Editing Gospel of James (section)

=== Sources ===
The gospel is a ''[[midrash]]'' (an elaboration) on the [[Birth of Jesus|birth narratives]] found in the gospels of [[gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] and [[gospel of Luke|Luke]],{{sfn|Elliott|2005|p=48}} and many of its elements, notably its very physical description of Mary's pregnancy and the examination of her [[hymen]] by the midwife Salome, suggest strongly that it was attempting to deny the arguments of [[docetist]]s, Christians who held that Jesus was entirely supernatural.{{sfn|Vuong|2013|p=20}} It also draws heavily on the Septuagint for historical analogies, turns of phrase, and details of Jewish life. Ronald Hock and [[Mary F. Foskett]] have drawn attention to the influence of [[Greco-Roman world|Greco-Roman]] literature on its themes of virginity and purity.{{sfn|Vuong|2013|p=14-16}}