medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Amici,
the Protevangelium Jacobi certainly states ante partum / in partu / post partum virginity in no equivocal terms. (But no lifetime virginity - which is not alluded to in any form in the PEv.) This means that by the mid-2nd half of the 2nd c (most probable dating) the tradition was established. I would even go as far as to see (negative) evidence (denial of it) in Celsus, Celsus himself probably using materials from earlier Jewish controversy literature (in the Toledot Jesu tradition) from the end of the first half of 2nd c, as it is often supposed.
And, lest we forget, one can find the theme of virgin birth in Justin, too.
Best,
George
G. Gereby
associate professor
Ancient and Mediaeval Philosophy Department, Eötvös Loránd University Budapest
recurrent associate professor
Medieval Studies Dept.
Central European University
Budapest V.
Nador u. 9.
H-1051 Hungary
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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Thomas Izbicki wrote:
>
> I would like to add here a thought on symbolic thinking that might
> help with understanding the thinking of patristic translators of the
> Bible. There are patristic texts describing Mary as prefigured by the
> Ark of the Covenant. That the Ark was not to be touched was recorded
> in the Bible. There is room for an extrapolation that Joseph would
> not have touched the Ark sexually even after the birth of Jesus.
Can we put a date on the various doctrines? The virgin birth is quite
early, because it is there in Matthew and Luke-Acts, although it is not in
Mark, John or Paul. Perpetual virginity is not in the NT, although it is
there by the time of Jerome.
John Briggs
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