Translated and Introduced by Fr Robert Nixon, OSB

Annotated by Fr Mark St Shenouda

The four canonical Gospels, which are universally accepted by Christians as the inspired Word of God, present a synopsis of the most essential elements of the life, death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Yet, in themselves, they tell us little about the life of the Virgin Mary, or Joseph, or even the childhood and youth of Jesus himself.

This is where texts such as the Protoevangelium of James step in as they relay other accounts about Jesus and those around him.

While it is not a canonical scripture, it carefully preserves and presents the very earlies traditions.  The text itself is believed to date from the second half of the 2nd century.