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.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
The Gnostic gospels and its followers were banned by "Orthodox" Christians (using Elaine Pagels from Princeton's terminology for the more martyr-like major sect of Christianity that won the intra-religion conflict after the Council of Nicea). The Gnostics' story of Jesus is MUCH different than what we have today.
For example, the Gnostic story of Adam and Eve isn't misogynistic (man created woman from his rib etc) and the snake enlightens the couple, thereby revealing to them the "true" God.
These Gospels include the Gospel According to Mary Magdalene, whom the Gnostics said was Jesus' wife (and not a prostitute as per the Orthodox). In the Gospel of Mary, Levi tells Peter: "Surely the Savior knows her very well. That is why he loved her more than us." Similar is said in the Gnostic Gospel of Peter.
Eventually historians won't be able to ignore the real history (or lack thereof) of Jesus. He could have been altogether contrived as was common at this time in history. Historians will have to face up to evidence of that at some point as well.
I hope Jesus is real, either the Orthodox or the Gnostic works for me, because he and St. Stephen have so eloquently discredited the historical fascism of the Catholic Church, its Protestant replica, and particularly its more extremist, conservative followers:
48 "However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet (Isaiah) says:
49" 'Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?
50 Has not my hand made all these things?'
(Acts, vi, 48-50)
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business.
15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade."
17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house will consume me." 18 The Jews then said to him, "What sign have you to show us for doing this?"
19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
20 The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?"
21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did;
24 but Jesus did not trust himself to them,
25 because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man.
(John 2:13-25)
And I wonder if anyone ever mentioned that a cross might qualify as a "carved image," i.e. an idol, or that Jesus might qualify as a god put before "God".... and what about all the murdering and stealing the Church has engaged in over hundreds of years?...
Isn't it time to revisit the historical Jesus and reject the abomination that is the Church? What say you historians?
The Gnostics (not to be mistaken for the modern Gnostic wanna-bes who can be a bit groovy to say the least) espoused "Christhood" which basically means that everyone can and should try to achieve something like "Nirvana" or getting close to the essence of the universe through self-enlightenment.
Ok, anyway.... cool news huh! Peace.