History
History
The initial existent stories regarding Jesus' as a younger man originate in a mid-second century script entitled the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. The Infancy Gospel of Thomas has for a period of time confused researchers for its diverse descriptions of Jesus' childhood playfulness. The Infancy Gospel of Thomas describes Jesus as angry, a child that uses profanity loosely; he is even portrayed as a murderer according to the Infancy Gospel of Jesus. The example is given in the opening scene, when Jesus diverts water from going into a stream into a pool so that he is able to play. (IGT 3.3).2 Another young man comes along during Jesus’ playing in his pool and deflates the pool with a willow branch; Jesus at this point becomes angry. Jesus becomes so angry that he blasphemy the young man and he dies. (IGT 4.1) In the next scene another young man runs into Jesus, at this point according to the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Jesus then curses this young man as well and he too dies instantly.
The parents of the last young man that was “killed” by Jesus come to talk to Joseph, Jesus father, Jesus gets so angry about the young man’s parents talking to his father he curses them and they instantly become blind. (IGT 5.1) In later scenes, Jesus teacher becomes angry at him and gets upset about his overconfidence and rebelliousness, that he slaps Jesus across his head. Jesus at this point becomes so angry with his teacher for slapping him across his head that he curses him and he dies suddenly. (IGT 13[14].2)
In the following scenes, Jesus appears to be an active young man who anger is caused by the least annoyance & pursues severe revenge on anyone who irritates or upsets him. “Most other scholars, though, argue that prehistoric readers must have viewed Jesus' temper to be somehow understandable or justified.” (The Infancy Gospel of Thomas). The article goes on trying to explain the behavior of Jesus regarding his anger and hostility. According to the article some scholars tried to make sense of the unbelievable power that Jesus had as a child, the scholars went on to strategize that there were “child gods and heroes who possessed super power, wisdom, and talents at a young age.” (IGT).
Response to Article
I will admit Jesus did have extraordinary power for a young boy, he lived a life that was filled with various emotions, from anger, sadness, happiness, joy, irritation, etc. In order for us to be able to relate to Jesus, he had to experience all of the emotions he went through. I feel as though his anger is justified in every instance in which he encountered. The article reveals the truth as to what some of us today may wonder, and that’s was there evil in the ancient years? After reading this article, everything that we experience on a daily basis as did Jesus throughout his childhood and life. There are evil people, rude people, angry people that we come in contact with all the time, but we as flesh don’t have the power or ability to cast out demonic spirits or “curse” someone if they are doing wrong. Today if we were to react to a person that slaps us across the head even though the person was wrong in their doing, in the manner in which Jesus did by cursing the person to the point of death, we would be thrown in jail and possibly receive the death penalty ourselves. However, this situation proves what is known today, we as flesh cannot possess such power, because we would use this power in a negative manner. Jesus had to respond to some of the people in the manner that he did so that God’s will would be done.
I don’t agree with the Infancy Gospel of Thomas article, the description of Jesus being a heartless human being is unfounded as evidenced by our lives today and his never ending mercy, he is not at any time portrayed as a merciful young man who heals the sick and the blind, and who cast of demonic spirits.
The article thus served to instill morals "such as loyalty and obedience to parents and accommodation to honor codes." It depicts Jesus as a disobedient, rebellious child and this would probably be believable to ancient readers but from today’s prospective these character descriptions are quite the contrary. My response to the question of the article, “Holy Child or Holy Terror,” I would have to respond, Holy Child.
References
Kristi Upson-Saia, “Holy Child or Holy Terror? Understanding Jesus’ Anger in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas,” Church History 82:1 (March 2013), 1–39. © American Society of Church History, 2013doi:10.1017/S0009640712002508
