The Protevangelium of James in Papyrus Bodmer V: Titles, Genres, and Traditions in Transmission

The apocryphal account of the birth and childhood Mary, mother Jesus (and to a lesser degree himself) known most commonly as Protevangelium James is one influential early Christian texts outside New Testament. It witnessed substantially in Greek manuscript tradition well several other languages. In process its transmission from late third century or fourth into medieval/early modern period, various titular formulae were attached text. This article examines earliest witness for Prot. Jas, Papyrus Bodmer V, argues that title present here reflective complexities surrounding perceived genre function literature addition creation continuation traditions encompassing authorial identity legitimacy. Jas demonstrates hermeneutical weight often carried by paratexts transmitted, regardless whether P. V represents continuity evolution this regard, it offers window onto flexibility representation Christianity.