Author: Michael Closs
The book of mary
This commentary provides a new paradigm for understanding the Protevangelium of James. It is not an early Christian text but a late Jewish text with prophetic implications for the canonical works of the New Testament. The commentary begins with a study of selected portions of the Gospel of Mark. This indicates that Mark knew of the Protevangelium and encoded it within his gospel. As a result, it can be shown that the Protevangelium dates before any of the canonical works of the New Testament. With this perspective, the author provides a new analysis of the text of the Protevangelium without drawing on any canonical Christian texts. In the process, additional evidence is found that links it to works in the Old Testament. In conclusion, the Protevangelium draws on the Old Testament and has prophetic implications for the New Testament. The Protevangelium belongs to neither the New Testament nor the Old Testament but stands between them. The present analysis yields new information on how Christianity developed from its Jewish roots. It is ‘The Book of Mary’ that is the first link in the chain of development.
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Watch the Official Book Trailer
Step into the untold journey of one of history’s most iconic women—Mary, the mother of Jesus—as you’ve never seen her before. The Book of Mary invites you to experience her story from a deeply personal and human perspective, revealing courage, devotion, and divine purpose.
This powerful trailer offers a glimpse into a book that blends spiritual insight with historical perspective shines new light on a woman whose faith helped change the world.
Book Formats:
Hard Cover
Soft Cover
eBook
Book ISBN
Hardcover : 979-8-89389-450-9
Softcover : 979-8-89356-827-1
eBook : 979-8-89356-827-1
Publisher
ARPress
About the author
Michael Closs
He has been a professor at the University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and is now retired after a 30-year career. He has a PhD in Mathematics. His first published articles were in mathematics proper. He has taught several courses in the history of mathematics and had a special interest in the mathematics of the ancient Sumerians and Babylonians, of the ancient Egyptians, and ancient Greeks. He also became curious about the mathematical development of the Indigenous inhabitants of the Americas. He published several articles in this area with a special focus on the ancient Maya relative to their mathematics, calendrics, chronology, astronomy and hieroglyphic writing.
In summary, during his career, he has published a little over 70 articles in professional journals and books.
Michael is also a Catholic deacon who has been ordained for some 30 years. He has served in both Canada and Mexico. He has received training in biblical studies in both the Old and New Testaments and has developed a special interest in the origins of Christianity and the origins of Judaism.
Title
Los Angeles Times , Festival of Books, 2025
Book Signing
Comments
2025.05.09 Initial Comments on The Book of Mary, Second Edition, 2025.
Initial Comments on The Book of Mary, Second Edition, 2025. This is a reflection made after The Book of Mary, Second Edition, 2025, had gone to press. It is an overview of some of the major issues discussed in the book and does not repeat much of the...
2025.05.09 The Messianic Secret in the Gospel of Mark
The Messianic Secret in the Gospel of Mark The book begins with a new discovery concerning the messianic secret in the Gospel of Mark, the oldest of the four canonical gospels, dating from 65–70 CE. The gospel is designed to discuss the activities of Jesus during his...
2025.05.09 The Protevangelium in the Gospel of Mark
The Protevangelium in the Gospel of Mark To solve the quandary of the messianic secret, it may be shown that Mark had access to the Protevangelium and that it is the source of the messianic messages of the unclean spirits in his gospel. It is exciting that it can be...
2025.05.10 Anna and the Conception of Mary
Anna and the Conception of Mary The parents of Mary, Joachim and Anna, had no children, and this caused them great sadness. They are discussed in the first 4 chapters of the Protevangelium. Eventually, each of them received an angelic visitation revealing that Anna...
2025.05.09 Mary at the Age of 1
Mary at the Age of 1 When Mary first began to walk, Anna created a sanctuary in her bedroom necessitated by the demands of the law of holiness of the temple, which applied to both priests and nazirites. It was up to Anna to arrange this for Mary because it was her vow...
2025.05.10 Mary at the Age of 3
Mary at the Age of 3 When Mary is three years old, she is brought to the Temple of the Lord and welcomed by the priests (Protevangelium 7). She will live there, with other selected young girls from Israel, for approximately 9 years. Mary at the age of 3. Artists,...
2025.05.09 Mary at the Age of 12
Mary at the Age of 12 When Mary reached the age of 12 (Protevangelium 8–9) she must retire from her work in the temple. This is necessitated because she is getting close to the age of puberty (averaging around 13.4 years). According to the holiness laws of the temple,...
2025.05.10 On a Veil for the Temple
On a Veil for the Temple Mary is called upon to work on a veil for the temple and this is the moment when we realize that Mary is not the only young girl in the temple who is of the ‘tribe of David’. The terminology is in accord with the prophecy of Jeremiah 22:18–19,...
2025.05.09 Mary and the Conception of Jesus
Mary and the Conception of Jesus The annunciation to Mary and her conception of Jesus are detailed in Protevangelium 11. It begins with a courtship ritual that occurs with a blessing of Mary by the Voice of God at a time when Mary approaches a...
2025.05.10 On the Birth of Jesus
On the Birth of Jesus During the conception of Jesus, the angel responds to Mary’s questions pertaining to her conception and to delivering her child with a single response: ‘the power of the Lord shall overshadow you’ (Protevangelium 11.3). Yet, in describing the...
2025.05.09 Doubting Salome
Doubting Salome The story of Salome (Protevangelium 20) begins with Salome’s attempt to discern Mary’s virginity by a physical examination. She fails and receives a dramatic suffering on her hand, inflicted by God, who is protecting Mary’s sanctity. Yet, her suffering...
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