Proto-Gospel of James

Joachim and Anna — their long childlessness, the reproach of Joachim by Reubim in the temple, his fast in the wilderness, and the answer of the Lord by the angel.

1In the records of the twelve tribes of Israel, Joachim was a man rich exceedingly. He brought his offerings two-fold, saying within himself: That which I bring of my superfluity shall be for the whole people; and that which is for my forgiveness shall be for the Lord God, for a propitiation for me.

2Now the great day of the Lord drew nigh; and the children of Israel brought their offerings. Reubim stood up over against Joachim, saying: It is not lawful for thee first to offer thy gifts; for thou hast not raised up seed in Israel. And Joachim was sore grieved; and he went unto the records of the twelve tribes of the people, saying: I shall look in the records of the twelve tribes of Israel, whether I alone have not raised up seed in Israel. And he searched, and found that all the righteous had raised up seed in Israel. He remembered the patriarch Abraham, that in the last day God gave him a son, even Isaac.

3And Joachim was sore grieved; and showed not himself unto his wife. He betook himself unto the wilderness; and he pitched there his tent; and he fasted forty days and forty nights, saying within himself: I shall not go down either for food or for drink, until the Lord my God shall look upon me. My prayer shall be my food and drink.

4Now Anna his wife mourned and lamented in two-fold sorrow. She mourned, saying: I shall mourn my widowhood; and I shall mourn my childlessness.

5Now the great day of the Lord drew nigh; and Judith her handmaid said unto her: How long wilt thou afflict thy soul? Behold, the great day of the Lord is at hand; and it is unlawful for thee to mourn. Take, therefore, this head-band, which the mistress of the work gave me; and it is not lawful for me to wear it, since I am thy handmaid, and it hath a royal mark.

6And Anna said: Depart from me; I have not done these things, and the Lord hath greatly humbled me. I fear lest some perchance hath given thee this; and thou hast come to make me partaker in thy sin. And Judith said: How shall I curse thee, since the Lord hath shut up thy womb to give thee no fruit in Israel?

7And Anna was sore grieved; and she put off her garments of mourning, and she cleansed her head, and she put on her garments of bridal attire. About the ninth hour she went down into the garden to walk; and she saw a laurel tree; and she sat under it. And after she had rested, she made supplication unto the Master, saying: O God of our fathers, bless me, and hear my prayer; even as Thou didst bless the womb of Sarah, and gavest her a son, even Isaac.

8Looking up unto the heaven, she beheld a sparrow's nest in the laurel; and she made a lamentation in herself, saying: Wo unto me — who begat me? And what manner of womb brought me forth? — that I should become accursed before the children of Israel; and that they should reproach me, and laugh me unto scorn in the temple of my God. Wo unto me — unto what have I been likened? I am not like the fowls of the heaven, for even the fowls of the heaven are fruitful before Thee, O Lord. Wo unto me — unto what have I been likened? I am not like the beasts of the earth, for even the beasts of the earth are fruitful before Thee, O Lord. Wo unto me — unto what have I been likened? I am not like the waters of the earth, for even the waters of the earth are fruitful before Thee, O Lord. Wo unto me — unto what have I been likened? I am not like this earth, for the earth bringeth forth its fruits in season, and blesseth Thee, O Lord.

9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by, saying: Anna, Anna, the Lord hath heard thy prayer; thou shalt conceive and bring forth, and thy seed shall be spoken of throughout the whole world. And Anna said: As the Lord my God liveth, if I beget either male or female, I shall bring it as a gift unto the Lord my God; and it shall be ministering unto Him in the holy things all the days of its life.

10And behold there came two messengers, saying unto her: Behold, Joachim thy husband is coming with his flocks; for an angel of the Lord came down unto him, saying: Joachim, Joachim, the Lord God hath heard thy prayer. Go down hence; for behold thy wife Anna shall conceive in her womb. So Joachim went down, and called his herdsmen, saying: Bring me hither ten lambs without spot or blemish, and they shall be for the Lord my God; and bring me twelve tender calves, and they shall be for the priests and the elders; and an hundred kids for the whole people.

11And behold, Joachim came with his flocks. And Anna stood at the gate, and beheld Joachim coming; and forthwith she ran and hung upon his neck, saying: Now know I that the Lord God hath blessed me exceedingly. For behold, the widow is no more a widow; and the childless one shall conceive in her womb. And Joachim rested the first day in his house.

The birth of Mary, her presentation in the temple, her years of service among the holy ones, and the choosing of Joseph by the rod that brought forth a dove.

1Her months were fulfilled — even seven months. Anna brought forth. She said unto her midwife: What have I brought forth? And the midwife said: A daughter. Anna said: My soul is magnified this day. And she laid the child down. When the days were fulfilled, Anna purified herself; and she gave the child the breast, and called her name Mary.

