Remarkable Blending Remarkable Blending of Luke and Johnof Luke and John

in in Infancy ThomasInfancy Thomas,,Protevangelium of JamesProtevangelium of James,,

and and Acts of JohnActs of John

Presentation by Vernon K. Robbins

Opening of Infancy Thomas:Opening of Infancy Thomas:

Playing Creation on Playing Creation on the Sabbath: the Sabbath:

Reconfiguring John 1Reconfiguring John 1

John 1:1-2

Genesis 1:1: IN THE BEGINNING when GOD created the heavens and the earth…

Philo, Conf. Ling. 146-147: God’s First-born [is] THE WORD [logos] … he is called “THE BEGINNING,” and the Name of God, and HIS WORD, and the Man after his image … we may be sons of His invisible image, THE most holy WORD. For THE WORD is the eldest-born image of God. Wisdom 9:9: WITH you [GOD] is wisdom, she who knows your works and was present when you made the world.

IN THE BEGINNING was THE WORD,

and THE WORD was WITH GOD, and the Word was GOD. 2He was IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD.

John 1:3, 14

Wisdom 9:1: O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, who have made ALL THINGS THROUGH your WORD. Wisdom 7:22: Wisdom, the fashioner of ALL THINGS, taught me.

3ALL THINGS came into being THROUGH him, and without him not one thing came into being.

Philo, Gaium 16.118: God would sooner change into a man than a man into a god.

14And THE WORD became flesh and lived among us,

and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,* full of grace and truth.

Infancy Thomas 2:1-2

1When this boy, Jesus, was five years old, he was playing at the ford of a rushing stream.

2He was collecting the flowing water into ponds

and made the water instantly pure.

He did this with a single command.

Genesis Infancy Thomas 2:1-2 Jesus Separates Earth from

Water

1When this boy, Jesus, was five years old, he was playing at the ford of a rushing stream.

1:9: And God said, ‘Let the WATERS under the sky be GATHERED together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so.

2He was GATHERING the flowing WATER into ponds and made the WATER instantly pure. He did this with a single command.

Genesis Infancy Thomas 2:3, 6 Jesus Shapes Birds from Earth

2:19: So out of the ground the LORD God SHAPED (eplasen) every animal of the field and every bird of the air.

1:20-21: 20And God said, ‘… let birds FLY above the earth across the dome of the sky.’ 21So God created … every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

3He then made soft clay and SHAPED (eplasen) it into twelve sparrows. He did this on the sabbath day, and many other boys were playing with him…

6Jesus simply clapped his hands and shouted to the sparrows: "Be off, FLY away, and remember me, you who are now alive!" And the sparrows took off and flew away noisily.

Age Five: Three Negative Miracles

3:1-4: JESUS CURSES the SON OF ANNAS THE SCHOLAR, turning him into a WITHERED CORPSE.

4:1-3: JESUS CURSES A BOY, causing him to FALL DOWN AND DIE.

4:4—5:2: JESUS MAKES THE PARENTS OF THE DEAD BOY BLIND, because THEY ACCUSED HIM.

Middle of Infancy Thomas: Middle of Infancy Thomas:

““Can Anyone TeachCan Anyone Teach

Jesus to Read?Jesus to Read?””

(Reconfiguring Luke 4)(Reconfiguring Luke 4)

Three Teachers for Jesus: Infancy Thomas

Age 5:6:1—8:4: A teacher named ZACCHEUS tries to TEACH JESUS “HIS LETTERS” – the GREEK ALPHABET.

Age 8:14:1-5: “Another teacher” tries to teach Jesus FIRST GREEK THEN HEBREW.

Age 8:15:1-7: Another teacher, “a CLOSE FRIEND OF JOSEPH,” OFFERS TO TEACH JESUS.

Infancy Thomas 6:1-2, 4, 6

1A TEACHER BY THE NAME OF ZACCHAEUS … 2 … summoned Joseph and said to him, "… Hand him over to me SO HE CAN LEARN HIS LETTERS. I'll teach him EVERYTHING HE NEEDS TO KNOW SO AS NOT TO BE UNRULY."

