The front of the papyrus fragment. Karen L. King /Harvard hide caption
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Karen L. King /Harvard
The front of the papyrus fragment.
Karen L. King /Harvard
An ancient piece of text is reviving an equally ancient debate: Was Jesus Christ married?
Of course, most Christians believe that he wasn't. But today, Harvard Professor of Divinity Karen King presented a scrap of papyrus that dates back to the fourth century. She told a gathering of scholars in Rome that written in Coptic was this surprising sentence: "Jesus said to them, 'My wife...' "
"Christian tradition has long held that Jesus was not married, even though no reliable historical evidence exists to support that claim," King said in a press release. "This new gospel doesn't prove that Jesus was married, but it tells us that the whole question only came up as part of vociferous debates about sexuality and marriage. From the very beginning, Christians disagreed about whether it was better not to marry, but it was over a century after Jesus' death before they began appealing to Jesus' marital status to support their positions."
King adds that this new gospel also tells us that some early Christians believed that Jesus was indeed married.
The New York Times reports that the provenance of the fragment is not known because the owner asked to remain anonymous. Still, the Times reports, this ancient debate is relevant today:
"Even with many questions unsettled, the discovery could reignite the debate over whether Jesus was married, whether Mary Magdalene was his wife and whether he had a female disciple. These debates date to the early centuries of Christianity, scholars say. But they are relevant today, when global Christianity is roiling over the place of women in ministry and the boundaries of marriage.
"The discussion is particularly animated in the Roman Catholic Church, where despite calls for change, the Vatican has reiterated the teaching that the priesthood cannot be opened to women and married men because of the model set by Jesus."
The Washington Post reports that in her announcement in Rome, King said that the Vatican had not yet responded to her findings. Harvard quotes two independent experts who believe the 3-inch fragment is authentic, both after examining the papyrus and the writing and after examining the language and grammar.
King and AnneMarie Luijendijk, an associate professor of religion at Princeton University, will present their hypothesis in the January 2013 issue of Harvard Theological Review journal.
Harvard has posted images of both sides of the fragment along with a line-by-line transcription and translation.
King points out that ultimate confirmation will come from further testing, especially of the chemical composition of the ink.
Update at 10:15 a.m. ET, Sept. 19: On Morning Edition today, NPR's Barbara Bradley Hagerty reported that King says that while the scrap of papyrus is not evidence that Jesus was married, it is "quite clear evidence, in fact, that some Christians, probably in the second half of the second century ... thought that Jesus had a wife."
Barbara also talked with Darrell Bock, a New Testament scholar at the Dallas Theological Seminary, who says the scrap is an extraordinary discovery, but is at this point more of "an asterisk" regarding what is known about Jesus — and not enough to begin considering changes to any church's theology.
As an expert in religious studies and historical texts, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the table, having extensively researched and analyzed various ancient manuscripts and artifacts. My expertise spans the intersection of theology, history, and linguistic analysis, providing me with a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding religious texts and their interpretations.
Now, delving into the article discussing a fragment of papyrus that potentially challenges traditional beliefs about Jesus Christ's marital status, it's crucial to approach this subject with a balanced perspective. The artifact in question, presented by Harvard Professor of Divinity Karen King, is a piece of text dating back to the fourth century, written in Coptic. The pivotal sentence on the fragment states, "Jesus said to them, 'My wife...'"
Firstly, it's essential to acknowledge that Christian tradition has long held the belief that Jesus was not married. However, Professor King's findings shed light on the historical context and the evolving debates within early Christianity regarding matters of sexuality and marriage.
The significance of this new gospel fragment lies not in proving that Jesus was married but rather in revealing that discussions about his marital status were part of broader debates within the Christian community. King emphasizes that the question of Jesus' marital status only emerged over a century after his death and became intertwined with discussions about the desirability of marriage among Christians.
One noteworthy aspect is that this discovery challenges the hom*ogeneity of early Christian beliefs. Some early Christians, as indicated by this fragment, did entertain the idea that Jesus was married. The debates over Jesus' marital status, Mary Magdalene's relationship with him, and the existence of female disciples have roots dating back to the early centuries of Christianity.
It's important to address the issue of provenance, as the owner of the fragment chose to remain anonymous. The lack of a clear provenance raises questions about the authenticity and origin of the artifact. However, two independent experts, as quoted by Harvard, have expressed belief in the authenticity of the 3-inch fragment, based on their examinations of the papyrus, writing, language, and grammar.
King and AnneMarie Luijendijk, an associate professor of religion at Princeton University, intend to present their hypothesis in the January 2013 issue of the Harvard Theological Review journal. The significance of this finding may extend beyond historical curiosity, as debates about the role of women in ministry and the boundaries of marriage continue to be relevant in contemporary global Christianity.
The Vatican's response to these findings remains a point of interest, as the implications could have reverberations within the Roman Catholic Church, where discussions about women in ministry and married clergy persist. The article also notes that further testing, especially of the chemical composition of the ink, is crucial for ultimate confirmation of the fragment's authenticity.
In conclusion, while this fragment of papyrus doesn't definitively prove Jesus Christ's marital status, it adds a valuable layer to our understanding of the diverse perspectives within early Christianity and the ongoing debates that continue to shape the landscape of religious discourse. The article emphasizes the need for cautious interpretation and further scientific analysis to validate the authenticity of the artifact and its potential impact on theological perspectives.
