55 minAudiobook15 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at cost
Audiobook edition · 55 minPaperback · 6 × 9 in · 38 pagesAbout this book
How does a just man face death when even a lifetime of faith cannot quiet his fear?
In The History of Joseph the Carpenter, Jesus sits with his apostles on the Mount of Olives and tells Joseph’s story. This anonymous early Christian text portrays a patient craftsman, a widower with children, and Mary’s guardian. It gives space to a life the Gospels describe only briefly.
The account follows Joseph into old age and his last illness, where devotion meets the fear of dying. According to the story, Jesus comes to comfort him, and Mary stays beside him. This work of devotion offers a window into how early Christians in Egypt pictured the Holy Family and understood death.
What you’ll discover
- The gathering on the mountain Enter the scene where Jesus shares the account of Joseph with his listening apostles.
- A household beyond the Gospels Meet Joseph’s first family and explore the text’s account of Mary entering his home.
- Faith beside fear Follow an aging carpenter whose prayers for peace do not erase his dread of death.
- Comfort at the bedside Read how the story brings Jesus and Mary close to Joseph during his illness.
- Early Egyptian Christian devotion Discover a devotional portrait that honours Joseph through his work, family, faith, and frailty.
Who will love it
You will enjoy this if you love ancient Christian stories, wonder about the family of Jesus, or like tender portraits of fathers and sons.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- A Gospel Told by Jesus on the Mount
- Joseph Is a Priest, a Carpenter and a Widower
- Mary Comes to the Widower's House
- Joseph Doubts, Then Obeys the Angel
- A Strong Old Age and a Quiet Home
- An Angel Warns Joseph and He Prays for Help
- The Righteous Man Confesses and Finds Comfort
Who’s who
- JosephA priest and carpenter from Bethlehem, a widower with six children, who wants to serve God faithfully and to die without terror.
- JesusThe speaker, who remembers his earthly father with love and wants his apostles to honor Joseph and understand the meaning of death.
- MaryA young woman raised in the temple, then entrusted to Joseph, who lives quietly in his house and cares for his children.
- GabrielThe angel who comes to Joseph in a dream and tells him not to fear taking Mary as his wife.
- MichaelThe prince of angels whom Joseph begs God to send, so that his soul may depart in peace.
- James the LessJoseph's young son, grieving his mother's death when Mary arrives, and raised by her in his father's house.
- AssiaOne of Joseph's two daughters, who weeps when she sees her father's illness, which reminds her of her mother's.
Formats and delivery
- eBook
- On your phone, tablet, computer or Kindle, with the type as large as you like.
- Large-print eBook
- The same book in bigger, clearer type, from the first page.
- Audiobook
- 55 min, complete, read by Lucas Linden.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 15 minutes, to read today.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in, 38 pages: USD 5.95 when you start free, USD 5.95 on its own.
- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in, 52 pages: USD 5.95 when you start free, USD 5.95 on its own.
Every printed copy is made when you order it and shipped worldwide; shipping is shown at checkout. The eBook and the audiobook open when the book texts go online.
How it works
- Start free. Nothing to pay today; the eBook of this book is yours to keep.
- Read, listen and print. 200,000+ classics as eBook, large-print eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, and any book printed at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print, 5 accounts for the price of one.
- We remind you first. Free for 3 months, and we email you 7 days before your first payment. Then USD 0.14 a day in your first year on the yearly plan and USD 0.27 a day after, or USD 0.66 a day on the monthly plan. Cancel online in two clicks.
Bought on its own? Every eBook, audiobook and printed book you buy without the plan carries our 30-day money-back guarantee.
The History of Joseph the Carpenter
by Attributed to early Christian writers
A carpenter of 111 years prays in the temple for an angel to guide him through death without trouble, terror or anguish.
ChallengingUnder 2 hours to readEnglish
Excellent
Free for 3 months · starts right away, on any device
Read free3 months free · cancel anytimeFree for 3 months, then USD 0.14 a dayCancel anytimeHow it works
- Read or listen
- Print and large print at cost
- 5 accounts for the price of one
“Woe to the day on which I was born into the world!”
In short
Picture a man of 111 years who has never lost a tooth, never lost his sight and never stopped working at his bench. Now picture him in bed in Nazareth, afraid of what comes next.
The History of Joseph the Carpenter at a glance
- Reading time
- About 25 min20 min fast, 30 min slow
- Length
- 5,940 words32 chapters
- Pages
- 38 pages52 in large print
- Library level
- Challenging long sentences, a rich vocabulary
Reading time at 238 words a minute (fast 300, slow 200). How long the classics take to read · Updated
Keep listening. The whole audiobook, 55 min, and 200,000+ more, free to start. Renews every year; cancel anytime.