4… JESUS … SAID TO ZACCHAEUS, "… 6I KNOW WHERE YOU'VE COME FROM and HOW MANY YEARS YOU'LL LIVE … I EXISTED WHEN YOU WERE BORN.

If you WISH TO BE A PERFECT TEACHER, LISTEN TO ME and I'LL TEACH YOU A WISDOM

THAT NO ONE ELSE KNOWS EXCEPT FOR ME AND THE ONE WHO SENT ME TO YOU …"

Infancy Thomas 6:22-23; 7:1-2, 4-5

22Then while many were listening, he [JESUS] SAID TO ZACCHAEUS, "Listen, teacher, and OBSERVE THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE FIRST LETTER:

23How it has two straight lines or strokes proceeding to a point in the middle, gathered together, elevated, dancing, THREE-CORNERED, two-cornered, not antagonistic, OF THE SAME FAMILY, providing the alpha has LINES OF EQUAL MEASURE.“

1… ZACCHAEUS … 2… SPOKE to those who were present: "…

4THIS CHILD IS NO ORDINARY MORTAL; … PERHAPS HE WAS BORN BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. 5WHAT SORT OF WOMB BORE HIM, WHAT SORT OF MOTHER NOURISHED HIM? --I DON’T KNOW.

Luke 4:16-18 Infancy Thomas 15: 3

16When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, HE WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE. 3JESUS WENT BOLDLY INTO

THE SCHOOLROOM

HE STOOD UP TO READ, 17and the SCROLL of the prophet Isaiah was given to him.

He unrolled the SCROLL and FOUND THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS WRITTEN:

and found A SCROLL lying on the desk.

He took the SCROLL but DID NOT READ THE LETTERS IN IT.

18‘The SPIRIT OF THE LORD is upon me…

… he opened HIS MOUTH and SPOKE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT …

Luke 4:22-23 Infancy Thomas 15:4, 6-7

22All testified of him and MARVELED at the GRACIOUS WORDS that CAME FROM HIS MOUTH.

4A large crowd gathered and stood listening to him, and they MARVELED at the MATURITY OF HIS TEACHING and HIS READINESS OF HIS WORDS - a mere child able to say such things.

They said, ‘Is not this JOSEPH’S SON?’

6But the teacher said to JOSEPH, "… already he is full of much GRACE and WISDOM. So … brother, to take him back HOME."

23He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will recite to me this proverb, “Doctor, HEAL yourself!”And you will say, “Do here also in your HOME town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.”

7When the child heard this, he immediately smiled at him and said, "Because you have spoken and testified rightly, that other teacher who was struck down will be HEALED." And right away he was HEALED. JOSEPH took his child and went HOME.

Healings after Third Teacher

Age Eight:

16:1-2: Heals his brother James from a snake bite17:1-4: Raises a child from death by touching him on the chest

Age Nine:

18:3: Raises a construction worker who had fallen to his death by taking his hand

This final healing concludes with:

3The crowd saw this and marveled: "This child's from heaven - he must be, because he has saved many souls from death, and he can go on saving all his life."

Closing of Infancy Thomas:Closing of Infancy Thomas:

12-year old Jesus in the 12-year old Jesus in the

Temple (Luke 2) with Mary Temple (Luke 2) with Mary

at Cana touch (John 2)at Cana touch (John 2)

Luke 2:41-44 Infancy James 19:1-3

41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.

1When he was twelve years old his parents went to Jerusalem, as usual, for the Passover festival, along with their fellow travelers.

43When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

2After Passover they started to return home. But while on their way, the boy Jesus went back up to Jerusalem.

44Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.

His parents, of course, assumed that he was in the group of travellers. 3After they had traveled one day’s journey, they started to look for him among their relatives.

Luke 2:45-47 Infancy Thomas 19:3-5

45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

When they did not find him, they were worried and returned again to the city to search for him.

46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

4After three days they found him in the temple area, sitting among the teachers, listening to the law and asking them questions.

47And everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

5All eyes were on him, and everyone was astounded that he, a mere child, could interrogate the elders and teachers of the people and explain the main points of the law and the parables of the prophets.

Luke 2:48-50 Infancy Thomas 19:6-10

48When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”

6HIS MOTHER MARY came up and said to him, "Child, why have you done this to us? Look, we have been searching for you in great anxiety."

