Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Papyrus Referring to Jesus’ Wife Is More Likely Ancient Than Fake, Scientists Say
NY Slimes ^ | 4/10/2014 | Laurie Goodstein

Posted on 04/10/2014 1:54:14 PM PDT by mojito

A faded fragment of papyrus known as the “Gospel of Jesus’s Wife,” which caused an uproar when unveiled by a Harvard Divinity School historian in 2012, has been tested by scientists who conclude in a journal published on Thursday that the ink and papyrus are very likely ancient, and not a modern forgery.

Skepticism about the tiny scrap of papyrus has been fierce because it contained a phrase never before seen in any piece of Scripture: “Jesus said to them, ‘My wife...’ ” Too convenient for some, it also contained the words “she will be able to be my disciple,” a clause that inflamed the debate in some churches over whether women should be allowed to be priests.

The papyrus fragment has now been analyzed by professors of electrical engineering, chemistry and biology at Columbia University, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who reported that it resembles other ancient papyri from the fourth to the eighth centuries. (Scientists at the University of Arizona, who dated the fragment to centuries before the birth of Jesus, concluded that their results were unreliable.)

The test results do not prove that Jesus had a wife or disciples who were women, only that the fragment is more likely a snippet from an ancient manuscript than a fake, the scholars agree.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: History; Religion; Science
KEYWORDS: arielsabar; catholicchurch; epigraphyandlanguage; faithandphilosophy; godsgravesglyphs; gospelofjesuswife; harvard; hewasarabbi; hoax; jamescameron; jamesossuary; jesustomb; jesuswife; karenking; letshavejerusalem; losttombofjesus; mariame; mariamne; marymagdalene; rabbismarry; religiousleft; revisionisthistory; sectarianturmoil; simchajacobovici; smashthepatriarchy; talpiot; talpiottomb; veritas; waronchristianity; waronhistory; waronreligion; weddingatcana; womenpriests
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-83 next last
It's just a miracle how things that confirm everything that liberals know is true are somehow confirmed by the "authority" of science.

Actually, although I'm not an expert on ancient papyrii, I believe that the text will be found to read not "Jesus said to them ""My wife....""; but rather, "Jesus said the them, ""My lesbian wife...."

And I was told this by the Archbishop of Canterbury. I swear.

1 posted on 04/10/2014 1:54:14 PM PDT by mojito
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: mojito

It could just be a really old blasphemy


2 posted on 04/10/2014 1:55:31 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: mojito
The science is settled, don't you know?
4 posted on 04/10/2014 1:56:56 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mojito

Wow, you would think Easter was coming up soon or something.


5 posted on 04/10/2014 1:57:20 PM PDT by Andyman (The truth shall make you FReep.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mojito
Harvard Divinity School historian in 2012, has been tested by scientists who conclude in a journal published on Thursday that the ink and papyrus are very likely ancient, and not a modern forgery

An ancient forgery, not a modern forgery. Truth has a hard time surviving at Harvard.

6 posted on 04/10/2014 1:58:08 PM PDT by PapaNew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mojito

Anything to spread doubt and misleading information, thats for sure.


7 posted on 04/10/2014 1:58:19 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL
Certainly possible.

The fragment was dated to the 4th to 8th century, so it could very well be some wild gnostic nonsense of the time, rather than the gnostic nonsense of today. However, and science notwithstanding, I still suspect the later.

8 posted on 04/10/2014 1:58:59 PM PDT by mojito (Zero, our Nero.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: mojito

An Ancient Fake


10 posted on 04/10/2014 1:59:46 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mojito

‘Jesus’ (Yeshu or Yeshua see Chronicles II 31:15) was a common name in those days.


11 posted on 04/10/2014 1:59:56 PM PDT by ari-freedom (Obama is the biggest joke. But I can't laugh.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mojito

Many people were named Jesus.


12 posted on 04/10/2014 2:00:12 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mojito
Let's see... Should I believe the Bible... or the New York Times?

One is a work of fiction, created by men with a political agenda, and unsubstantiated by facts.

The other is The Word of God.

13 posted on 04/10/2014 2:00:25 PM PDT by Fido969 (What's sad is most)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mojito

Written by a crack-pot. There have always been crack-pots and will always be crack-pots. This was written a long time ago by a crack-pot.


14 posted on 04/10/2014 2:00:39 PM PDT by Justice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mojito

“Jesus didn’t really exist, wasn’t really crucified, wasn’t resurrected, but He had a wife...” < /liberal left >


15 posted on 04/10/2014 2:01:04 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (The new witchhunt: "Do you NOW, . . . or have you EVER , . . supported traditional marriage?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mojito

Any Bible scholars or practicing Jews: Wouldn’t a rabbi have to have a wife to be taken seriously, or am I misunderstanding the practices back then?


16 posted on 04/10/2014 2:02:08 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (I will raise $2M for Cruz and/or Palin's next run, what will you do?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mojito
It's just a miracle how things that confirm everything that liberals know is true are somehow confirmed by the "authority" of science.

Is there anything in this new papyrus about Jesus leaving the seat down or not taking out the garbage?

17 posted on 04/10/2014 2:02:10 PM PDT by Alex Murphy ("the defacto Leader of the FR Calvinist Protestant Brigades")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: mojito

Knocking the Catholic religion seems to be common before Easter and Christmas. The gnostic gospels were thrown out because they were about 200-300 years after Jesus. So they were ancient, but it would be like me writing George Washington’s ‘autobiography’.


19 posted on 04/10/2014 2:03:07 PM PDT by wattsgnu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise

20 posted on 04/10/2014 2:03:07 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (I Laugh U!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-83 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson