Apocryphal and Pseudopigraphic Works
Submitted by J on January 20 2002 05:35:35
In reply to Re: OT vs NT Boys submitted by JohnQ on January 17 2002 21:44:01
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Hi JohnQ, Since I decided to limit my study to boys in Scripture (Protestant canon of Old and New Testaments exclusively), I did not consider using either the Apocrypha or other pseudopigraphic works such as the infancy gospels. These latter especially disturb me in their portrayal of Jesus as a very arrogant little boy who goes around using his powers like magic tricks and in some instances being the cause of people's deaths. The following is an excerpt from one of them: ...the Lord Jesus was with some boys by a river and they drew water out of the river by little channels, and made little fish pools. But the Lord Jesus had made twelve sparrows, and placed them about his pool on each side, three on a side. But it was the Sabbath day, and the son of Hanani a Jew came by, and saw them making these things, and said, Do ye thus make figures of clay on the Sabbath? And he ran to them, and broke down their fish pools. But when the Lord Jesus clapped his hands over the sparrows which he had made, they fled away chirping. At length the son of Hanani coming to the fish-pool of Jesus to destroy it, the water vanished away, and the Lord Jesus said to him, In like manner as this water has vanished, so shall thy life vanish; and presently the boy died. Another time, when the Lord Jesus was coming home in the evening with Joseph, he met a boy, who ran so hard against him, that he threw him down; To whom the Lord Jesus said, As thou hast thrown me down, so shalt thou fall, nor ever rise. And that moment the boy fell down and died... They brought him then to a more learned master, who, when he saw him, said, say Aleph. And when he had said Aleph, he master bade him pronounce Beth; to which the Lord Jesus replied, Tell me first the meaning of the letter Aleph, and then I will pronounce Beth. But this master, when he lift up his hand to whip him, had his hand presently withered, and he died. Then said Joseph to St. Mary, henceforth we will not allow him to go out of the house; for every one who displeases him is killed. Gospel of the Infancy 19:16-24; 20:13-16 As the above lack obvious historical or theological credibility, they are rightly dismissed as unscriptural and I chose not to include anything of this nature in my study. Thanks for your interest in this thread. Love in the Lord, J |
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