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. [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 is given charge of the twelve year old virgin Mary. She lives in his household raising his youngest son James 'the less' along with Judas, til the time she is to be married at age 14 1/2.

Having described this basic background, the text continues to paraphrase the Gospel 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, and likewise his two daughters were married and lived in their own houses.

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. Jesus then addresses Mary as "my mother, virgin undefiled" which proves that Joseph had no sexual relations with her, but had maintained the upmost respect for the mother of his Lord Jesus.

The Text says "And the holy apostles have preserved this conversation, and have left it written down in the library at Jerusalem."

Some believed it to have been written in Egypt in the fourth or 5th century CE (AD). 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.

In its defense, the apocryphal Nag Hammadi codex "The First Revelation of James" states: Jesus speaking to James "I called you my brother, though you are not physically my brother." So, when the Bible says that Mary is the mother of James, she is really the step-mother as "The History of Joseph the Carpenter" explains so clearly, and also the "[1st and 2nd] Revelation of James" adds another withness to it.