History of Joseph the Carpenter

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The History of Joseph the Carpenter is one of the texts within the New Testament apocrypha concerned with period of Jesus' life before he was 12. The text is believed to date from 5th century CE (AD) [1].

The text is framed as an explanation by Jesus on the Mount of Olives as to the life of Joseph, his step-father. Agreeing with Mary's continued virginity, the text proclaims that Joseph had four sons (Judas, Justus, James, and Simon) and two daughters (Assia and Lydia) by a previous marriage. At age 90, after the death of his first wife, Joseph married the twelve year old Mary.

Having described this basic background, the text continues to paraphrase the Protevangelion of James, stopping at the point of Jesus' birth. The text continues with a description of Joseph's old age, stating that he was miraculously blessed with mental and physical youth, at which point he dies, and that his oldest sons (Justus and Simon) married and had children.

At this point, the text describes Joseph as dying, first letting out a great prayer, which was at the age of 111. His last words are a series of lamentations about his carnal, and original sins. The remainder of the work (approximately 50% of it) is an extension of the death scene concerning the visits of the angel of death, as well as the archangels Michael and Gabriel, to rescue his soul.

The text is thought to be an attempt to increase the significance of Joseph, and improve the popularity of his cult (in the original sense of the word), which was most prevalent in Egypt. It is believed to have been written in Egypt in the fourth or fifth century. Two versions survive, one in Coptic, the other in Arabic, with the Coptic version likely being the original. It is based on material in the Gospel of James.