Listen freeOr hold it in print: paperback, hardcover or large print, at costFrom the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
A Gospel Told by Jesus on the Mount
The History of Joseph the Carpenter opens on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sits with his disciples and speaks to them in the first person. He reminds them that he must be crucified and will rise again. He promises to clothe them with power from on high and sends them to preach repentance and forgiveness to every nation. Only then does he turn to the story of his father.
This frame matters. Because Jesus is the speaker, Joseph's story carries the highest authority the text can give. He is remembered, honored and mourned by the son who knew him at home.
Free for 3 months · Cancel anytime
You looked at
Which edition is right for me
- eBook
- On your phone, tablet or computer. Your place follows you, and you can make the type as big as you like.
- Audiobook
- For the walk, the drive and the evening. Read by Lucas Linden.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas of the whole book in about 15 minutes. A good first look, or a refresher.
- Paperback
- Light and easy to carry. A real book for the bedside table and the beach.
- Large print paperback
- Bigger, clearer type. Easy on the eyes for long evenings and for reading aloud.
See the type size
Pick a size and read a line at that size. Hold your phone at reading distance.
A carpenter of 111 years prays in the temple for an angel to guide him through death without trouble, terror or anguish.
Shown close to the printed size on most screens.
Details
- Language
- English
- Listening time
- 55 min
- Level
- Challenging
- Paperback
- 38 pages · 6 × 9 in
- Large print paperback
- 52 pages · 8.5 × 11 in
- Delivery and returns
- Printed when you order. Usually here in 12 to 14 days.Arrives Fri 13 Nov to Thu 19 Novto United States, printed for you at cost
For Christmas, order by Thu 12 Nov
Cite this edition
The History of Joseph the Carpenter. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/loa-history-of-joseph-the-carpenter.
The history of Joseph the Carpenter. (2026). Library of Alexandria. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/loa-history-of-joseph-the-carpenter
The History of Joseph the Carpenter. Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/loa-history-of-joseph-the-carpenter.
@book{anonymous2026history,
title = {The History of Joseph the Carpenter},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/loa-history-of-joseph-the-carpenter}
}
Free gifts
USD 580 in free gifts when you start
Every book in every format and in 25 languages, 5 accounts for the price of one. Nothing to pay today.
- 200,000+ classic eBooksIn 25 languages, side by side
USD 170FREE - Every audiobookIn 25 languages, any device
USD 120FREE - 15-minute summariesRead or listen, in 25 languages
USD 60FREE - Print at cost, no markupPaperback, hardcover, large print
USD 60FREE - 5 accounts for the price of oneA shelf for everyone at home
USD 170FREE - A part in rebuilding the libraryNew languages and books for all
FREE
Questions about The History of Joseph the Carpenter
Can I read it free?
Yes. The first key idea of the 15-minute summary is free with no sign-up. Start free and the whole book is yours for 3 months, with the eBook to keep, plus 200,000+ more classics and any book printed at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print. Nothing to pay today: we email you 7 days before your first payment, and you can cancel online in two clicks.
Can I buy just the printed book?
Yes. The paperback costs USD 5.95 on its own. Start free and you pay the cost of printing: USD 5.95 for this paperback, and any other book at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print.
How many accounts do I get?
Five, for the price of one: you and 4 more people, each with their own login, shelf and their own place in every book.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel online in two clicks at any time and nothing more is charged. Nothing is charged in your first 3 months, and we email you 7 days before your first payment.
What is the History of Joseph the Carpenter about?
It tells of Joseph's family, his work as a carpenter, his guardianship of Mary and his last illness, all spoken by Jesus to his apostles on the Mount of Olives. It centers on a loving father and son and on facing death.
Who wrote the History of Joseph the Carpenter and when?
The author is unknown. Scholars place its origin in Egypt, probably among Coptic Christians, between the fourth and sixth centuries. It survives in Coptic, Arabic and Latin versions, which differ in some details.
Why is the History of Joseph the Carpenter not in the Bible?
It is classed as an apocryphal gospel. Particular churches, mainly in the West, settled the canon and left this text outside it. It was never formally condemned, and Eastern Christians kept and valued it.
More like this
Our mission
The library burned once. We are building it back.
Every great book, in every language and every format, for every family. Every plan helps pay for new languages, new audiobooks and books for readers who have never had them. Join the movement.
Read our story- Every language25 languages today, side by side, and more every year
- No wastePrinted on demand: no warehouses, no unsold stock, no pulped copies
- For everyonePaperback, hardcover and large print at the cost of printing
