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An ancient, business-card-sized papyrus fragment that appears to quote Jesus Christ discussing his wife is real, Harvard University announced Thursday. The fragment caused international uproar when it was revealed by a Harvard historian in September 2012, with prominent academics and the Vatican swiftly deeming it a forgery.

Harvard officials said scientists both within and outside the university extensively tested the papyrus and carbon ink of the badly aged fragment, dubbed the "Gospel of Jesus' Wife." The document, written in Coptic, a language of ancient Egyptian Christians, is made up of eight mostly legible dark lines on the front and six barely legible faded lines on the back. The handwriting and grammar were also examined over the last year and a half to confirm its authenticity. Scientists have concluded the fragment dates back to at least the sixth to ninth centuries, and possibly as far back as the fourth century.

The document was never meant to prove Jesus was married, Harvard Divinity School professor Karen L. King emphasized Thursday. Instead, she argued, it's meant to highlight that some early Christians may have believed Jesus was married. The distinction is significant because debates over sexuality and marriage have dominated contemporary discussions about Christianity; the Catholic Church cites Jesus' celibacy as one reason its priests must not have sex or marry.

"The main topic of the fragment is to affirm that women who are mothers and wives can be disciples of Jesus -- a topic that was hotly debated in early Christianity as celibate virginity increasingly became highly valued," King, whose specialties include Coptic literature, Gnosticism and women in the Bible, said in a statement Thursday. "This gospel fragment provides a reason to reconsider what we thought we knew by asking what the role claims of Jesus' marital status played historically in early Christian controversies over marriage, celibacy, and family."

The legible lines on the front of the artifact seem to form a broken conversation between Jesus and his disciples. The fourth line of the text says, "Jesus said to them, my wife." Line 5 says "... she will be able to be my disciple," while the line before the "wife" quote has Jesus saying "Mary is worthy of it" and line 7 says, “As for me, I dwell with her in order to ..."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/10/jesus-wife_n_5124712.html

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Originally posted by Jongsstraw:
Certainly not the first time in 2000 years that "academics" have tried to attack or discredit Jesus and his teachings. Nothing changes. The faithful will remain faithful, and the non-believers will giggle and feel superior. Ho hum.

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Originally posted by chrisisall:
Married or not, you KNOW he & Mary were *um* close.

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Originally posted by AURaptor:
Jesus didn't see her like that!

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Originally posted by chrisisall:

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Originally posted by AURaptor:
Jesus didn't see her like that!

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Oh I bet more than once she was heard to say "Christ that was great!"

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Originally posted by AURaptor:

While I fall into the category of ' faithless ', I don't see how this plays out as " academics " trying to attack or discredit JC in the least. Now, to be fair , that a mere fragment of parchment so far has been found which mentions the POSSIBILITY he was married ( to Mary ? ) does seem a touch suspect, on the face of it. But if it is indeed legitimate, which it appears is the case, then shouldn't that be something to be considered ?

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Originally posted by kpo:
How come you're an atheist Rap?

It's not personal. It's just war.

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Originally posted by Jongsstraw:

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Originally posted by AURaptor:

While I fall into the category of ' faithless ', I don't see how this plays out as " academics " trying to attack or discredit JC in the least. Now, to be fair , that a mere fragment of parchment so far has been found which mentions the POSSIBILITY he was married ( to Mary ? ) does seem a touch suspect, on the face of it. But if it is indeed legitimate, which it appears is the case, then shouldn't that be something to be considered ?

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Like man-made climate change? Harvard! ... Scientists! How can any mere man refuse to believe?

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