The Genealogy of Christ and Other Problems

Two Manuscripts attributed to Epiphanius on the family of Christ compared.

The fourth century Church father, Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis, wrote an account on the family of Christ that has important information. It contains backgrounds of His mother, Father, family last name, siblings, intermarriage and more. Although it is brief, containing only a few paragraphs, it is an important source of history. However, it is controversial, especially in light of the fact that the text that Epiphanius is quoted from, Adversus Hæreses, which has many later editorial insertions. Another text, Quæstiones first written around the seventh century, contains portions of Epiphanius account, and follows closer to the original edition.

Comparing these texts in the Greek and Latin also allows one to graph how the concept of Christ’s family had evolved over the centuries.

This study is twofold:

• locate the Greek and Latin texts, digitally capture them, and provide English translations

• analyze the Latin parallel translation, and trace how the traditions had perpetuated

The actual analysis, comparison, and summary can be found at a separate article, The Genealogy of Christ and Other Problems Part 1

The two manuscripts compared are:

• Quæstiones. Not much is known about this writing. Tradition asserts that it was by St. Anastassi Sinaitae who lived in the 7th century, but this cannot be confirmed. It was originally published around the 7th century — though the edition available today may not entirely reflect the original. It can be confirmed that it is a medieval work that quoted from a better copy of Epiphanius than what we have today.

• Adversus Hæreses originally penned by the 4th century Church father Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis. The historic writing is properly known as the Panarion but the MPG version that is used here for the basis for whatever reason calls it Adversus Hæreses. It was originally written in the 4th century but this manuscript appears to have various interpolations and edits. The text has some portions that may be close to the fourth century, while others may be later, even up to the 8th century.

Enclosed is a text in the original Latin and Greek followed by an English translation along with critical notes by the author, Charles Sullivan.

Before reading please note:

• It is important to include the Latin with its own parallel English translation. The Greek is not always straightforward and the Latin translator made some effort to clarify some difficult passages. It also demonstrates how the concept of Mary and Christ’s family had evolved from the time of the Greek Anastasii writer in the 7th century to the time of the Latin translator, which likely was in the 15th or later century.

• The actual Latin and polytonic Greek have been typed in by myself. The Greek text input on this document outlines the problems, solutions and a disclaimer listed Notes on Ancient Greek Copy and this Website.

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1. The Quæstiones Text on the three Marys, Joseph, and Siblings of Christ

MPG Vol. 89. St. Anastasii Sinaitæ. Quæstiones CLIII. Col. 839ff

Greek with English Translation

Ἐπειδἠ δὲ πολλῶν Μαριῶν ἐν τοῖς Εὺαγγελίοις φέρεται μνήμη, τρεῖς εἶναι τὰς πάσας γινώσκειν ὀφειλομεν, ἂς Ἰωάννης συλλήβὀην ἠριθμησεν, εἰπών· « Ειστήκεισαν δὲ παρὰ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡ ὰδελφὴ τῇς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Κλωπᾶ, καὶ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή. » Μαρίαν γὰρ τὴν Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωσὴ μητέρα, παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις εὐαγγελισταῖς ὠνὸμασμένην τὴν Θεοτόκον εἶναι μεμαθήκαμεν. ῎Ωσπερ γὰρ τὴν οὶκονομίαν, καὶ τὸ ἐπισκιασθῆναι τὸν θεῖον τὸκον, καὶ μὴ φανερωθῆναι τοῖς μιαιφόνοις Ἰουδαίοις, ὡς ἄνδρα τῆς Παρθένου χρηματίσαι τὸν Ἰωσήφ· ἀναγέγραπται καὶ πατερα τοῦ Ἰησου· οὔτως καὶ Ἰωσὴ καὶ Ἰακώβου παίδων ὄντων τοῦ τέκτονος Ἰωσὲφ ἐκ προτετελευτηκυιας γυναικὸς, μήτρ ἡ Θεοτόκος προσηγορεύετό τε καὶ ὠνομάζετο· ταύτῃ τοι καὶ Βλασφημοῦντες οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι κατὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, ἔλεγον· « Οὺχ οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ τοῦ τέκτονος υἱός ; οὺχ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ λέγεται Μαρια, καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοι αὐτοῦ Ἰάκωβος, καὶ Ἰωσὴ, καὶ Σίμων καὶ Ἰούδας ; » Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ὁ μὲν Ἰωάννης τὴν παρὰ τὸν σταυρὸν ἑστῶσαν, οἷα δὴ μετὰ παῤῤησίας θεολογῶν, μητέρα τοῦ Κυριου προσηγόρευσεν· οἱ δὲ λοιποι τῶν εὐαγγελιστῶν, τὰ πολλὰ περὶ τὴν οὶκονομιαν ἀσχοληθεντες, οὶκονομικῶς αὐτην Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωσὴ ἐπωνόμασαν· αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἧσαν οἱ πρῶτοι καὶ ἐπίσημοι παῖδες τοῦ Ἰωσέφ. Ἔστι δὲ αὐτὴν παρὰ τοῖς εὐαγγελισταῖς, καὶ ὲκ τοῦ ἑνὸς μόνου τῶν παίδων τοῦ Ἰωσὲφ ὀνομαζομένην εὑρεῖν Μαριαν τοῦ Ἰακώβου, καὶ Μαριαν τοῦ Ἰωσή. Ὁ δὲ Μάρκος Ἰακώβου τοῦ μικροῦ καὶ Ἰωσὴ μητέρα εἶπεν αὐτην, ἐπείπερ ἦν καὶ ἄλλος Ἰάκωβος τοῦ Ἀλφαίου ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα.

