Did James write the Protoevangelium of James?

[kyleforu]

I saw on the History channel where the writing of the Protoevangelium of James was written by James the brother of Jesus. If so, isn’t this writing as inspired as the other books of the New Testament? It is invaluable, for it tells of Mary’s birth, parents and her ascension to heaven. Why hasn’t the Catholic church included this in it’s bible today?

 

[thistle]

kyleforu:

I saw on the History channel where the writing of the Protoevangelium of James was written by James the brother of Jesus. If so, isn’t this writing as inspired as the other books of the New Testament? It is invaluable, for it tells of Mary’s birth, parents and her ascension to heaven. Why hasn’t the Catholic church included this in it’s bible today?

No it was not written by James. It was written around 150 A.D.

 

[Thal59]

The POJ was written in the early part of the second century. At that time, it was customary to write what someone had said or believed, and then attribute the authorship to that person whether he wrote it or not.

It would be like me writting

“Call me Ishmael.”
Herman Melville

This is the first line from Meville’s classic novel Moby Dick.

Today, when we quote someone, we make it clear we are reprinting their work. But if I knew the entire story of Moby Dick because Melville orally taught it to me word for word, and then a decade after his death I was the first to write it down, it would be theft for me to claim to be the work’s author, so I would sign Melville’s name to the manuscript.

The problem is that sometimes a person would sign a name to their work hoping the other person’s name would give their work more credibility. Whether the POJ acctually and factually represents something James preached or believed in we will never know.

Thal59

 

[kyleforu]

The early church felt this was a copy of the original writing of James. How can you say that the early church was wrong in their feeling? BTW, this is the ONLY evidence we have in writing of Mary being bodily assumed to heaven

 

[Tom]

kyleforu:

The early church felt this was a copy of the original writing of James.

When you make a statement like this it would be extremely helpful to the others on the forum if you would indicate your source so that we could review it, otherwise we might think it is just your personal opinion.

kyleforu:

BTW, this is the ONLY evidence we have in writing of Mary being bodily assumed to heaven

Again your source, since I can think of several Scriptural references which lead to the teaching of the assumption.
There were several texts which were considered by the Church Fathers, why they chose one over the other would have to be answered by the Holy Spirit, who guided His Church to all truth.

 

[kyleforu]

There is nothing in our present day New Testament that directly says Mary was bodily assumed to heaven at her death. The Protoevangelium of James is the ONLY direct writing stating that Mary was bodily assumed to heaven at her death. This is why the document is so important and should have been included with the other New Testament writings.

 

[Fredricks]

kyleforu:

I saw on the History channel where the writing of the Protoevangelium of James was written by James the brother of Jesus. If so, isn’t this writing as inspired as the other books of the New Testament? It is invaluable, for it tells of Mary’s birth, parents and her ascension to heaven. Why hasn’t the Catholic church included this in it’s bible today?

Origen is the first to mention this text. It is hard to ascertain its exact date of composition. It contains a completely different style of writing from the book penned by the brother of our Lord.