachel and Jesus is the new Jacob.

8. Satan tells Herod about the birth of Jesus, and he orders that John the Baptizer beheaded and to search for Jesus. Here, Herod isn’t told about Jesus’ birth by any Magi, but finds out by Satan directly telling him (as if he has such a relationship with Satan!). Further, this account contradicts the canonical gospels, where John the Baptizer isn’t killed until after he baptizes Jesus way later. Also, having Satan use Herod to try to kill baby Jesus makes the birth narrative more similar to the dragon that tries to kill the mother in Revelation.

9. Herod dies of the worst form of death in atonement for slaughtering all the sinless children. Herod’s death, not long after slaughtering the innocents, is explained to be the consequence of his decree to have them killed.

Chapters 10-11 Translated

10. Joseph lived to be 111 years old, staying in total youthful vigor and without any unhealth. Joseph lived to be very old in complete health, perhaps because of his righteousness.

11. Jesus obeys Joseph and Mary and does everything they say without angering them at all. Unlike in the other Infancy Gospels—and even in contrast to the canonical narrative of Jesus staying behind at Jerusalem or at the Wedding of Cana (at least superficially)—Jesus is a perfect kid who never displeases or contradicts his parents.

Chapters 12-16 Summarized

12-13. As Joseph is about to die, an angel of the Lord tells him that he is about to die. Joseph becomes afraid and goes to Jerusalem to beg God to send him Michael, his guardian angel, first, and to not let him die by any terrible death, nor for anything to keep his soul from entering paradise, nor his sins being exposed before his judgement, nor demons come near to attack him, but that he would have a clear path upwards. This shows how early people assumed everyone (at least all saints) to have guardian angels, and Joseph’s, of course, is the highest-ranked one: Michael the Archangel. After death, it is assumed that one’s soul makes a journey up into paradise and can encounter obstacles or demons on the way.

14. Joseph didn’t marry until he was 40, stayed married to his first wife for 49 years (89), spent another year unmarried (90), and then had Mary stay with him 3 years (93) before she gave birth to Jesus (leaving 18 years). The first 40 years of Joseph’s life might represent testing, then he is married for a whole Jubilee cycle, widowed a year, and then with Mary for the divine 3 years before Jesus is born, leaving 18 years.

15-16. Joseph becomes ill, bedridden, loses his wisdom and skill in trade, and hates food and drink. He sighs and pronounces woes over all of his sins. Joseph’s woes concern general sins and provide good ethical instruction.

Chapter 17 Translated

17. Jesus comes to see Joseph on his bed as he is dying, and Joseph prays to him and calls him God and Lord and asks for forgiveness for having doubted that Mary was a virgin when he found out she had conceived. Joseph is shown as being repentant for first planning to put away with Mary (which is shown as righteous in the canonical gospels but frowned upon in earlier apocryphal material). Joseph also clearly asserts Jesus’ divinity.

Chapters 18-22 Summarized

18-22. Jesus invites Mary to enter into Joseph and see his soul as it ascends from the body. They see Joseph begin to die, and Jesus puts his hand on his throat and feels his soul leaving through his throat, while Mary feels Joseph’s feet go stiff; they then see Death and Gehenna come up with their armies, smiling and ready to finish Joseph. Joseph cries, and Jesus prays to the Father to send Michael and Gabriel to be with Joseph until he is brought to the Father. Death and Gehenna are spirit-people who approach people to destroy them. After that, they have a journey their soul must go on to the Father. However, Jesus prays for angels to protect Joseph as his soul journeys to the Father.

Chapter 23 Translated

23. Michael and Gabriel wrap Joseph’s body up and protect him from demons on the way until he goes to be with the pious. Michael and Gabriel are explained as angels who protect Joseph on his soul’s journey to Paradise.

Chapters 24-32 Summarized

26. Jesus tells Joseph’s dead body that death won’t have dominion over it, but it will not be broken or changed or rot away. He blesses those who do good for the poor, widows, orphans, and those in need, as well as those who write down or continue to pass on this story. Not only is there now an incentive to copy the story, but Jesus gives ethical instruction for caring for those in need in his blessing of Joseph.

28. Jesus laments that everyone dies because of Adam’s sin. The apostles, hearing the story, then ask if everyone dies, why Enoch and Elijah didn’t die; Jesus explains that they too will die after they return to the world, and the Antichrist kills them along with Schila and Tabitha. They must die because God prophesied to Adam that it is humanity’s fate. Jesus explains that God lengthens the life of sinners so that they might repent—he likewise lengthened the life of the zealous so that others might imitate them—but angry people die quickly. The Beast that kills the two prophets in Revelation is interpreted as being the Antichrist, and the two prophets as Enoch and Elijah. Their death also explains how absolutely all people will die in accordance with what God told Adam in Eden. This also explains why some evil people live longer.