The Gospel of The Birth of Mary
The Gospel of The Birth of Mary
The Gospel of The Birth of Mary
M A RY
In the primitive ages there was a Gospel extant bearing this name, attributed to
St. Matthew, and received as genuine and authentic by several of the ancient
Christian sects. It is to be found in the works of Jerome, a Father of the Church,
who flourished in the fourth century, from whence the present translation is
made. His contemporaries, Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis, and Austin also
mention a gospel under this title. The ancient copies differed from Jerome's, for
from one of them the learned Faustus, a native of Britain, who became Bishop of
Riez, in Provence, endeavoured to prove that Christ was not the Son of God till
after his baptism; and that he was not of the house of David and tribe of Judah,
because, according to the Gospel he cited, the Virgin herself was not of this
tribe, but of the tribe of Levi; her father being a priest of the name of Joachim.
It was likewise from this Gospel that the sect of the Collyridians established the
worship and offering of manchet bread and cracknels, or fine wafers, as
sacrificed to Mary, whom they imagined to have been born of a Virgin, as Christ
is related in the Canonical Gospels to have been born of her. Epiphanius
likewise cites a passage concerning the death of Zacharias, which is not in
Jerome's copy, viz.: "That it was the occasion of the death of Zacharias in the
temple, that when he had seen a vision, he, through surprise, was willing to
disclose it, and his mouth was stopped. That which he saw was at the time of his
offering incense, and it was a man standing in the form of an ass. When he was
gone out, and had a mind to speak thus to the people, Woe unto you, whom do
you worship? he who had appeared to him in the temple took away the use of his
speech. Afterwards when he recovered it, and was able to speak, he declared this
to the Jews; and they slew him. They add (viz. the Gnostics in this book), that on
this very account the high-priest was appointed by their lawgiver (by God to
Moses) to carry little bells, that whensoever he went into the temple to sacrifice
he, whom they worshipped, hearing the noise of the bells, might have time
enough to hide himself, and not be caught in that ugly shape and figure." The
principal part of this Gospel is contained in the Protevangelion of James which
follows next in order.
1
MARY
2
MARY
with God, and beloved so much by being very much troubled that you
holy Jacob, continued barren for a returned no sooner, shall then
long time, yet afterwards was the rejoice to see you.
mother of Joseph, who was not only 14 When the angel had said this, he
governor of Egypt, but delivered departed from him.
many nations from perishing with
hunger. CHAPTER III.
8 Who among the judges was more 1 The angel appears to Anna; 2 tells
valiant than Sampson, or more holy her a daughter shall be born unto
than Samuel? And yet both their her, 3 devoted to the service of the
mothers were barren. Lord in the temple, 5, who, being a
9 But if reason will not convince virgin, and not knowing man, shall
you of the truth of my words, that bring forth the Lord, 6 and gives
there are frequent conceptions in her a sign therefore. 8 Joachim and
advanced years, and that those who Anna meet, and rejoice, 10 and
were barren have brought forth to praise the Lord. 11 Anna conceives,
their great surprise; therefore Anna and brings forth a daughter called
your wife shall bring you a Mary.
daughter, and you shall call her AFTERWARDS the angel appeared
name Mary; to Anna his wife, saying; Fear not,
10 She shall, according to your neither think that which you see is a
vow, be devoted to the Lord from spirit;
her infancy, and be filled with the 2 For I am that angel who hath
Holy Ghost from her mother's offered up your prayers and alms
womb; before God, and am now sent to you,
11 She shall neither eat nor drink that I may inform you, that a
any thing which is unclean, nor shall daughter will be born unto you, who
her conversation be without among shall be called Mary, and shall be
the common people, but in the blessed above all women.
temple of the Lord; that so she may 3 She shall be, immediately upon
not fall under any slander or her birth, full of the grace of the
suspicion of what is bad. Lord, and shall continue during the
12 So in the process of her years, as three years of her weaning in her
she shall be in a miraculous manner father's house, and afterwards, being
born of one that was barren, so she devoted to the service of the Lord,
shall, while yet a virgin, in a way shall not depart from the temple, till
unparalleled, bring forth the Son of she arrive to years of discretion.
