Historical Context of the Proto-Evangelion of James

The Proto-Evangelion of James is a non-canonical text from the second century, attributed to James, though it is widely recognized that it was not actually written by him. This work provides some of the earliest narrative about the Virgin Mary, including details on her perpetual virginity, her parents, and her upbringing. Notably, it has been found that this text influenced modern portrayals of Mary, including a recent Netflix movie, which relied on the Proto-Evangelion for its content more than the Bible itself. The church fathers and later theological developments also referenced this work, leading to its significant impact on Mariology.