JOSEPH, PRAYER OF. An OT pseudepigraphal work no longer extant. The knowledge of this work is based largely upon the many quotations in Gr. from it in the writings of Origen. In the so-called Stichometry of Necephorus is a list of the OT ἀπόκρυφα, as well as the canonical books of the Bible, together with the number of vv. in each book. The Prayer of Joseph is number 3 in this list, and the number of verses given is 1,100. The passages quoted by Origen have to do mainly with Jacob who describes, among other things, a meeting with Uriel whom he met on a journey from Mesopotamia. Uriel wrestled with him claiming that he was the greatest of the angels. Although Abraham and Isaac were great, Jacob is “the first-born of all living beings,” in fact, the head of all the angels. This has been interpreted by some scholars to be a reflection of an anti-Christian bias, appearing to revere the patriarchs above Christ. Origen, however, speaks of the book as, “a writing not to be despised,” making this improbable. Origen holds the book in high regard, and says it was used by the Jews, which indicates it was of Jewish origin. Nothing is known about the authorship of the book.