Did Jesus Have a Wife?

Regarding "A Faded Piece of Papyrus Claims Jesus Spoke of His Wife" article in the New York Times. Some think this "Jesus Wife" papyrus is a hoax. There were many people named Jesus back when Jesus Christ lived.

In Jesus' time and culture, women were considered possessions, with almost no rights or importance.

Jesus defied these traditions constantly and scandalously, speaking to a Samaritan (cult hated by Jews) woman who was living with a guy she was not married to. He taught her some of the most astonishing theology that He ever taught, but other religious teachers might have scorned or stoned her.

Jesus was supported financially by some rich ladies who traveled with him among his male disciples. The first humans to know about His resurrection were women.

There are references to women as chief disciples, which was subversive and radical.

Jesus having a wife? We know that Israel is often considered the wife of God, and the church is called the bride of Christ, all symbolic.

Thus, Jesus may have indeed spoken of "my wife" in a figurative sense, or in referring to all women, or "my closest female disciple, similar to a wife".

Once, HIs mother and siblings attended his teaching and wanted to interrupt Him.

Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."

Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers."

Then we have the Gnostic tradition where it is to be understood that:

"male" symbolizes the pneumatic (spiritual, or Gnostic) Christians, and "female" symbolizes the psychic (unenlightened, or orthodox) Christians, rather than actually referring to males and females.

But that is an unfortunate male patriarchal pile of nonsense, degrading the female sex.

The most interesting "Gnostic" gospel to me is the one I own and refer to occasionally, the Gospel of Thomas, which contains some very inspiring remarks, including:

Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All."

Verse 114 states Simon Peter said to Him, "Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of Life."

Jesus said, "I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

Sadly this verse seems to accommodate the patriarchal chauvinism that the Jesus of the traditional 4 gospels contradicts and defies repeatedly.

A major text that stands in the way of thinking Jesus may have had a wife is the verse in Matthew 8:20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Commentators say that foxes have holes and birds nest when they are raising a family. Thus, Jesus is stating that he is single, has no wife, is not raising a physical family.

I'm not entirely convinced by this argument, but is the standard doctrine among the churches that I am familiar with.

This is a very interesting debate.

There is a school of thought that claims Jesus was married, had children, they migrated to England, and the throne of England is the new throne of David. This is related to the British-Israelism cult which claims the British royalty have descended from the line of King David and are part of the tribes of Israel. The problem with this concept is that it claims that physical offspring of Jesus are the true disciples of Christ, thus making the spiritual sons of God through faith in Christ an inferior group.

If Jesus had a wife, this surely would have not escaped the attention of his disciples and apostles who wrote New Testament literature. He would have entrusted her care to someone before He was crucified, or as He hung on the cross, as He entrusted the care of His mother Mary to the disciple John.

Some say that Jesus loved everyone equally, so He could not have a "best friend" or a girlfriend or wife. This is nonsensical, because the New Testament does say that those who obey Jesus will be loved more than those who do not obey, and get special blessings. Also, the Gospels speak of a "disciple whom Jesus loved", implying a special bond of affection and harmony.

Some say "the disciple Jesus loved" was a woman, a girlfriend, or even a wife. Most scholars seem to say it refers to John, but I wonder. Knowing how Jesus broke from the common policies of male sexism, the whole matter deserves close inspection and consideration.

Some say, "It may not be good to speculate too deeply, if it would keep us from focusing on the Savior's true mission."

I see no reason to not look into all aspects of the life and personality of Jesus.

His missions (plural) are clear: (1) to provide an example for us to imitate, (2) to teach humanity about God and righteousness, (3) to minister healing to the suffering (4) to die for the sins of humanity as the universal sacrifice, (4) to rise from the dead to be the leader of the heavenly armies and saints, (5) to send the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentcost, (6) to intercede for those who trust in Him, (7) to return to gather all who believe in Him and administer the Millenial Kingdom and the eternal kingdom in the new heaven and new earth.

He invites close inspection of His life and teachings, so I think it is right to do so.

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