ADVENT TIP OF THE DAY 23: Expanded nativity story to night of the radishes
I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day
QUESTION: Describe the nativity stories available in New Testament apocrypha or gnostic literature.
ANSWER: from Perplexity:
Source Text | Nativity Story | Reference |
|---|---|---|
Protoevangelium of James | The Protoevangelium of James narrates the miraculous conception of Mary, her upbringing in the Temple, and the birth of Jesus. It begins with Joachim and Anna's prayers for a child, leading to Mary's birth and dedication to God. The story culminates in Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, assisted by a midwife, highlighting Mary's virginity and the divine nature of the event. | Protoevangelium of James 1-8, 19-20 |
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew | The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew narrates the story of Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, who, after years of infertility, are visited by angels who promise them a child. Mary is born and dedicated to the temple. The narrative includes the marriage of Mary to Joseph, the birth of Jesus, visits from shepherds and wise men, and the flight into Egypt. | Chapter 14 |
Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Savior | The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Savior narrates the miraculous birth of Jesus, where Mary gives birth in a cave near Bethlehem. It describes how Joseph and Mary were unable to enter the city due to Mary's labor, leading them to a cave. The birth is accompanied by miraculous signs, including angels appearing to shepherds and the visit of magi who bring gifts. The text emphasizes Jesus' divine nature, with him speaking from the cradle and performing miracles even as a child. | Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Savior 1-2; 7-9 |
Gospel of Thomas | The Infancy Gospel of Thomas recounts the childhood of Jesus, highlighting his miraculous deeds from ages five to twelve. Notable stories include Jesus creating clay birds and bringing them to life, as well as cursing a boy who disturbed his play, leading to the boy's death. The text portrays Jesus as a precocious child with divine powers, often causing fear and admiration among those around him. | Chapters 1-3 |
Gospel of Philip | ||
Gospel of Judas | During the week leading up to Passover, specifically three days before Passover. |
The table provided in the search results lists several nativity stories from New Testament apocrypha and gnostic literature, along with their references. You may refer to this table for a comprehensive list of these stories and their sources.
In addition to the stories listed in the table, a few other notable apocryphal nativity accounts include:
1. The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew: This text narrates Jesus' birth in a cave, followed by the family moving to a stable where an ox and an ass worship the infant Jesus.
2. The Arabic Infancy Gospel: This is an expanded version of the Protoevangelium of James, including additional stories set in Egypt.
3. The Armenian Infancy Gospel: Another reworking of the Protoevangelium, this text provides unique details about how the Magi perceived Jesus.
4. The Revelation of the Magi: This text expands on Matthew's account of the Magi, providing more details about their journey.
5. The Legend of Aphroditianus and On the Star: These texts also elaborate on the Magi traditions.
These apocryphal accounts often combine elements from the canonical Gospels of Matthew and Luke, while adding extra details and miraculous events. They frequently depict Jesus' birth in a cave rather than a stable, and include additional characters or embellishments not found in the biblical narratives1.
QUESTION: How does the Protoevangelium of James harmonize the infancy stories of Matthew and Luke?
ANSWER: from Perplexity:
The Protoevangelium of James, an influential apocryphal gospel from the second century CE, represents one of the earliest attempts to harmonize and expand upon the infancy narratives found in the canonical Gospels of Matthew and Luke. This text employs several strategies to create a cohesive narrative:
Combining Elements from Both Gospels
The Protoevangelium incorporates elements from both Matthew and Luke's accounts, weaving them into a single, more elaborate story. It includes events such as:
The angelic annunciation to Mary (from Luke)
The virginal conception (from both Matthew and Luke)
The birth of Jesus (from both gospels)
The visit of the Magi (from Matthew)
The presentation of Jesus in the temple (from Luke)
Adding New Details
The author of the Protoevangelium enhances the narrative by:
Providing an extensive backstory for Mary, including her miraculous birth to Anna and Joachim
Elaborating on Mary's childhood and adolescence, emphasizing her purity and dedication to God
Introducing new elements, such as the birth of Jesus in a cave
Resolving Discrepancies
The Protoevangelium attempts to reconcile differences between Matthew and Luke's accounts by:
Presenting their narratives as complementary rather than contradictory
Arranging events in a chronological order that incorporates elements from both gospels
Providing explanations for potential inconsistencies between the canonical accounts
Midrashic Approach
The Protoevangelium employs a midrashic exegesis of Matthew's and Luke's birth narratives, expanding upon and interpreting the canonical texts. This approach allows the author to:
Draw connections between Mary's story and Old Testament narratives, such as the story of Samuel
Emphasize themes of purity, divine intervention, and fulfillment of prophecy
Harmonization Technique
The author of the Protoevangelium demonstrates skill in harmonizing the gospels by:
Carefully interweaving elements from both Matthew and Luke
Adopting a writing style that mimics scriptural language, lending authority to the narrative
Creatively synthesizing and reinterpreting source materials to serve the author's unique perspective on the tradition
By employing these techniques, the Protoevangelium of James creates a more comprehensive and harmonized account of Jesus' birth and Mary's background, which has significantly influenced Christian tradition and Mariology throughout history.
QUESTION: What is Christmas Adam?
ANSWER: from Perplexity:
The name "Christmas Adam" is a clever wordplay based on the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Since Adam came before Eve in the Bible, Christmas Adam comes before Christmas Eve. The exact origins of this celebration are unclear, but it likely developed from informal conversations and gained visibility with the rise of social media.
QUESTION: What is the Danish J-Day?
ANSWER: from Perplexity:
Julebrygsdag, or J-Day, is a holiday created by the Danish beer company Tuborg in 1990 to mark the release of their Christmas beer. It occurs on the first Friday of November and unofficially signals the start of the holiday season in Denmark.
QUESTION: What is La Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes)?
ANSWER: from Perplexity:
Celebrated on December 23 in Oaxaca, Mexico, the La Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes) festival features intricately carved radishes depicting nativity scenes and other themes. Although rooted in local traditions, it has become associated with Christmas.
QUESTION: What is Los Santos Inocentes?
ANSWER: from Perplexity:
Día de los Santos Inocentes, observed on December 28th in Spain and many Latin American countries, is a unique holiday that blends somber religious origins with lighthearted modern traditions.
Historical Background
The day commemorates the biblical account of King Herod's massacre of male infants in Bethlehem, as described in the Gospel of Matthew. These young victims are considered the "Holy Innocents" in Christian tradition.
Modern Celebration
Today, Día de los Santos Inocentes has evolved into a day of pranks and jokes, similar to April Fool's Day in other countries. The transformation from a day of mourning to one of mirth is believed to stem from the blending of pagan and Christian traditions, as well as the human tendency to counter winter's darkness with joy and laughter.
1 and https://ldsblogs.com/35247/3-apocryphal-nativity-stories and and https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/nativity-a-tale-of-two-stories/ and and https://www.glencairnmuseum.org/nativity-biblical and and https://brandonwhawk.net/2014/12/18/an-ox-an-ass-and-three-kings-a-history-of-apocryphal-christmas-traditions/ and and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_James and and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_Infancy_Gospel and and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infancy_Gospel_of_Thomas and
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."