Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/52

xlviii true Gospels was started, he makes the following remarks: —

"If they do not deserve to be known for their own sakes, they still involve several singular and interesting questions; they illustrate some curious phases of early Christian thought, and feeling; they throw some light on ancient traditions, and certainly have not been without influence on ancient and medieval art." (p. 158.)

document is neither genuine nor authentic, but a compilation of such early traditions and facts as the writer found it expedient to throw into a narrative form. That it might look like a contemporary history by an eyewitness of great authority, it was ascribed to James, who was traditionally one of the sons of Joseph the carpenter. The reason for giving it this name is found in the nature of the story which deals with incidents such as James, of all the apostles of Jesus, was most likely to know, if not to record. The concluding chapter seems to refer the composition to the period which