The apocryphal Jesus
Subtitle: legends of the early church
By: [edited by] J.K. Elliott.
Contributors: Elliott, J. K.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Oxford; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 214
Subjects: Jesus Christ -- Biography -- Apocryphal and legendary literature; Apocryphal books (New Testament)
Other titles: Apocryphal New Testament.
Description: Jesus' birth in a cave, his childhood escapades, his secret sayings, and his descent to the underworld; the torments in Hell; Saint Paul baptizing a lion; the death of Pontius Pilate and Saint Peter being crucified upside down. These are among the fascinating stories found in this present selection.

They all come from early Christian legends which are not found in the Bible, but yet have had a profound influence on art, literature, and theology from the second century through the Middle Ages and even to modern times. Some of the stories included here, especially those involving the Virgin Mary, have affected matters of doctrine; others have influenced the church's teaching on the afterlife - whilst from the apocryphal Acts are some of the best examples of accounts of the lives of Christianity's earliest saints.

In this book Dr Elliott provides introductions to each of the most important and significant of these remarkable and often bizarre apocryphal texts.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
Abridged and adapted version of the Apocryphal New Testament.