49He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

7Jesus said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my father's house?"

50But they did not understand what he said to them.

8Then the scholars and Pharisees said, "Are you the mother of this child?"

9She said, "I AM.“

10And they said to her, "You more than any woman are to be congratulated, for God has blessed the fruit of your womb! For we've never seen nor heard SUCH GLORY and such virtue and wisdom."

Luke 2:51-52 Infancy Thomas 19:11-13

51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.

11Jesus got up and went to his mother, and was obedient to his parents.

His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

His mother treasured all that had happened.

52 And Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and in years,* and in divine and human favor.

12And Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and in years, and HE WAS GLORIFIED BY HIS [DIVINE] FATHER.

[Added later] 13SHE [MARY] GLORIFIED HIM [JESUS] with the Father and the holy spirit both now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Opening of Infancy Thomas:Opening of Infancy Thomas:

Playing Creation on Playing Creation on the Sabbath: the Sabbath:

Reconfiguring John 1Reconfiguring John 1

Infancy Thomas 15: Infancy Thomas 15:

““Can Anyone TeachCan Anyone Teach

5-8 yr old Jesus to Read?5-8 yr old Jesus to Read?””

(Reconfiguring Luke 4)(Reconfiguring Luke 4)

Closing of Infancy Thomas:Closing of Infancy Thomas:

12-year old Jesus in the 12-year old Jesus in the

Temple (Luke 2) with Mary Temple (Luke 2) with Mary

at Cana touch (John 2)at Cana touch (John 2)

Protevangelium of James:Protevangelium of James:

Commonly known asCommonly known as

Infancy JamesInfancy James

Priestly Ritual Beginning: Infancy JamesReconfiguring Incense Offering

of Zechariah in Luke 1

InfJas 1:2–5: Joachim (future father of Mary) offered double offerings to the Lord, but they were refused, because he and his wife Anna were childless.

5:5–9: Through the Lord’s favor and appearance of the Lord’s angel to both Joachim and Anna, a child Mary was born. 7:4–10: When Mary turned three, her parents took her to the Temple, where she grew up until twelve, when she was assigned to Joseph.

Annunciation by Angel: Infancy James 11Johannine Reconfiguring

of Annunciation in Luke 1

InfJas 11:5: The angel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary. Behold, you have found favor in the sight of the Lord of all. You will conceive BY MEANS OF HIS WORD (EK LOGOU AUTOU).

11:6: Mary asked, “Will I give birth the way women usually do?” The angel said, “No, because the POWER OF GOD (DYNAMIS TOU THEOU) will overshadow you. ”

Birth of Jesus: Infancy James 19Johannine Reconfiguring of Jesus’ Birth

in Luke 2

InfJas 19:12–13: The midwife went with Joseph. As they stood in front of THE CAVE, A DARK CLOUD OVERSHADOWED IT.

19:15–16: Suddenly the cloud withdrew from the cave and an INTENSE LIGHT (PHOS MEGA) appeared inside the cave, so that their eyes could not bear to look. And a little later that LIGHT RECEDED until an INFANT BECAME VISIBLE; he took the breast of his mother Mary.

BABY JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD AS LIGHT AND BECAME FLESH (John 1:9, 14).

Doubting Midwife: Infancy JamesReconfiguring of Doubting Thomas

in John 20:25

InfJas 19:18: The midwife met Salome and said to her, “Salome, Salome, let me tell you about a new marvel (theamai): A VIRGIN HAS GIVEN BIRTH, and you know that is IMPOSSIBLE.”

19:19: And Salome replied, “As the Lord my God lives, UNLESS I PUT MY FINGER (John 20:25: balo ton daktylon mou) and examine her nature, I WILL NEVER BELIEVE that a virgin has given birth.”

Touching, disbelief, punishment,Restoration, worship: Infancy James 20

Johannine Reconfiguring of movement fromDisbelief to Worship of the Lord

InfJas 20:2: SALOME TOUCHED and her hand started to disappear and be consumed by flames.

20:5: Then SALOME FELL ON HER KNEES in the presence of the Lord, with these words: “God of my ancestors, remember me because I am a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…” An angel of the Lord appeared and said, “The Lord of all has heard your prayer. HOLD OUT YOUR HAND TO THE CHILD, PICK HIM UP, and you will have salvation and joy.”

