The Intriguing Portrayal of Mary's Birth and Life in the Proto-Gospel of James

Episode Outline:
0:00 Special episode: the Proto-Gospel of James and why it matters
0:25 Bart introduces the second infancy gospel and guest Christopher Frilingos
3:29 How Chris first drew Bart into serious study of the early Christian apocrypha
7:17 Why “Proto-Gospel of James” is a modern label and “The Birth of Mary” may be better
9:28 Mary in Catholic tradition and the importance of perpetual virginity
12:49 How the Proto-Gospel begins with Joachim and Anna and Mary’s miraculous birth
15:35 Mary in the temple, her purity, and Joseph chosen as her guardian
18:10 Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph’s suspicion, and the ordeal proving her innocence
20:25 The journey to Bethlehem, the cave birth, and cosmic signs at Jesus’ birth
22:10 Salome’s virginity test and the shocking scene of her hand going up in flames
24:23 Virginal conception, virgin birth, and the later idea of the Immaculate Conception
31:06 Why James is attached to this gospel and how he appears in the story
32:11 Why Frilingos reads this as a “family gospel” centered on Mary and Joseph
38:33 Joseph’s loyalty, public suspicion, and choosing to stand with Mary
41:05 Zechariah’s martyrdom and the larger theme of family sacrifice
43:32 Final reflections on why these non-canonical gospels matter for understanding early Christianity

Episode Description
The Proto-Gospel of James, a kind of "Gospel Before the Gospels," was one of the most influential non-canonical writings throughout the Middle Ages. The narrative does not focus on the life of Jesus but on the supernatural birth, young life, betrothal, and pregnancy of his mother Mary. From this Gospel come many traditions that remain important in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions (Joseph was an old many; Mary was a perpetual virgin; Jesus' "brothers" were sons of Joseph from a previous marriage); and the accounts it presents -- the miraculous birth of Mary, her upbringing in the temple, the details of her giving birth, and, well, a postpartum inspection to make sure she was a virgin -- are fascinating to readers of any religious or non-religious persuasion. But what's it really all about? In this special episode, Bart interviews an expert on the Proto-Gospel, Christopher Frilingos, Professor at Michigan State University, in order to find out.

Also watch these episodes:
He's a Very Naughty Boy: The Infancy Gospel of Thomas
He's a Very Naughty Boy: The Infancy Gospel of Thomas

Who Says Mary Was a Virgin?
Who Says Mary Was a Virgin?

A Giant Jesus and a Walking-Talking Cross: The Fascinating Gospel of Peter
A Giant Jesus and a Walking-Talking Cross: The Fascinating Gospel of Peter

Discount Code: FRILINGOS30 (enter at checkout)

Jesus, Mary and Joseph: Family Trouble in the Infancy Gospels (Penn Press, 2017)

https://www.pennpress.org/9780812249507/jesus-mary-and-joseph/


AND


Spectacles of Empire: Monsters, Martyrs, and the Book of Revelation (Penn Press, 2004)

https://www.pennpress.org/9780812238228/spectacles-of-empire/