A fragment of papyrus known as “The Gospel of Jesus’s Wife” is not a modern forgery – as was insinuated by the Vatican two years ago – and dates back to sometime between the Fourth and Eighth Centuries, according to scientific analysis.  The text seems to suggest that at least some ancient Christians believed Jesus was married, and raised debate over whether women should be ordained as priests.

Written in the Coptic language of Egypt of the time, it was likely copied from an earlier Greek text.  There are no complete sentences, and the lines read in part:

“Jesus said to them, ‘My wife...’ “

“She will be able to be my disciple..”

“I’m basically hoping that we can move past the issue of forgery to questions about the significance of this fragment for the history of Christianity, for thinking about questions like, ‘Why does Jesus being married, or not, even matter? Why is it that people had such an incredible reaction to this?’” said Harvard professor Karen L. King, who reintroduced the world to the papyrus at a conference in Rome 18 months ago.

The tests by professors at Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – prestigious institutions all – do not prove that the historical Jesus was married, or that the fragment was written in even more ancient times.  At four by eight centimeters, it’s splotchy, uses poor grammar, and its source is unknown.

The tests were good enough that Harvard Divinity School went ahead and published Professor King’s peer-reviewed research on the fragment.  She makes no claims about a “Bride of Christ”, but acknowledges that it’s possible.

Despite the multi-level analysis by respected scientists, Egyptology professor Leo Depuydt of Brown University insists the fragment is a modern-day forgery with modern-day political goals.

“Nothing is going to change my mind,” Depuydt said.

Res ipsa loquitor, Professor Depuydt.