Jesus mentioned on ancient Papyrus Smithsonian

Did the Vatican already know this? Makes me wonder.

Ancient Papyrus tells a tale.

Interesting article. Here's another closer look at the papyrus from Harvard - hds.harvard

Robert,

Who knows? Maybe they didn't feel his wife was important. It is known that there are many more gospels than the 4 we have, but the RC keeps them from the general public. It has been alwaysspeculatedthat Mary Magdeline was his wife, since sheanointedhis body after his death, which is the job of the wife. Also, 33 year oldbachelorsdidn't happen back then. He would have been suspected as gay and stoned.

You are referring to the Gnostic Gospels and apocrypha and despite popular myth, are NOT being kept hidden by the RC and are available to the public (more or less) at universities, archival collections and museums throughout the world.

I know this is hugely controversial. But, to me, God gave his son to the earth to be human while he was here-- to experience what it was to be a human, and to bring a message of hope to humanity. To me, it makes perfect sense that he was married, as a part of the human experience.

I don't presume to know the workings of God, nor do I have any great theology argument either for or against this-- but, to me, it is wonderful, and makes me feel closer to Jesus as a human being. The idea of this does not shake my faith one iota, nor does it dismay me. I find it wondrous, intriguing, fascinating, and utterly marvelous.

I think that we need to be studying all the papyrus fragments we can find. Perhaps it will increase our understanding and enable us all to be more compassionate with one another.

Great article, great link, and thanks, everyone for sharing!

Perhaps the original translators/scholars didn't feel that Mary was important... I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me if mention of her was left out on purpose for political reasons...

Wasn't there also a gospel of Judas that we've never seen in the bible?

Many Biblical scholars have felt thatJesuswas most likely married. His status, to be taken seriously as a Rabbi in those days, would have suffered a serious setback if he was not. As to why it would not have been mentioned...misogynyknows noboundariesand there was already a battle between hisdiscipleswhile Jesus was still alive, to be the one at Jesus "right hand"; one that his wife already held.

One of the Nag Hammadi pieces was titled, "The Thunder, Perfect Mind". How great is that?

Didn't the Council of Nicaea and Emperor Constantine put the Bible as we know it together? I'm too slothful to check but if my synapses are firing in good order my memory banks are also good. Anyhow, to me that connotes political manipulation and an eye toward power. Perhaps the Gnostics were closer to the actual teachings of Jesus. Or, they had better hallucinogenics that the Byzantines.

Apparently that is why all the Mary/Jesus, Judas not being such a bad guy after all, a different version of sin and redemption and such aren't in the Bible. They didn't make the cut.

My biblical knowledge is severely lacking. I only know about the Gnostic and Apocrypha books incidentally while researching " Magna Mater "

The Bible that we know today did indeed receive canonization at Nicaea but through many other actions as well. Early Judaic canonization included first only the Torah (the first 5 books of the OT) then a few others followed. This was before the Christian acceptance of other scriptural writers and other, further canonizations, including Nicaea.

If we actually had all the intact ancient writings available to us, it would swamp the Bible in pure volume and size.

another source of interest

marypages

It would seem to make sense that Jesus would be and was married. Jesus led a life of purity and being marrried would have helped sustain the very image we would expect. Also the likelyhood of a child or children would also be normal. The later attempts of destroyingMary's reputation a even insinuating Mary asbeing a sinner and a Prostitute are not found in the early writtings that preceeded the Bible knowledge of the Gosopel is Writtings the used in theBible we know now. The act of limiting the access to religious teachings was a concious effort by men to glorify their position and make women subservient. The fact that Jesus turned the responsibility of the teachings to Mary not Peter justifies to me at least that Jesus relied and trusted in Mary completly.

In other words, the books, the words we find in our Bible were picked....they were chosen from among many other possible texts. They were placed as scripture in the Bible that we know, exclusively by men. One of the largest and most widely accepted pagan beliefs to counter Christianity, and before that Judaism, was the Sacred Feminine. The role of women in leadership positions was severely limited, and much of that was a response to the perceived threat of paganism to the social order that the Church was seeking to direct. Women actually played a large role in sponsering the ministry of Jesus, yet we see little of women represented in ministry leadership positions.

When you think about the way things were back then, it makes sense that Jesus would of been married. He didn't apparently find out he was the son of God till he was 30. Back then I would think you would of been looked at strangely had he not been married possibly with Children by 30.

AeonPax:

Mine as well. I am a heathen by nature but find it most amusing, terrifying and interesting. As with most things, I know about enough to get myself in trouble.

Luckily I have had my Grand Maw to argue and discuss Christianity and religion with for over 40 years. At 105 she is still quite the intellectual but seems clearer and most interested in the turn of the century these days. Last converse was about the Spanish Flu epidemic and how it affected her and the fambly.

Larry:

Yeah, I think the White Christ more or less drove the last coffin nails in matriarchal societies.

best to both of you

Robert G:

Well, I expect I'll see you hanging around in Hell. We can get a stiff shot of bourbon and swap lies with Beelzebubbah. From another article I read of late his minions were dirty hippies and rock n rollers. Sounds alreet with me.

later gator

Yes Sir. I do believe he's was born and raised in The Heart of Dixie. He just meandered over to Mississippi to screw with Robert Johnson. He calls LA his home though. Blisteringly hot. Humid. Every thing in the woods will sting, bite, scratch, itch, or claw you to death. Plus, churches and liquor stores. And, a Saturday Night Special every night of the week.

The story or myth that Mary Magdaline moved with a chilld to England or Ireland some where in Europe might well betrue. How old was Jesus when he died?

How old was Jesus when he died?

33