This fourth-century AD writing tells the story of Joseph’s life and death. It claims to include information that came from Jesus himself.
According to this account, Joseph the carpenter was a widower who had four sons and two daughters (chapter 2). When Joseph was 90 years old, he was chosen to care for Mary (chapter 14). This means that, in this story, the brothers and sisters of Jesus were actually Joseph’s children from his earlier marriage.
The text says that Joseph lived to be 111 years old. It also says that Mary “must face the same end of life as other mortals” (chapter 18). The work survives in both Arabic and Coptic versions.
Some scholars believe it was written earlier than the fifth century, when the idea of the “assumption of Mary into heaven” became popular. Others believe it may have been written much later.