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September 18th, 2012
03:28 PM ET
Newly revealed Coptic fragment has Jesus making reference to 'my wife'By Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN) - A newly revealed, centuries-old papyrus fragment suggests that some early Christians might have believed Jesus was married. The fragment, written in Coptic, a language used by Egyptian Christians, says in part, "Jesus said to them, 'My wife ..." Harvard Divinity School Professor Karen King announced the findings of the 1 1/2- by 3-inch honey-colored fragment on Tuesday in Rome at the International Association for Coptic Studies. King has been quick to add this discovered text "does not, however, provide evidence that the historical Jesus was married," she wrote in a draft of her analysis of the fragment set to appear in the January edition of Harvard Theological Review. The divinity school has posted a draft of King's article to which AnneMarie Luijendijk, an associate professor of religion at Princeton University, contributed. "This fragment, this new piece of papyrus evidence, does not prove that (Jesus) was married, nor does it prove that he was not married. The earliest reliable historical tradition is completely silent on that. So we're in the same position we were before it was found. We don't know if he was married or not," King said in a conference call with reporters.
"What I'm really quick to say is to cut off people who would say this is proof that Jesus was married because historically speaking, it's much too late to constitute historical evidence," she continued. "I'm not saying he was, I'm not saying he wasn't. I'm saying this doesn't help us with that question," she continued. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter In the accounts of Jesus' life in the Bible, there is no mention of his marital status, while the accounts do mention Jesus' mother, father and siblings. The four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - tell the story of Jesus' birth and early childhood then skip to his short, three-year ministry before detailing his death and resurrection. The idea that Jesus was married is not a new one. In other writings about the life of Jesus from antiquity suggest Jesus may have been married to Mary Magdalene, a disciple who was close to Jesus. Author Dan Brown also used the idea of Jesus being married as a jumping off point for the fictional novel "The Da Vinci Code." King dismissed that notion in her call with reporters. “There’s no indication we have that Jesus was married,” said Darrell Bock, a senior research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. “One could say the text is silent on Jesus’ marital status is because there was nothing to say.” Initial dating for the honey-colored fragment by the team of scholars puts the papyrus piece coming out of the middle of the second century. King is referring to the fragment as the "The Gospel of Jesus' Wife" or "GosJesWife" as a short hand for reference, and noting that the abbreviation does not mean this scrap has the same historical weight as the canonical Gospels. Biblical scholars often use the term gospel to refer to a genre of ancient writings featuring dialogue between Jesus and his disciples, King notes in her paper. The Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary and the Gospel of Judas are just a few of the ancient accounts about the life of Jesus that Christians do not consider canonical. At the conference, King said another professor suggested the fragment could have come from the text of a homily, or sermon, where the writer was using this phrase as a literary device. She told reporters that while she will consider that as a possibility, the fragment is “probably a gospel. Probably from the second century and most close to the Gospels of Mary, Thomas and Philip.” Bock agreed with the notion that the text fragment shared similarities with those gospels, called the Gnostic Gospels, which were the writings of an early outlier sect of Christians. He said the text could be referring to a "gnostic rite of marriage that is a picture of the church and Jesus, not a real wife." But he added, "it’s a small text with very little context. We don’t know what’s wrapped around it to know what it’s saying.” Bock said it’s likely to be a gnostic text if it proves to be authentic. “The whole text needs vetting. She’s doing the right thing to release it and let scholars take a look at,” he said, adding “it’s a little bit like trying to analyze the game in the first quarter.” “It’s a historical curiosity but doesn’t really tell us who Jesus was,” Bock said. “It’s one small speck of a text in a mountain of texts of about Jesus.” CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories The owner of the fragment has been identified by King as a private collector who has asked to stay anonymous. The owner brought the fragment to Harvard have King examine it in December 2011. King then brought it to the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University. Roger Bagnall, the institute's director and an expert on papyrus, examined it and determined it to be authentic, Bangall confirmed to CNN. Ariel Shisha-Halevy, professor of linguistics at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, who was asked to examine the authenticity, according to the draft of the article, told King via e-mail, “I believe - on the basis of language and grammar - the text is authentic. That is to say, all its grammatical ‘noteworthy’ features, separately or conjointly, do not warrant condemning it as forgery.” Little is known about the origin of the text. Because both sides of the fragment have writing on them, King said it could have come out of a book rather than a scroll. "Just like most of the earliest papyri of the New Testament and other literary and documentary papyri, a fragment this damaged could have come from an ancient garbage heap," the King says building on prior research by Luijendijk. King writes "the importance of the 'Gospel of Jesus’ Wife' lies in supplying a new voice within the diverse chorus of early Christian traditions about Jesus that documents that some Christians depicted Jesus as married." The Smithsonian Channel also announced Monday that it will air a special on King's findings on September 30. soundoff (4,539 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Only by hindu absurdity of a hindu, Christian and pagan. Filthy Christian Captain Crunch dog. Filthy pagan hindy pig dog. Filthy Randy Jackson dog. Filthy hebrew national beef dog. Filthy Ron Jeremy foot-long dog. NO DOGS!!! Who let them be out? Quran means nothing else but path of triple abdullah absolute quantified. please visit ahmadinebinpaid.com/blog.html and click on word Choice to open file. But turn virus protection off before.
hinduism, absurdity of a hindu ID thief.
