Papyrus mentioning "wife of Jesus" is deemed authentic

[Interloper]

Interesting...both the carbon-dated authenticity of papyrus and ink, and the interpretation of what "wife" might mean in the context of the quote.

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/ancient-papyr ... socialflow

[GrahamB]

Still doesn't prove he wasn't gay.

[wiesiek]

I`m waiting how Polish Wings of the Catholic Church will explain

[Steve James]

I think Jesus's marital state is a point of dogma that will not be changed. Imo, the only "new" facts or information that will be accepted are those that support or confirm existing dogma. The discovered papyrus may be authentic, but that doesn't mean that it's will be believed. For that, it would need to be proven that it was written by an apostle or someone as authoritative. Otherwise, it'll just be considered something that someone claimed a long time ago.

[wiesiek]

better for Catholics Scientist to jump straight into the future for check up,
this time, diggin` in the past is fruitless anyway

[Dmitri]

What Steve said... "Authentic"-shmathentc. It is obviously blasphemy and the works of the devil. Especially when it's coming from "science". There can only be one "good book".

[Josealb]

If people today find a way to deny a fossil, the curvature of the earth, or the distance of a light source, just because it clashes with their beliefs, they will deny anything.

[Dajenarit]

Its not suprising if you realize Jesus only officially stopped being a man after the Council of Nicea. What would God incarnate need with a wife?

[Interloper]

Its not suprising if you realize Jesus only officially stopped being a man after the Council of Nicea. What would God incarnate need with a wife?

Same thing that God Incorporeal needed Mary for, I guess.
But it's the other interpretation I found interesting - "wife" being a hypothetical to indicate the validity of female disciples. That is something that would shake the foundation of certain groups' core beliefs even more than the thought of an actual spouse for their earthly Lord.

[Steve James]

That's true about core beliefs, but there would be very practical matters that would have to be considered. For example, priestly celibacy and the general position of women in the church. Of course, if Jesus had a wife, it would mean that he had sex, which would mean that he may have had offspring. That becomes theologically complicated if Jesus was the incarnate son of God. Otoh, since there's no mention or scriptural record of Jesus's life from around 6 to the beginning of his ministry in his 30s. So, everything about that period is speculation.

[Bill]

It appears that some people learn their religious history from Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code.

[DiaitaDoc]

I'm fascinated by Nestorian Christianity, which wouldn't bat an eye at this kind of information, were it true.

That said, the papyrus in question has been proven to be an authentic document from the 700s. That's almost a millenium after Jesus' time, so not very credible. Apocryphal at best.

[Dajenarit]

Its not suprising if you realize Jesus only officially stopped being a man after the Council of Nicea. What would God incarnate need with a wife?

Same thing that God Incorporeal needed Mary for, I guess.
But it's the other interpretation I found interesting - "wife" being a hypothetical to indicate the validity of female disciples. That is something that would shake the foundation of certain groups' core beliefs even more than the thought of an actual spouse for their earthly Lord.

Well yea. If God wanted to end all confusion he could of made Jesus come down out of the clouds on a horse drawn carriage.

I think it was the Gospel of Mary that argued that she was the actual heir to the church. Its argued that it might of been suppressed knowledge.

You have to admit that most early religions had no problems worshipping female deities and the feminine principle before a certain point in history. It worked out very well for patriarchy. Its harder to subjugate women if society worships their image as gods.

I'm not up on early Christianity like I used to be though.

[Dajenarit]

It appears that some people learn their religious history from Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code.

This was a popular area of discussion long before Dan Brown wrote a half assed novel about it.

People have had questions about the history of early Christianity before it got codified and dogmatized and how people might of differed in practice and theology from today.

Thats why the Da Vinci Code novels were so popular I think.

[Dmitri]

most early religions had no problems worshipping female deities and the feminine principle before a certain point in history. It worked out very well for patriarchy. Its harder to subjugate women if society worships their image as gods.

Brian's way ahead of you...

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