Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/69

Rh of the Infancy varied considerably in some of their details, and that those who wrote them took no pains to harmonise them.

The Arabic introduction says, "the holy Apostles kept this discourse, and left it in writing in the library at Jerusalem." The Coptic introduction, which tells the same story, may be given entire; it is to this effect: "The 26th day of Epep. This is the departure from the body of our father Joseph the Carpenter, the father of Christ according to the flesh, who was 111 years of age. Our Saviour narrated all his life to his Apostles on Mount Olivet, and the Apostles wrote it and deposited it in the library which is at Jerusalem. Also the day on which the holy old man laid down his body was the 26th of the month Epep. In the peace of God, Amen." Both introductions make the Apostles the writers, according to the plain intention of the later chapters of the book. It would be a waste of time to refute so palpable a fiction.

Bishop Ellicott remarks very correctly that the writing "seems to have been drawn up in its present form to be read at the festival of Joseph, who was held in peculiar reverence by the early Christians in Africa, whether semi-heretical or Catholic. The