the most High God, who shall, be 4 In a word, she shall there serve
called Jesus, and, according to the the Lord night and day in fasting
signification of his name, be the and prayer, shall abstain from every
Saviour of all nations. unclean thing, and never know any
13 And this shall be a sign to you man;
of the things which I declare, 5 But, being an unparalleled
namely, when you come to the instance without any pollution or
golden gate of Jerusalem, you shall defilement, and a virgin not
there meet your wife Anna, who knowing any man, shall ring forth a
3
MARY
4
MARY
matter. 13 A voice from the mercy- was resolved never to break through
seat. 15 The high-priest obeys it by by lying with a man.
ordering all the unmarried men of 7 The high-priest being hereby
the house of David to bring their brought into a difficulty,
rods to the altar, 17 that his rod 8 Seeing he durst neither on the one
which should flower, and on which hand dissolve the vow, and disobey
the Spirit of God should sit, should the Scripture, which says, Vow and
betroth the Virgin. pay,
BUT the Virgin of the Lord, as she 9 Nor on the other hand introduce a
advanced in years, increased also in custom, to which the people were
perfections, and according to the strangers, commanded,
saying of the Psalmist, her father 10 That at the approaching feast all
and mother forsook her, but the Lord the principal persons both of
took care of her. Jerusalem and the neighbouring
2 For she every day had the places should meet together, that he
conversation of angels, and every might have their advice, how he had
day received visitors from God, best proceed in so difficult a case.
which preserved her from all sorts 11 When they were accordingly
of evil, and caused her to abound met, they unanimously agreed to
with all good things; seek the Lord, and ask counsel from
3 So that when at length she arrived him on this matter.
to her fourteenth year, as the wicked 12 And when they were all engaged
could not lay any thing to her charge in prayer, the high-priest according
worthy of reproof, so all good to the usual way, went to consult
persons, who were acquainted with God.
her, admired her life and 13 And immediately there was a
conversation. voice from the ark, and the mercy
4 At that time the high-priest made seat, which all present heard, that it
a public order, That all the virgins must be enquired or sought out by a
who had public settlements in the prophecy of Isaiah, to whom the
temple, and were come to this age, Virgin should be given and be
should return home, and, as they betrothed;
were now of a proper maturity, 14 For Isaiah saith, there shall
should, according to the custom of come forth a rod out of the stem of
their country, endeavour to be Jesse, and a flower shall spring out
married. of its root,
5 To which command, though all 15 And the Spirit of the Lord shall
the other virgins readily yielded rest upon him, the Spirit of Wisdom
obedience, Mary the Virgin of the and Understanding, the Spirit of
Lord alone answered, that she could Counsel and Might, the Spirit of
not comply with it, Knowledge and Piety, and the Spirit
6 Assigning these reasons, that both of the fear of the Lord shall fill him.
she and her parents had devoted her 16 Then, according to this
to the service of the Lord; and prophecy, he appointed, that all the
besides, that she had vowed men of the house and family of
virginity to the Lord, which vow she David, who were marriageable, and
5
MARY
6
MARY
7
MARY
appeared to him in his sleep, and the Virgin, and did not know her,
said, Joseph, son of David, fear not; but kept her in chastity.
9 Be not willing to entertain any 13 And now the ninth month from
suspicion of the Virgin's being her conception drew near, when
guilty of fornication, or to think any Joseph took his wife and what other
thing amiss of her, neither be afraid things were necessary to Bethlehem,
to take her to wife: the city from whence he came.
10 For that which is begotten in her 14 And it came to pass, while they
and now distresses your mind, is not were there, the days were fulfilled
the work of man, but the Holy for her bringing forth.
Ghost. 15 And she brought forth her first-
11 For she of all women is that only born son, as the holy Evangelists
Virgin who shall bring forth the Son have taught, even our Lord Jesus
of God, and you shall call his name Christ, who with the Father, Son,
Jesus, that is, Saviour: for he will and Holy Ghost, lives and reigns to
save his people from their sins. everlasting ages.
12 Joseph thereupon, according to
the command of the angel, married