Time to get back on your meds.
I dont want what your smoking...
Hey Spike guess what Jesus was a Jew. So by refering to false Jews your in a way using Jesus' name in vain. You should do your research before you blog something so iliterate. Do you self a favor and know your religion and for that matter its origins because Christianity came from Jewdesim..... research can do wanders...
Son of blessed Mary, Easu, Anointed one was a Hebrew, dedicated to truth absolute, not a hindu Jew' filthy self centered, secular as you hind, lie to make a point. hindu Jew's, filthy secular s were his enemies and he never was part of them. correct your hinduism, absurdity please.
Ummm So can spell check... Jewdeism? Really??? What religion is that again???
thecollegeadmissionsguru: "Ummm So can spell check... Jewdeism? "
yeah, really.
guru,
Spell check would not pick up "research can do wanders" :), although I suppose one does do a bit of wandering while searching for stuff.
Butt ewe no, it looks like Sebastian is lucky to have learned how to spell his own name.
There is no proof that Jesus was Jewish, but he did practice the Jewish Religion. All kinds of people migrated to those area’s
@Spike, you realize the Gospel of Luke traces Jesus' genealogy to Abraham, right?
So can spell check. You berate a man for his lack of research but write like a child!
"Jesus said to them, 'My wife ... she's just so annoying, even when I showed her the hole's in my hand's she wouldn't believe I wasn't just out drinking with the guys for the weekend..."
However, I hope he knew that plurals did not use apostrophes.
Elitist grammar nazis aside, that was pretty funny...
It amuses me how the Professor adds that it doesn't provide historical evidence that Jesus had a wife when you consider there is no historical evidence Jesus even existed.
Actually there is historical evidence Jesus existed, what scholars dispute is evidence of some of the stories/miracles happening as they are told in the book
Really? I suggest you a do a bit more research rather than spouting off knee jerk responses based on what you "believe" sounds like an intellectual response.
Um... the Historian Josephus?
"Um... the Historian Josephus?"
Not much of a reference there. Josephus is known to have told whoppers on a regular basis, and frequently passed along local rumor as though it were solid fact. Most historians discount pretty much anything he has to say unless it is backed up by solid independent sources.
Josephus reported about Hercules too. That must mean that he was real, eh?
He was a reporter and chronicler of the times. Would a reporter of today who did a story on Scientologists prove that their beliefs are true?
Josephus was born a Jew and died a Jew. Don't you think that if he knew that the Jesus/Messiah story was real, he would have run over and joined up with the new cult?
Oh, you and your facts!
Of course not Miguel... nor is there any evidence that Columbus existed either... just writings about him.
.........maybe you could benefit from some sleep?.
We actually have a good bit of evidence- more than a great many known historical persons from the ancient world, and with a lot more detail.
Alicia,
You are aware, aren't you of the misconceptions about Columbus?.... and his life was a lot more well-covered than Jesus'.
http://www.livescience.com/16468-christopher-columbus-myths-flat-earth-discovered-americas.html
Did he write that in Magic Marker? Or since it was two thousand years ago, did he use an "El Marko"? Fake...
Its called ink and a brush. Its what we used before we invented typewriters and ink pens.
Lol. That's so stupid I can't even come up with a good response. lol.
Another idiot speaking thier mind..... there are many things that last for a very long time like papyrus invented in Egypt and the so called gospels wrote in papyrus and now ofcourse is what you call the bible..... research people research.
"newly revealed" papyrus should have been your first clue this will be found to be fake real soon.
Of course this scrap is four hundred years AFTER the supposed life of this Jesus Myth.. hmmm, I think it's just a note from a school kid found on the playground. Seriously, a scrap of papyrus is somehow taken this seriously, but the fact that no first century historian wrote of Jesus,that Jesus himself left no writings, that Jesus left no Physical evidence of his existence, those don't matter, right?
@ collegeguru u ain't much of a guru
historians wrote about a Jesus existing
he really didn't need to write things cos he was teaching a largely illiterate populace (oh you want a voice recording too?) even is he had writings that managed to survive thru time u probably would still doubt it.
what type of physical evidence are u expecting?
lo,
"what type of physical evidence are u expecting?"
