APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.
I.
THE GOSPEL OF JAMES.
(commonly called the protevangelium.)
The Apocryphal Gospel to which, we have given the first place, is extant in several Greek manuscripts, the oldest of which may belong to the eleventh century. It is also found in Arabic, and part of it in Coptic. Its date and authorship are unknown. Dr. Tischendorf thinks it may belong to the middle of the second century. Some have thought it was known to Justin Martyr (Trypho, Ch. 78), to Clement of Alexandria (Stromata, Bk. vii.), and Origen (on Matth.), and perhaps Tertullian (de Scorpiaco, sec. 8), but we cannot be certain. Gregory of Nyssa and Epiphanius, however, either had it, or a closely similar book. Later authors often allude to it.
The title varies in the copies. It is often ascribed to James, though what James is not always stated.
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