A controversial piece of papyrus that references the wife of Jesus is indeed ancient, according to recent dating results.
Since Harvard professor of divinity Karen L. King publicized the so-called “Gospel of Jesus’s Wife” in 2012, scientists and theologians have fiercely debated the authenticity of the fragment — the only known papyrus containing the words “Jesus said to them, my wife.” Biblical scholars have argued that the 1- by 3-inch chunk of papyrus is modern, “oddly written” and a “clumsy forgery.” But results from recent chemical and handwriting analyses say otherwise.
Proving Its Authenticity
Scientists used a technique called micro-Raman spectroscopy, which measures the way objects scatter photons from a laser, to determine the chemical composition of the ink used to write the “Gospel of Jesus’s Wife.” The chemical composition of the ink dated back to between the sixth and ninth centuries, or earlier, and matched other samples from the same time period.
A second study examined the fragment’s handwriting to verify its authenticity. King, at Harvard Divinity School, weighed all the evidence and concluded that the fragment is likely a product of early Christians, not a forgery. The findings were presented in a series of studies published Thursday in the Harvard Theological Review.
Was Jesus Married?
King emphasized that the authenticity of the document is not proof that the historical Jesus was married. Rather, the fragment highlights an ongoing debate among early Christians regarding women and discipleship.
“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 explained Thursday in a news release.
Shrouded in Mystery
Despite this announcement, the fragment’s origins remain a mystery. The person who wrote the gospel is unknown, and the person who gave it to King in 2011 wished to remain anonymous. So it looks like this case is anything but closed.
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