Latin with English Translation

Cæterum cum in Evangeliis crebra mentio fiat de Mariis, nosse oportet tres hujus nominis fuisse, quas sanctus Joannes breviter his verbis enumeravit : « Stabant autem juxta crucem Jesu mater ejus, et soror matris ejus Maria Cleophae, et Maria Magdalene. » Marima enim Jacobi, et Joseph matrem, quam evangelistæ memorant, non alium quam ipsam Deiparam esse arbitramur. Quemadmdoum enim, ut mysterium incarnationis et divinus partus occultaretur, neque scelestis Judæis patefieret, Josephus pro marito beatæ Virginis et pro patre Christi habitus est; sie mater Josephi et Jacobi, cum filii essent Josephi fabri ex defuncta uxore, Diepara appellata est, cujus occasione struxerunt Judæi contra Dominum hance columniam : « Nonne hic est fabri filius? Nonne mater ejus dicitur Maria, et fratres ejus Jacobus, Josephus, Simon et Judas? » Ideirco Joannes eam, quæ juxta crucem stetit, libere appellavit matrem Dominin. Alii vero evangelistæ, circa Domini œconomiam et dispensationem potissimum occupati, Mariam Jacobi et Joseph nominarunt : isti enim erant primi et illustres filii Josephi, tematsi apud evangelistas uno interdum duntaxat filio appellationem accipit, ita ut dicatur Maria Jacobi, et Maria Josephi. Marcus autem vocavit eam Jacobi minoris, et Josephi matrem, quia alius erat Jacobus Alphaei unus ex duodecim.

A few sentences down the same manuscript is where things begins to get really interesting. The St. Anastasii author begins to quote directly from Epiphanius himself. When one compares the St. Anastasii writing to that of the Against Heresie’s manuscript, important differences are found. One of the clues suggest that the St. Anastasii quotation is from an older Epiphanius manuscript than that of Against Heresie’s.

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2. The Quæstiones text on the Family and Surname of Christ

Greek with English Translation

Τοῦ ἀγίου Ἐπιφανίου ἐκ τῶν Παναριων.

Ὁ Ὶωσὲφ ἀδελφός ἦν τοῦ Κλωπᾶ· ἀμφότεροι γὰρ ἀπὸ Ἰακώβου τοῦ ἐπικλην Πάνθηρος γεννηθέντες. Ἔσχε δὲ ὁ Ἰωσὴφ γυναῖκα Σαλώμην ὲκ φυλῆς Ἰουδα, ὲξ ἧς ἐτέχθησαν αὐτῷ παῖδες ἕξ, τέσσαρες μὲν ἄῤῤενες, καὶ δύο θήλειαι. Καὶ ἧν πρωτότοκος Ἰάκωβος, ὁ ἐπικληθεις δίκαιος (εἶτα Ἰωσὴ καλούμενος), ἕπειτα Σιμεὼν, μεθ᾽ ὧν ὁ Ἰούδας, καὶ εἴθ᾽οὕτως ἡ Μαρία καὶ ἡ Σαλώμη. Ἡ δὲ Μαρία λαβοῦσα τὸν Κλωπᾶν ἄνδρα, ὡς ἀδελφὴ ἐχρημάτιζε τῆς Θεοτόκου Μαρίας. Ὅθεν φησὶν ὁ Ἰωάννης, « Είστήκεισαν δὲ παρὰ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἡ μήτηρ αὺτοῦ, καὶ ἡ ἀδελφὴ τῆς μητέρος αὐτοῦ, Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Κλωπᾶ. »

Latin with English Translation

Ex Panario sancti Epiphanii.

