The book of Joseph Plotnik is one of the New Testament apocrypha dedicated to the life and last years of the adoptive father Jesus Joseph .
The text was created in the form of a story of Jesus himself about the life of Joseph given to his disciples on Mount of Olives. It begins with a description of Joseph’s betrothal of the Virgin Mary , indicating that Joseph already had four sons and two daughters from a previous marriage and that he was a widower. Further, the text continues the line of narration of the Gospel of James , ending at the birth of Jesus. The last years of Joseph's life are described, as well as the onset of his death and his dying pleas.
It is believed that the creation of the Book of Joseph Carpenter was an attempt to increase the significance and veneration of Joseph, which prevailed in Egypt . It is assumed that this text was created in Egypt in the 5th century. n e. To date, two versions of the book have survived: one in Coptic , the second in Arabic .