Hmmmm.... a real smart god would know "exactly" what it would take.
(Hint: not an ambiguous trail of misunderstood, mistranslated, misinterpreted and misapplied legends)
Colegedmissions, you need to update your Biblical scholarship. You've fallen behind the latest information.
That is because anytime someone finds something that goes against what the bible says, you guys just change the story making it impossible to keep up.
There is a cure from dogmatic brainwashing. Research.
You do realize that all these things existed before we started to research them right?
You people that support this article are sick and have nothing else to do. It does not shock me that CNN part of a False Jew Tv network put this article out.
Eeeeeek, false jooooooooz......
You got a purty mouth.
guess what Jesus was a Jew. So by refering to false Jews your in a way using Jesus' name in vain. You should do your research before you blog something so iliterate. Do you self a favor and know your religion and for that matter its origins because Christianity came from Jewdesim..... research can do wanders...
@Sebastian... you should try either spell check or maybe just learn how to spell, dude. Jewdeism, really????
Sam, we got a new drinking *hic* game...cmon Spike!
thanks False Jew, hilarious
Yeah, this page is really starting to live up to page 1's standard!
@YoozYerBrain
COULD IT BE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THIS ARTICLE ARE REALLY MUSLIMS WHO ARE MAD ABOUT THE Muhammad MOVIE and this is your way of attacking Christians?
Why would it bother you if Jesus was Married ?
After all he was just a man.
From what i have read about the culture,
it would be perfectly normal for Jesus to take a wife.
Wait, i get it....
It would go against everything your religion has told you.
It would crush your little mind to know that just maybe,
that little black book is full of chit.
Wow, an angry Christian.
Who woulda thunk it.
Believing hypothesis, gossip under the influence of cannabis is way of hindu's, ignorant s and hinduism, gossip of book of hindu Mithra ism, pagan savior ism called bible is no different. More hindu sanatan, filthy goons, expect more hinduism, absurdities like bible. Why this carnage, why west is persistent on hindu Judaism, criminal self center ism ? please visit http://www.limitisthetruth.com/ and click on word Choice to open file, to learn true causes of mayhem among humanity,
You again.
Jesus was a fictional person made up to tell morality stories.
.
How True!
They needed a hero in their new version of the bible because the God in book one was a bit of a jerk. So, they pulled stories from other religions, said he was born in December, walked on water, water to wine, died and flew out of the cave and voila, a myth becomes someone's reality.
Are we grasping for straws just a bit Calcommuter??
@OldBen, NOPE he's spot on, to be honest. Jesus is nothing more than a myth, built from the stories of multiple deities. Do some research, man. Think, read, and then think some more.. Jesus just did not exist. Christianity DID indeed steal nearly EVERYTHING they believe from older religions.. take Christmas, it's winter solstice.. Easter, the celebration of Ester or spring/rebirth, sound familiar? The fact is, Christianity was pretty smart to incorporate many of the early Pagan celebrations in their rituals.
Actually, Calcommuter
No where in the Bible does it say that he was born in December. That was a tradition established later. The Bible actually provides much evidence to the contrary regarding a December birth.
So was Columbus.... his boat was 1 foot long.
See the irony?
So?
Catholic priests are going to say: "If Jesus had some, we too can have some."
...well played!
That's what I was thinking- Catholic priests around the globe are now all banging their heads into the nearest block wall. Of course, this theory has been bandied about for centuries, so its just more white noise to them I assume.
Wait till it comes out that Jesus & Mary had children.
That should blow thier little minds.
The blood line lives.
Just check the British Monarchy.
Thier family tree goes all the way back to ancient Judea.
Yup, the Windsors are Jewish.
But they do get some. All those altar boys.
Ah, some proof for the many Mormons who believe Jesus was married at least once.
One wife.
Twelve boyfriends.
What Jesus said is pertinent. What others say about him is gossip.
So the Gospels are gossip then
The Gospels are gossip at best, lacking historical facts. Recent scholarship has descovered that the Gospels are all predated by seven of St. Paul's letters.
Um, I knew that a long time ago...
"...the historical Jesus." Really? Jesus is about as historical as Osiris, Hercules, and Luke Skywalker. Where is the evidence to support Jesus as a historical figure? The Bible doesn't quality. A book chock-full of talking snakes, unicorns, and a god who condones slavery and the murder of children doesn't serve well as a history book. Show me proof!
And let's not forget all the Miracles of the New Testament that NOT ONE SINGLE first century historian took even the smallest notice of... The wrending of the Temple? The Great Darkness and Clap of thunder at Jesus' Death? The earthquake that caused the dead prophets to rise and walk among the living? So, zombies were common in the first century?
