1: {1} The blessed and ever glorious Virgin Mary, sprung from the royal race and family of David, was born in the city of Nazareth, and educated at Jerusalem, in the temple of the Lord. {2} Her father's name was Joachim, and her mother's Anna. The family of her father was of Galilee and the city of Nazareth. The family of her mother was of Bethlehem. {3} Their lives were plain and right in the sight of the Lord, pious and faultless before men. ... {5} In this manner they lived for about twenty years chastely, in the favour of God, and the esteem of men, without any children. {6} But they vowed, if God should favour them with any issue, they would devote it to the service of the Lord....

{7} ... when the feast of the dedication drew near, Joachim ... went up to Jerusalem, and at that time, Issachar was high-priest; {8} ... despised both him and his offerings and asked him. {9} Why he, who had no children, would presume to appear among those who had? Adding, that his offerings could never be acceptable to God, who was judged by him unworthy to have children ... 2: {1} ... on a certain day when he was alone, the angel of the Lord stood by him with a prodigious light. {3} Be not afraid, Joachim, ... for I am an angel of the Lord sent by him to you, that I might inform you, that your prayers are heard, and your alms ascended in the sight of God. ... {9} ... Anna your wife shall bring you a daughter, and you shall call her name Mary; {10} She shall ... be devoted to the Lord from her infancy, and be filled with the Holy Ghost from her mother's womb; {11} She shall neither eat nor drink anything which is unclean, nor shall she ... be among the common people, but in the temple of the Lord {12} ... so she shall, while yet a virgin, in a way unparalleled, bring forth the Son of the most High God, who shall be called Jesus, and ... be the Saviour of all nations.

3: {1} Afterwards the angel appeared to Anna his wife saying: Fear not, ... {2} ...a daughter will be born unto you, who shall be called Mary, and shall be blessed above all women. {3} She shall be, immediately upon her birth, full of grace of the Lord, and shall ... be devoted to the service of the Lord, shall not depart from the temple, till she arrives to years of discretion. {4} In a word, she shall there serve the Lord night and day in fasting and prayer, shall abstain from every unclean thing, and never know any man; {5} But, being an unparalleled instance without any pollution or defilement, and a virgin not knowing any man, shall bring forth a son, and a maid shall bring forth the Lord, who both by his grace and name and works, shall be the Saviour of the world.

{11} So Anna conceived, and brought forth a daughter, and according to the angel's command, the parents did call her name Mary. {1} ... they brought the Virgin to the temple of the Lord with offerings. {6} ... the Virgin of the Lord ... went up all the [temple] stairs one after another ... that any one would have judged from hence that she was of perfect age. {7} Thus the Lord did ... this extraordinary work, and by this miracle [proved] how great she was like to be hereafter. {8} The parents having offered up their sacrifice, according to the custom of the law ... left the Virgin with other virgins in the apartments of the temple ... and they returned home. 5:{1} But the Virgin of the Lord, as she advanced in years, increased also in perfections.... {2} For she every day had the conversation of angels, and every day received visitors from God, which preserved her from all sorts of evil, and caused her to abound with all good things; {3} So that when she arrived to her fourteenth year, ... all good persons admired her life and conversation.

{4} At that time the high-priest made a public order. That all the virgins who had ... settlements in the temple, and were come to this age, should return home, and ... endeavour to be married. {5} To which command, though all the other virgins readily yielded obedience, Mary the Virgin of the Lord alone answered, that she could not comply with it: ... {6} she had vowed virginity to the Lord, which vow she was resolved never to break through by lying with a man. {7} The high priest being hereby brought into a difficulty.... {12} And when [the priests] were all engaged in prayer [about the matter], the high-priest ... went to consult God.

{13} And immediately there was a voice from the ark, and the mercy seat, which all present heard, that it must be inquired or sought out by a prophecy of Isaiah to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed; ... {16} Then, according to this prophecy, he appointed, that all the men of the house and family of David, who were marriageable, ...should bring their several rods to the altar, {17} And out of whatsoever person's rod ... a flower should bud forth, and on the top of it the spirit of the Lord should sit in the appearance of a dove, he should be the man to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed.

6: {1} ... There was a man named Joseph, of the house and family of David, and a person very far advanced in years .. {5} when he did bring his rod, and a dove coming from Heaven pitched upon the top of it, every one plainly saw, that the Virgin was to be betrothed to him:

6. {6} Accordingly, he returned to his own city of Bethlehem, to set his house in order, and make the needful provisions for the marriage.

7: {1} Now at this time of her first coming into Galilee, the angel Gabriel was sent to her from God, {2} ... he filled the chamber where she was with a prodigious light, and in a most courteous manner saluting her, he said, {3} Hail, Mary! Virgin of the Lord most acceptable? O Virgin full of Grace! The Lord is with you, you are blessed above all women, you are blessed above all men, that have been hitherto born. {4} But the Virgin, who had before been well acquainted with the countenances of angels ... {5} Was neither terrified with the vision of the angel, nor astonished at the greatness of the light, but only troubled about the angel's words. ... {7} To this thought the angel, divinely inspired, replies; {8} Fear not, Mary, ... {9} For you have found favour with the Lord, because you made virginity your choice. {10} Therefore while you are a Virgin, you shall conceive without sin, and bring forth a son. ... {16} She said, How can that be? For seeing, according to my vow, I have never known any man, how can I bear a child without the addition of a man's seed? {19} For the Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you, without any of the heats of lust. {20} So that which shall be born of you shall be only holy, because it only is conceived without sin, and being born, shall be called the Son of God. {21} Then Mary stretching forth her hands, and lifting her eyes to heaven, said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Let it be unto me according to thy word.

Exercises: Compare each section with scriptural parallels. What theological meaning is the author of the story trying to convey? What doctrines might derive from the teachings of this gospel?