Joseph frater erat Cleophæ ; uterque enim ex Jacobo, cui congnomentum erat Pantherus, prognatus est. Joseph uxorem habuit Salomen ex tribu Juda, ex qua sex liberos genuit, quatuor masculos, et duas femellas. Primogenitus erat Jacobus cognomine Justus ; deinde Joseph, postea Simon, post quem Judas, tandem Maria et Salome. Maria, ducto in matrimonium Cleopha, soror Deiparæ Mariæ appellata est. Unde ait sanctus Joannes : « Stabant juxta crucem Jesu, matre ejus, et soror matris ejus Maria Cleophæ. »

Now compare this to what is found in the Epiphanius Adversus Hæreses text:

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3. St. Epiphanius on the Surname and family of Christ

Greek with English Translation

Οὕτος μὲν γὰρ ὁ ᾽Ιωσὲφ ὰδελφὸς γίνεται τοῦ Κλωπᾶ, ἥν δὲ υἱὸς τοῦ Ἰακὼβ, ἐπίκλην δὲ Πάνθηρ καλουμένου. Ἀμφότεροι οὕτοι ἀπὸ τοῦ Πάνθερος ἐπίκλην γεννῶνται. Ἔσχε δὲ οὗτος ὁ Ἰωσὴφ τὴν μὲν πρώτην αὐτοῦ γυναῖκα ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Ἰούδα, καὶ κυῖσκει αὐτῷ αὔτη παϊδας τὸν ὰριθμὸν ἓξ, τέσσαρας μὲν ἄῤῤενας, θηλειας δὲ δύο· καθάπερ τὸ κατὰ Μάρκον καὶ κατὰ Ἰωάννην ἐσαφήνισαν. Ἔσχε μὲν οὖν πρωτότοκον τὸν Ἰακωβον τὸν ἐπικληθέντα ᾽Ωβλιαν, ἑρμηνευόμενον τεῖχος, καὶ δίκαιον ἐπικληθεντα, Ναζωραῖον δὲ ὄντα, ὅπερ ἑρμηνεύεται ἅγιος.

Latin with English Translation

Siquidem hic ipse Josephus Cleophæ frater, Jacobi filius cognomento Pantheris, fuit : ambo, inquam, illi Panthere patre nati sunt. Cæterum Josephus primam e tribu Judæ conjugem habuit, e qua sex liberos suscepit, mares quatuor, feminas duas : id quod Marci ac Joannis Evangelia declarant. Primus ex omni stirpe natus illi filius est Jacobus, cognomento Oblias ( quod murum, vel castellum interpretari licet ), qui et justus appellatus est, et Nazaræus fuit, quod vocabulum sanctum significat.

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4. The Lives of Mary and Joseph in the Epiphanius text

The Epiphanius text contains a further expansion on the family of Christ that the St. Anastassi author(s) are either not aware of, or ignore. The Latin and Greek texts are supplied with only one English translation.

Η᾽. Τίκτει μὲν τοῦτον τὸν Ἰὰκωβον ἐγγύς που περὶ ἔτη γεγονὼς τεσσαράκοντα πλείω έλάσσω · μετ᾽αὐτὸν δὲ γίνεται παῖς Ἰωσῆ καλούμενος· εἶτα μετ᾽αὐτὸν Συμεών· ἔπειτα Ἰούδας· καὶ δύο θυγατέρες, ἡ Μαρία καὶ ἡ Σαλώμη καλουμένη. Καὶ τέθνηκεν αὐτοῦ ἡ γυνή· καὶ μετὰ ἔτη πολλὰ λαμβάνει τὴν Μαρίαν χῆρος, κατάγων ἡλικίαν περὶ που ὀγδοήκοντα ἐτῶν καὶ πρόσω ὁ ἀνήρ. Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα λαμβάνει τὴν Μαρίαν, ὡς καὶ ἐν τῷ Εὐαγγελίῳ λέγει· Μνηστευθείσης γὰρ, φησὶ, τῆς Μαρίας. Καὶ οὐκ εἷπε, Γαμηθείσης. Καὶ πάλιν ἄλλοτε· Οὐκ ᾔδει αὐτήν.

