There’s been even more blogged and discussed about the “Jesus’ wife” Coptic fragment since my last round-up. Most of what I have seen on blogs I read regularly have been wise, balanced, scholarly perspectives.
Don Burrows clarifies the difference between absurd media claims and what Karen King and other scholars are saying.
Craig Evans offers thoughts on the meaning of the word for “wife” in Coptic both generally and in this context.
Chuck Grantham provides a useful list of other previously-known texts that this new fragment reminds scholars of.
See also the thoughts of Larry Hurtado, Simon Gathercole, Dirk Jongkind, Robert Myles, Rafael Rodriguez, Jim Davila, Paul Barford, J. K. Gayle, Anders Gerdmar (not only in English but also in Swedish), Gregory Jenks, Roger Pearse, Tom Verenna, Leroy Huizenga, Chris Harrison, Brian LePort, Jim West, Bart Ehrman, ISAW, SETH (in Italian), Stephen Bates (HT The Lead), Fred Clark, and the two posts at Looting Matters. Also Paul Vander Klay’s for the title alone if nothing else.
CNN answers 5 questions about the fragment and its implications.
James Martin reflects on the possibility of Jesus having been married and his life of celibacy as a Jesuit (via The Lead and Tim Suttle).
The Smithsonian Channel will have a TV special about the fragment airing September 30th.
Finally, the most amusing suggestion for what might have followed the words “Jesus said, ‘My wife…'” comes from biologist Jerry Coyne: “. . . is unable to bear children because, being haploid, I am unable to produce sperm.”
Any other suggestions, serious or frivolous, about how the text might have continued? Here’s the text:
The lacuna in the Gospel of Philip is far more interesting. That text says that Jesus loved Mary Magdalene and that he “kissed her often on the…” and then there is a gap in the text.
See also Tony Jones’ post sharing that there is a Twitter hashtag #IfJesusHadAWife which has some amusing contributions to that new meme.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In