"The Childhood of Jesus provides an in-depth analysis of the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas, an ancient tale about Jesus's boyhood years that narrates his play with other children, miraculous deeds, first visits to school, and conflicts with his teachers, ending with a retelling of the New Testament story of Jesus as a twelve-year old in the temple. Originating in second-century, Greek-inspired Christianity, it was quickly translated into other languages, including Latin and Syriac, and enjoyed widespread popularity in the Middle Ages, when it was included as part of the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew. Aasgaard presents the history of research history and analyses its story, transmission, narrative world and values, theology, views of gender and childhood, social setting, and audience -- much of what has not been previously treated. He sees the Infancy Gospel of Thomas as reflecting oral storytelling, situates the story within rural Christianity among the common people, and argues that it can even be considered the first Christian children's story. The volume includes the Greek text of the gospel with an English translation as well as extensive appendices, among them surveys of its historical evidence, variants in the stories, and other ancient infancy gospels."--P. [4] of cover.