The Wife of Jesus: Ancient Texts and Modern Scandals

by Anthony Le Donne

Overview

The idea that Jesus was married continues to fascinate. Look no further than Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code for evidence. Or indeed Harvard Professor Karen King’s recent ‘discovery’ of the so called Gospel of Jesus’ Wife — a piece of ancient papyrus that made the explosive suggestion in 2012 that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were man and wife. But most who address the topic either dismiss the possibility or propound conspiracy theories, often of Christian origins.

Approaching the subject from a fresh, historical perspective and without appealing to sensationalist stories or dismissing Jesus’ sexuality on theological grounds, Le Donne places Jesus firmly within his sociocultural context. By investigating gender and marriage norms – as well as a number of social outliers who defied them — he provocatively argues that Jesus was most likely married to a woman, before he was the church. It is a quest that illuminates the humanity of Jesus, while also revealing important connections between ancient sexuality and modern spirituality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780743059
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	11/12/2013
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.32(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Anthony Le Donne is a visiting lecturer at the University of the Pacific, California. He completed his Ph.D at Durham University, England, in 2007 and his books include The Historiographical Jesus: Memory, Typology, and the Son of David and Historical Jesus: What Can We Know and How Can We Know It? He lives in Sebastopol, CA.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations viii

Foreword ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction: The Quest(ion) of the Wife of Jesus 1

1 According to the Flesh 9

2 Substance and Shadow 25

3 Something about Mary 40

4 Mrs. Christ 53

5 Smithing Jesus 69

6 From Persia, with Love 91

7 Average Joe 106

8 Alternative Lifestyle 118

9 Bride of Christ 130

10 Was Jesus Married? 147

Afterword: Portraits and Mirrors 163

Notes 167

Bibliography 191

References Index 200

Subject Index 204

Editorial Reviews

2013-10-28
Refreshingly balanced and sober look at the controversial question, "Was Jesus married?" While authors both popular and scholarly have spent the past several years taking heated sides on this controversial topic, Le Donne (Historical Jesus, 2011, etc.) smartly walks a middle road. He is clear from the outset that given what little we have in solid, original texts, no one can ever know with certainty if Jesus had a wife. The best we can do is to make educated guesses. However, the author also wisely points out that some theories are more valid than others. Early in his work, Le Donne does readers a service by tracing the history of Mary Magdalene's reputation, arguing that modern writers abuse her memory as much as misogynistic medieval churchmen did when branding her a prostitute. The idea that Magdalene may have been Jesus' wife--a theory made tremendously popular by Dan Brown--had its origins in Nikos Kazantzakis' The Last Temptation of Christ (1953). It is a thoroughly modern interpretation of Magdalene's role, and Le Donne believes that various ancient sources backing up this assertion are easily rendered moot when viewed in their historical contexts. Nevertheless, the author points out that there are many reasons for assuming that Jesus was, at some point at least, married. Quite simply, it would have been highly unusual for a Jewish man in that period not to be married, and in fact in an arranged marriage. A cultural ideal of "civic masculinity" would have dictated this course of action. Still, Le Donne allows that Jesus' many countercultural stances make it quite possible that he may have eschewed marriage altogether. Despite a subject matter that is sure to be provocative, Le Donne manages not to take sides but also reminds readers that our ideas on Jesus' sexuality and marital status show more about us than they do about him. A welcome resource and fresh voice.

Kirkus Reviews

09/15/2013
Relying on the cultural norms defined by rabbinic teachings of Jesus's time, Le Donne (religious studies, Univ. of the Pacific; The Historiographical Jesus) ultimately argues in favor of a married Jesus. This book is at its best when examining first-century marriage norms and ascetic practices to determine how either a married or a celibate Jesus would fit into his culture. However, the author loses his way while trying to assess historical concepts of Jesus's sexual identity (including digressions into third-century Palestine, eighth-century Persia, medieval Europe, and 19th-century America). Additionally, he repeatedly attempts to incorporate modern popular culture references into the discussion (e.g., Elton John, the Dave Matthews Band, The Big Lebowski, The Last Temptation of Christ), but this serves more to interrupt than to enhance his narrative. There are too many tangents outside of the framework of the main theme. VERDICT The sociocultural study of Jesus's world helps to contextualize the debate, but the treatment of this evidence is ultimately too superficial and uncritical. Those curious about the controversy and its relationship to modern sexual issues may find a valuable introduction (although few answers) in this book.—Fred Poling, Long Beach City Coll. Lib., CA

Library Journal