Was Jesus Married?

[Ron Beron]

In a recent announcement Harvard Theological Review announced that an Egyptian Coptic fragment was found referencing Jesus' "wife".  It is found here...

http://www.hds.harvard.edu/news-events/articles/2012/09/16/hds-scholar-announces-existence-of-new-early-christian-gospel-from-egypt

Draft of the report is available.

[David T]

There really is no way to know based on contemporary texts. There is no evidence of Jesus being married during the period covered by the Gospels, and good arguments as to why it may have been unlikely (or at least unknown to his disciples), given what we do have.

 

I think it is  likely he was married during the "lost private years" not covered in the Gospels - and not to any individual mentioned in the Gospels. I actually think this is the most plausible answer to certain LDS suggestions that, theologically, he must have been married. We need not look for this event - or the spouse - in the 3-year-span of the Gospels, but perhaps in the 30ish undocumented years.

 

My completely evidence-lacking "I wonder" theory suggests that any wife he had prior to the Gospel records was tragically lost to him from either illness (in childbirth?) or even perhaps infidelity. I like to ponder that he knew the joy of family, but also the deep pain of loss. Kind of like the relationship of Jehovah and Israel.

 

Would add an interesting (and beautiful) subtext to Jesus' merciful response to another woman caught in adultery, and/or the stories of family members of others dying that he raised or healed. ("You can save others, but you cannot save yourself...")

 

But I will be the first to acknowledge that legitimate proof is lacking, and the burden to deliver evidence is certainly on a position that he did have a wife.

Edited August 19, 2013 by David T

[thesometimesaint]

I think a good case can be made for Jesus being married during his lifetime. But the Sciptures we do have are not conclusive.

[boulder257]

Personally I just think this is too important a piece of information to be left out the gospels or mentioned, even as an afterthought in one of them. But, that's just my personal opinion.

[Ron Beron]

Acceptance of Jesus' marriage in accordance with this text is dependent solely on one's acceptance of Gnostic teachings.  Beyond that, it is interesting that many Gnostics, who normally shun material associations, would place such importance on marriage.  At least, it was an idea that was being bantered about.

[Freedom]

There is no requirement for the Gospels to mention him being married and this is not critical information. You can read through hundreds of general conference talks and find precious few that mention the marital status of church leaders. We tend not to record the obvious.

[David T]

There is no requirement for the Gospels to mention him being married and this is not critical information. You can read through hundreds of general conference talks and find precious few that mention the marital status of church leaders. We tend not to record the obvious.

 

And yet we an account of Jesus asking John to look after his mother, but not his wife and/or children. We have encounters with his brothers and sisters.  I think it's likely that the two options are that either the authors (all of them!) went out of their way to remove his wife from the picture, or there simply wasn't a wife during this period of time at all.

Edited August 19, 2013 by David T

[williamsmith]

Personally I just think this is too important a piece of information to be left out the gospels or mentioned, even as an afterthought in one of them. But, that's just my personal opinion.

 

I don't know why you would say that?  What do we know of ANY of those with Jesus as to their "personal" lives?

I think those who wrote scripture wrote scripture.  And the rest, there is little that's survived anyway from the history, so there could be all kinds of things we don't know about.  People didn't usually "write" unless it was important, and even less knew how to write.

 

History was more Oral History, writing was a luxury few had.

[rpn]

I think there is no other reasonable explanation for Jesus' first appearance to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection, than that she was His wife.

[JamesBYoung]

There are other reasonable explanations based on the Scripture.

 

The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.

The Gospel according to

St. John

20

 

 

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

Mk. 16.9-11

11

¶ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12

and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabbo'ni; which is to say, Master.

17

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

18

Mary Mag'dalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

There really is no way to know based on contemporary texts. There is no evidence of Jesus being married during the period covered by the Gospels, and good arguments as to why it may have been unlikely (or at least unknown to his disciples), given what we do have.

True but some have though the wedding where he turned water into wine, could have been his.

[David T]

True but some have though the wedding where he turned water into wine, could have been his.

If someone were to actually read the story, that theory makes no sense.

[halconero]

I'm not sold on it, but from time to time I entertain the notion that Christ was married to Mary Magdalene.

Among a few other reasons the one that resonates most with me comes from Christ's own teaching:

"And [Christ] said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?"

If Christ were indeed married, which person could possibly have more right than even God the Father to first behold the resurrected Lord?

Furthermore, there is an interesting change in the JST during the account of the resurrection. Rather than asking Mary not to touch him, he asks her not to hold him, holding being translated as "detain" in other editions.

Edited August 20, 2013 by halconero

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

If someone were to actually read the story, that theory makes no sense.

Could you expand.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I'm not sold on it, but from time to time I entertain the notion that Christ was married to Mary Magdalene.

It is cleat they were very close, very.

[Stone holm]

Given our doctrine and the fact that Christ was the exemplar in all things it is only logical that He was.  Course its not fashionable to talk about anything that might offend the Evangelicals anymore.

[halconero]

Given our doctrine and the fact that Christ was the exemplar in all things it is only logical that He was. Course its not fashionable to talk about anything that might offend the Evangelicals anymore.

Oh stop.

[JamesBYoung]

Jesus could have been married, but Scripture gives nothing conclusive to affirm such was the case.

[MDalby]

Is it true that according to the law, those that were rabbis or teachers were required to be married?  The pharisee Nicodemus observed the strict observance of the law and referred to Jesus as Rabbi. 

[Ron Beron]

Instead of concentrating on the "if" shouldn't we be looking at the "why" the Gnostic felt a need to show Jesus as being married?

[David T]

Could you expand.

 

"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him."

 

1. Jesus and his disciples are called to/invited to the wedding.

2. An additional bridegroom is actually present.

[David T]

Instead of concentrating on the "if" shouldn't we be looking at the "why" the Gnostic felt a need to show Jesus as being married?

 

The text is so fragmentary, it doesn't tell us anything about this alleged belief. "And Jesus said unto them, my wife" is all we have. Was it an allegory of his people, like Israel/The Church is often stated to be the covenant bride of the LORD? Was it similiar to the gospels account where Jesus says " For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."? Is in response to someone saying, "Hey, is Mary Magadalene your wife?" And Jesus said unto them, "My Wife?!"

 

(Looking for prescedent, The Gnostic Gospel of Thomas well, has an, umm, unique idea of gender. 

"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.")

[volgadon]

Is it true that according to the law, those that were rabbis or teachers were required to be married?  The pharisee Nicodemus observed the strict observance of the law and referred to Jesus as Rabbi. 

 

 

This old chestnut needs to die.

[Robert F. Smith]

Is it true that according to the law, those that were rabbis or teachers were required to be married?  The pharisee Nicodemus observed the strict observance of the law and referred to Jesus as Rabbi. 

In order to be a credible rabbi, two things were essential: (1) marriage, and (2) to have reached 30 years of age.

That doesn't prove he was married, but it is interesting.

Wives don't always get much attention in Scripture, and we don't really know much about the private lives of the Apostles:  Did they have wives?  Probably, but can it be proven?

[Duncan]

if Jesus was married can you imagine buying them a wedding present? like, what do you get for the man who literally has everything?!