Ancient Manuscript Suggests Jesus Was Married

Local minister says no evidence to support idea

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By Bill McAllister
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ANCHORAGE - A fragment of a fourth-century Coptic manuscript is creating controversy around the world. It describes a dialogue in which Jesus refers to his wife.

The idea of Jesus being married is nothing new.

It's found in the Gnostic gospels that did not become part of the Bible and crops up periodically in fiction, such as in the film and book "The Da Vinci Code."

But for one local minister, it's just a fascinating sideshow of little importance.

Doctor Richard Strutz at Anchorage City Church says while the Bible is silent on Jesus having a wife, there's nothing to support the idea.

He says the text, which was unveiled yesterday by a Harvard Divinity School professor in Rome, was probably was inspired by the Gnostics, who were not contemporaries of Jesus.

Strutz says that even if Jesus were married, that would not change his views on Jesus' divinity.

"None of the early church fathers, who wrote a number of things, none of them mention a wife or family. So we just assume no, he didn't have a wife or family. But whether it's theologically important or not: not really. The Bible doesn't say. So we don't really care. But it's just fascinating."

And there is an old legend that the Merovingian dynasty in ancient France claimed to be the descendants of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, an idea alluded to in the second “Matrix” film.

Although it's something that can't be proved or disproved, it's likely to go on as a fictional plot point or a matter of debate.

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Lukong said on Monday, Apr 8 at 11:42 AM

Truly though Read all of Ephesians 5.

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Lukong said on Monday, Apr 8 at 11:41 AM

*Characters Left isn't high...1000, but its takes from the bottom. Post at 11:33am was cut off and I made mistake on post 11:36am.

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Lukong said on Monday, Apr 8 at 11:38 AM

Ephesians 5:32 - "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Though read Ephesians 5:25-33

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Lukong said on Monday, Apr 8 at 11:36 AM

Character Left isn't low so here is the the verses and the verse...science needs to do a little better in researching

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Lukong said on Monday, Apr 8 at 11:33 AM

Most Christians can think and figure the wife is referring to the church, but don't have scripture to back it up...so here you go Ephesians 5:22-33 = how a Man should treat his Wife and how a Woman should treat her Husband 1 Corinthians 6 = Apostle Paul talks about why you shouldn't commit sexual immoralities (6) 1 Corinthians 7 = Apostle Paul talks about sex before marriage(7:1), marrying to avoid fornication (7:2), and things about marriage & etc (7:1-40) Matthew 19:1-12 = Jesus Christ explains about divorce & actual marriage Revelation 21:9 King James Version (KJV) And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. Ephesians 5:25-33, 32 King James Version (KJV) 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave h

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