2Day by day the child waxed strong. When she was six months old, her mother stood her upon the ground, that she might try whether she could stand. The child walked seven steps; and came unto her mother's bosom. And she caught her up, saying: As the Lord my God liveth, thou shalt walk no more upon this ground, until I bring thee into the temple of the Lord.

3And she made a sanctuary in her bedchamber; and suffered nothing common or unclean to pass through it. She called for the daughters of the Hebrews that were undefiled; and they bare her along. The child was one year old; and Joachim made a great feast, and bade the priests, and the scribes, and the elders, and all the people of Israel. Joachim brought the child unto the priests; and they blessed her, saying: O God of our fathers, bless this child, and give her a name renowned for ever among all generations.

4When the child was three years old, Joachim said: Let us call the daughters of the Hebrews that are undefiled; and let each one take a lamp, and let them be burning, that the child turn not back, and her heart be set away from the temple of the Lord. So they did until they went up unto the temple of the Lord. The priest received her, and kissed her, and blessed her, saying: The Lord hath magnified thy name in all generations. In thee, in the latter days, the Lord shall manifest His redemption unto the children of Israel.

5And he set her down upon the third step of the altar; and the Lord put grace upon her, and she danced with her feet — and all the house of Israel loved her. Now her parents went down marvelling, and praising the Lord, that the child had not turned back. And Mary remained in the temple of the Lord, nurtured as a dove, receiving food from the hand of an angel.

6When she was twelve years old, the priests took counsel together, saying: Behold, Mary hath become twelve years old in the temple of the Lord. What then shall we do with her, that she pollute not the sanctuary of the Lord? They said unto the high priest: Thou art set over the sanctuary of the Lord. Enter, and pray concerning her; and whatsoever the Lord shall reveal unto thee, that we shall do.

7The high priest entered, taking the vestment with the twelve bells unto the holy of holies; and he prayed concerning her. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by, saying unto him: Zacharias, Zacharias, go forth and assemble them which are widowers among the people; and let them bring each his rod; and unto whomsoever the Lord shall show a sign, his wife shall she be.

8The heralds went forth throughout all the country round about Judea; and the trumpet of the Lord sounded; and all came running. Joseph also, throwing down his axe, went out to meet them. When they were gathered together they went unto the high priest with their rods. The high priest took the rods of them all, and entered into the temple, and prayed. When he had finished his prayer, he took the rods, and went out, and gave them unto each man; and there was no sign upon any of them. Joseph took the last rod; and behold, a dove came forth from the rod, and flew upon the head of Joseph.

9And the priest said unto Joseph: Joseph, Joseph, thou hast been chosen by lot to receive the virgin of the Lord into thy keeping. Joseph refused, saying: I have sons of mine own; I am an old man, and she is a young girl. I am afraid lest I become a laughing-stock unto the children of Israel. The priest said unto Joseph: Fear God thy Lord, and remember what God did unto Dathan and Abiram and Korah — how the earth was opened and they were swallowed up because of their gainsaying. And now fear thou, Joseph, lest the same things happen also in thy house.

10Joseph was afraid; and he received her into his keeping. Joseph said unto Mary: I have received thee from the temple of the Lord. Now I leave thee in mine house. I am going away to build mine houses; and I shall come back unto thee. The Lord shall watch over thee.

11Now there was a council of the priests, saying: Let us make a veil for the temple of the Lord. The priest said: Call unto me the undefiled virgins of the tribe of David. The officers went and sought; and they found seven virgins. The priest remembered Mary, that she was of the tribe of David, and undefiled before God; and the officers went, and brought her. The priest said: Cast the lots, who shall spin the gold, and the white, and the fine linen, and the silk, and the violet, and the scarlet, and the true purple. The lot of the true purple and the scarlet fell unto Mary; and she took them, and went away unto her house.

12She took the pitcher, and went forth to draw water. Behold, a voice said unto her: Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. She looked round about, on the right and on the left, to see whence this voice came. Trembling, she went unto her house, and set down the pitcher, and took the purple and sat upon her seat, and drew it out.

13Behold, an angel of the Lord stood before her, saying: Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour before the Lord of all things. Thou shalt conceive of His Word. Mary, hearing thereof, considered with herself, saying: Shall I, even I, conceive of the Lord, the living God, as every woman beareth? The angel said unto her: Not so, Mary; for the power of the Lord shall overshadow thee. Wherefore the holy thing that is begotten shall be called the Son of the Most High. Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.

14Mary said: Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord before Him; be it unto me according unto thy word. So she made the purple and the scarlet, and brought them unto the priest. The priest blessed her, saying: Mary, the Lord hath magnified thy name; and thou shalt be blessed unto all generations of the earth.

15Glory be unto God, who hath chosen the holy virgin to be the mother of our Lord. Glory be unto the Father, who sent the Word; and unto the Word, who took flesh; and unto the Holy Ghost, that overshadowed her. Forever and ever. Amen.