Nesnáze dospívání malého Ježíše
The Troubles of the Maturation of Little Jesus

On the Christology of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas

Summary/Abstract: This article offers an analysis of the depiction of the growing up of the child Jesus in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas (IGT). IGT describes the divine Jesus consecutively at the ages of five, seven, eight, and twelve and outlines his gradual maturation. While the five year old Jesus displays impulsivity and infantility, his behavior changes for the better as he grows older. This transformation is based on the central programmatic theses that Jesus has to learn “to bless and not to curse” (Gs 4:2) and to love those his own age and have respect for elders (Gs 6:2). The depiction of Jesus‘ childhood in the IGT is contextualized against the background of ancient popular ideas about Greco Roman gods as well as ancient ideas about childhood developmental stages. Given the lack of a more thorough discussion of IGT in the Czech milieu, the article begins with a more detailed textual discussion that reflects contemporary shifts in scholarship.

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