Written in Greek in the second century, two Gospels describing the birth and childhood of Jesus were preserved and copied into many languages for centuries. Often dismissed as second-rate stories, these Gospels nevertheless profoundly shaped the development and traditions of the Church - for better and for worse.
The Infancy Gospel of James narrates the birth and life of Jesus' mother Mary in a way that limits women's freedom but venerates Jewish tradition. The Infancy Gospel of Thomas narrates Jesus' childhood in a way that disparages Judaism while exploring how Jesus could have grown from childish immaturity to responsible adulthood.
What must Jesus' family have been like? Together, these two Gospels raise more questions than they answer.