VIII. Redeo ad Jacobum illum, quem Josephus annos plus minus natus XL genuit. Post hunc alius ei filius nascitur, cui Jose nomen fuit. Inde Symeon ac Judas ; filiæ veru duæ, Maria et Salome. Tum mortua uxore, multis post annis viduus Mariam duxit, cum octogesimum atque eo amplius annum attigisset. Mariam, inquam, id ætatis accepit, ut Evangelium narrat ; Cum esset, inquit, desponsata Maria. Non dicit, cum nupsisset. Item alio loco : non cognovit illam.

For a general summary and observations of these translations please go to: The Genealogy of Christ and Other Problems Part 1

1. (John 19:25) The Greek here is ambiguous, and leaves the impression that there were four Mary’s. Mary the mother of Jesus, Jesus’ Aunt Mary, Mary Cleopha and Mary Magdalene. The Latin edition and simply reading the text eliminates the idea of four, Jesus’ Aunt Mary is Mary Cleopha.
2. James should rightly be translated as “Jacob” but English tradition of the Bible prefers James and to avoid confusion, I’ll leave it that way. This piece is taken directly from Matthew 27:56 “Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.” (NASB) “Mary, the mother of James and Joseph” here does not directly link Holy Mary as the person, and St. Anastassi recognizes the ambiguity. The Latin does not reflect this as much.
3. Surprisingly this term is not listed in any Greek dictionary, though the parallel Latin translation leaves a big clue, Deiparam,Wikipedia may have the most relevant definition, Theotikos… “is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and some Protestants use the title Mother of God more often than Theotokos. The Council of Ephesus decreed in 431 that Mary is Theotokos because her son Jesus is one person who is both God and man, divine and human.
4. οὶκονομίαν In classical Greek this is not the definition but by the 7th century it became part of the religious vernacular with “mystery of the incarnation” being an acceptable understanding of this noun.
5. The Latin tended to tame St. Anastassi’s word here but the Greek is very racist. Not completely unusual for this time period.
6. The particle hôs</span in Greek and its equivalent “pros” in Latin has a difficult use here. It could be simply translated “as” or temporally “before”, if “before” is used, the passage would read “before being assigned to Joseph as the husband of the virgin”. The semantic range of “ôs” doesn’t seem to lend well to this though “pros” can easily assume either identity. It is more likely meant to be “as”.[/note] Joseph had bourn[note]I am taking this aor. inf. act. χρηματίσαι along with the acc. case τὸν Ἰωσήφ to mean that this is a special infinitive construct. “When the subject of the action expressed by the infinitive is expressed in Greek, it is normally in the accusative case unless it is the same person or thing as the subject of the finite verb”-Donald J. Mastronarde. Introduction to Attic Greek
7. προτετελευτηκυιας perf part act fem acc sg. I don’t have an exact match from any Greek database but the root suggests end or discharge, likely death.
8. The Latin simplified this sentence to “Deipara appellata est” “The Deiparam was named,”
9. Matthew 13:55
10. οἷα usually does not translate well with “even”, and usually means “such as” etc. but for the sake of readable English I have taken the liberty.
11. I am assuming μετὰ here is being associated with παῤῤησίας which is fem. acc. pl. and θεολογῶν is agreeing in number with it. “In the midst” is not usually typical of μετὰ in the accusative case, but it is not out of its semantic ranger either. It just seems good in this particular situation.
12. θεολογῶν masc. Gen pl. Aristotle uses this term to mean mystics, though by the 7th century this may mean a highly technical Christian religious term. I do think that the possibility that it meant here the pagan learned person but afraid to take such a position unless I find some other literature that supports such a proposition.
13. The use of the term οἱ δὲ λοιποι τῶν εὐαγγελιστῶν “remainder of the evangelists” refers to James and Jose. The St. Anastassi writer coined this term to denote special status to them but to give no recognition that they are Mary’s children.
14. Note how the term “Blessed Virgin” Is included in the Latin translation though it nowhere exists in the Greek. A later traditional Mariological terminology.