Well let's start with Josephus. You know, the Roman-Jewish historian who was considered a traitor by the Jews? What about Tacitus, who referred to the crucifixion of Jesus by Pilate in his final work, Annals. How about Seutonius who refers to Jesus as "Cherstus" the leader of the Christians. Pliny the Younger. Lucian of Samosta, a Greek satirist. I could go on and on. I mean...seriously? Okay, you don't want to believe in Jesus as messiah, that's your deal. But denying his existence based on what? It's incredulous. Pretty ridiculous too.
The ONE time Josephus mentions him it has been proved to be someone adding Jesus's name centuries later. The ONE time Tacitus mentioned him, it has been proven that the translation was erroneous and not referring to Jesus. You can reference the Jesus Wikipedia entry which notates the proof to this. Do better research, son.
And even so, these are still long after his death. No writings during the time of his existence. Every historical figure has writings about them while they are alive. If you want to believe in fictional character as a messiah, that is your choice, but don't pretend there is any fact behind your belief. How incredulous!
The Herakles cycle is likely based on a kernel of historical fact- many hero mythic cycles are. How much of the historical peson is left in those stories is another matter entirely.
Oh yes, I forgot about the 2.18 billion people who believe in Osiris, Hercules, and Luke Skywalker.
What I meant was that Page 1 of these comments has been hilarious. I'm sure page 2 won't disappoint. Hey comedians, the straight-men have done their job and set up the jokes- get to it!
Oh I bet it gets worse, in 3....2...1....
I'm going to go ahead and say that this has been one of the funniest, most enjoyable Comments page so far- BRAVO all you funny folks, the using of the brains has earned a beer for me!!! THANKS and mo' buttah!
I love the entertainment on the beliefs blogs. Grab some popcorn and welcome aboard!
Do you know how many named Jesus at his time? So to say that he was married, doubt that.
Yeah, but we also don't know of any other Jesuses who had Coptic literature written about them
How would you even now that the messiah being worshipped was named Jesus, as Paul never mentioned his name in the original gospel, and all other gospels came decades later with proven embellishments and innacuracies. Odds are better that none of it all is true.
These attacks to the Christian faith are not surprising and will coninue in-crescendo until His second coming.
There is no reason to see this as a attack on the Christian faith. There are a lot of years that the Bible does not speak of Jesus life. He lived as mortal amongst the people so it's not a far fetched idea that he would've taken a wife. I find it endears me even more to God the father and Jesus his son.
"His second coming" is a great phrase to hear in church, not so much in prison.
Rimshot to Huebert. But...not *that* kind of rimshot...
He must have come more than once already – he was married.
yerkillinme!!!!! hahahahaha gawd
Second coming ?
Jees let the guy shower first.
What attack? They found a scrap of coptic manuscript, they translated it, someone got worried that people might get upset because the word "wife" was put into the mouth of Jesus, and many Christians firmly believe he was not married. So they put out word to the public of what academics already understand- it is an interesting scrap, but it is just a scrap. We have no idea what it is discussing.
I honestly thought that Jesus was with John. That's the way the Holy Bible makes it look to me.
Well, there's nothing to say that Jesus' wife was not something of a, well like a Michele Bachmann, for instance.
Once upon a time . . .
First, John does not have an Infancy Narrative. He echos Genesis: "In the beginning was the Word...". After the Prologue, Jesus is an adult and is baptized by John the Baptist. Second, how does Dan Brown become a bibical scholar to be even mentioned in this article?
John plagiarized Josephus. Josephus sought to philosophically reflect his Jewish heritage in terms of Hellenistic abstract.
Hellenism is hinduism, pagan ism of hindu Egyption's, having nothing to do with son of blessed Mary, but hinduism, fiction of hinduism, paganism, Jesus is sold on his name by hindu Magi's, pagan fortune tellers, religion of hindus pagans of Rom before invention of hinduism, absurdity called Christianity, but hindu Mithra ism, pagan savior ism in reality. Why this carnage, why west is persistent on hindu Judaism, criminal self center ism ? please visit http://www.limitisthetruth.com/ and click on word Choice to open file, to learn true causes of mayhem among humanity,
Hi PL
I are a biblical scholar and yahweh is the #3 dude in the sumerian pantheon with enlil his supervisor and AN the CEO. Can I provide any other historical info for you or do you wish to continue to misquote that piece of committe-produced literature you call the bible and I call myth?
If Dan Brown is a "Biblical Scholar", I'm a Rhode Island Red. Heck, he's not even a good art historian (it should be "The Leonardo Code" not "The DaVinci Code". Idiot.)
Yooz, the way you just used the word "myth" shows you can't be a very good scholar of ancient literature or religion, if you are one at all.