Doubting Salome is restored

InfJas 20:10: SALOME approached the child and picked him up with these words: “I WILL WORSHIP HIM (προσκυνήσω; cf. John 9:38) because he has been born to be king of Israel.”

20:11: And Salome was instantly healed and left the cave vindicated.

20:12: Then a voice said abruptly, “Salome, Salome, do not report the marvels (paradoxa) you have seen until the child goes to Jerusalem.”

Protevangelium of James:Protevangelium of James:

Reconfigures Priestly Beginnings in Reconfigures Priestly Beginnings in

Luke 1–2Luke 1–2

with Johannine Virgin Birthwith Johannine Virgin Birth

through Logos who through Logos who

Comes into the WorldComes into the World

as Light who Becomes Fleshas Light who Becomes Flesh

Acts of JohnActs of John

87–10587–105

Johannine Reconfiguration ofTransfiguration in Luke 9

Ajohn 90: We saw him at a distance PRAYING ON THE MOUNTAIN. Then I, since he loved me, went quietly up to him, as if he could not see, and stood looking at his HIND PARTS; and I saw him not dressed in clothes at all, but stripped of those we usually saw upon him, and NOT LIKE A MAN AT All. And I saw that his FEET WERE WHITER THAN SNOW, so that the GROUND there was LIT UP BY HIS FEET; and his head stretched up to heaven, so that I was afraid and cried out; and he, turning about, appeared as a small man and caught hold of my beard and pulled it and said to me, “John do not be faithless, but believing, and not inquisitive.”

Johannine Reconfiguring ofDinners in Luke 7, 11, 14

Ajohn 93: And if ever he were invited by one of the

Pharisees and went where he was invited, we went with

him; and one loaf was laid before each one of us by

those who had invited (us), and so he also would take

one; but he would bless his and divide it among us; and

every man was satisfied by that little piece, and our

loaves were kept intact, so that those who had invited

him were amazed.

Johannine Reconfiguration ofCrucifixion in John 19

Ajohn 97: I (John) fled to the Mount of Olives and wept. And when he was hug upon the cross on Friday, at the sixth hour of the day there came a darkness over the whole earth. And MY LORD STOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAVE AND GAVE LIGHT TO IT and said, “John for the people below in Jerusalem I am being crucified and pierced with lances and reeds, and given vinegar and gall to drink. But to you I am speaking, and listen to what I speak. I put into your mind to come up to this mountain so you may hear what a disciple should learn from his teacher and a man from God.”

Johannine Reconfiguration ofCrucifixion in John 19

Ajohn 98: When he had said this he showed me a CROSS OF LIGHT … A sweet and gentle and truly voice of God said to me, “John … the CROSS OF LIGHT is sometimes called Logos by me for your sakes, sometimes mind, sometimes Jesus, sometimes Christ, sometimes a door, sometimes a way, sometimes bread, sometimes seed, sometimes resurrection, sometimes Son, sometimes Father, sometimes Spirit, sometimes life, sometimes truth, sometimes faith, sometimes grade; and so it is called for the sake of humans.

Johannine Reconfiguration ofCrucifixion in John 19 cont.

Ajohn 101: And the voice said, “You must know me as

the TORMENT OF THE LOGOS, the PIERCING of the

Logos, the BLOOD of the Logos, the WOUNDING of the

Logos, the FASTENING of the Logos, the DEATH of the

Logos.

And so I speak, discarding the man. The FIRST then that

you must KNOW is THE LOGOS; THEN you shall know

THE LORD, and THIRDLY THE MAN, and WHAT HE

HAS SUFFERED.”

Acts of John 87–105:Acts of John 87–105:

Johannine ReconfigurationJohannine Reconfiguration

of Lukan Transfiguration,of Lukan Transfiguration,

Meals with Pharisees, Crucifixion, and Meals with Pharisees, Crucifixion, and

AscensionAscension

with Johannine Cross of Light in Cave with Johannine Cross of Light in Cave

on Mount of Oliveson Mount of Olives

That's all!That's all!

Many thanks for Many thanks for your attention and your attention and

interest!interest!