The Narrative of Joseph of Arimathea Overview

THE NARRATIVE OF JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA

• Date: 1100-1200

• Claimed Author: Joseph of Arimathea

• Original Language: Greek

pgs. 218-222 & https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0813.htm

Chapters 1-2 Summarized

1. There are two robbers: Gestas and Demas; Gestas would find people traveling, strip and murder them, hang women by their heels and cut their breasts off, drink the blood of babies, and do violent things; Demas was a Galilean who stole from rich people but did good to the poor and even buried them—like Tobit. He robbed the Jews and even stole their Torah from the Temple and stripped Sarra, the daughter of Caiaphas. The two robbers who will be hung on the cross are given back stories: the one that blasphemes is shown to be violent and wholly evil from the beginning, and the other is a robber, but also somewhat righteous according to the author’s perspective: anti-semitic, stripping Sarah (who will later ask that Jesus die), and at least doing good for those who are poor. Demas, the penitent thief on the cross, is like Tobit in burying the poor.

1. Caiaphas and the Jews don’t know how to celebrate the Passover without the stolen Torah, so they try to find out who stole it. Judas Iscariot is Caiaphas’ nephew, and so they all tell him that he should pretend to be Jesus’ disciple so he can betray him, but never confess him or follow his teachings. Judas is explained to be related to Caiaphas and is not sincere from the very beginning—he always wanted to betray Jesus.

2. Judas tells the Jews that they should have a council to say that Jesus stole the Torah. Nicodemus says “no”. Sarra says that Jesus said, “I can destroy the Temple.” The people think she’s a prophetess, so they take Jesus and ask him why he takes from the Law and said he would destroy the Temple. Jesus doesn’t respond to either question. Sarra mentions Jesus saying he’d destroy the Temple, and Judas hatches a plot to have Jesus executed.

2. The people decide they want to burn Sarra because Passover is coming up, and they haven’t found who stole the Torah, but she says they should destroy Jesus, and they’ll find the Torah. Annas and Caiaphas secretly give money to Judas to have him say Jesus stole the Torah. Judas goes to the sanctuary to ask what they’ll give him if he gives them the one who destroyed the Torah and Prophets, and they say 30 pieces of gold. He sees Jesus walking on the street at night, gets the Jews to get soldiers, and gets them to take Jesus. Sarra, Annas, Caiaphas, and Judas all play their parts in blaming Jesus so that he’ll die.

Chapter 3 Translated

3. They hand Jesus over to Pilate, and he is crucified with Gestas on his left and Demas on his right. Gestas gnashes his teeth against Jesus and continues to blaspheme him, saying that he would’ve killed him if he knew he was king; he is then taken alive by the Devil. Demas then goes on repenting of his sins and confessing Jesus, asking that he would be saved. Jesus tells him he’ll be with him in Paradise and gives him specific instructions to go to the cherubim and flaming sword that guard Paradise and to tell them that Jesus said to let him in. Jesus dies, and the sanctuary and Temple pinnacle collapse. The wicked robber is shown to be blasphemous and taken by the Devil, while the other is extremely penitent (and suspiciously orthodox and theologically astute). Jesus gives specific instructions to the thief on the cross to explain how he’ll enter into Paradise.

Chapters 4-5 Summarized

4. Joseph of Arimathea is taken by the Jews on the Sabbath when Jesus is arrested and brought into a house. The four corners of the house come up, and he sees Jesus sit down and declare to the angels and cherubim to let in the thief on the cross. The thief on the cross and his cross are shining. He then recounts how Hades and the angels cried “Holy, Holy, Holy, is he that was in the heist in the beginning” as Jesus ascended out of Hades with Adam and the Patriarchs. Jesus changes into full light, and the angels minister to him as he stays with them for three days. The glorification of the thief on the cross makes him look especially saintly.

5. Later, the thief on the cross isn’t there, but John begs Jesus to say who was with him. Jesus says he doesn’t have understanding and can’t know who it was, but that the thief on the cross became an heir of Paradise and that it is his alone until Jesus comes again. John asks to be worthy to see him. The thief appears, and John falls to the earth. Joseph disappears and doesn’t see Jesus anymore. The thief is so holy that he has Paradise alone, and John can’t even see him.

5. He finishes the writing saying that he writes it so that others would believe in Jesus and his signs and no longer serve the Torah. Following Torah is bad, but believing in Jesus is contrasting following Torah.