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Was Jesus Married?

 

Lost GospelOnce again the claim is being made that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, and  together they had two children. This time the claim is made in a book by the self-described “Naked Archaeologist,” Simcha Jacobovici, and Barrie Wilson, professor of religious studies at York University in Toronto. The book is entitled The Lost Gospel: Decoding the Ancient Text that Reveals Jesus’ Marriage to Mary the Magdalene (HarperCollins, 2014). First, this document has not been lost. The “lost Gospel” is actually a well known novella from the first 500 years of the common era known as Joseph and Aseneth. It has been the subject of hundreds of scholarly articles. It is found in every standard collection of Jewish documents known as the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. Only the Dead Sea Scrolls have been studied more than this collection of Jewish writings. Mark Goodacre, professor at Duke University, hosts a website dedicated to the story. Here is a link to the story:

 http://www.markgoodacre.org/aseneth/translat.htm

 Here is a link to the Aseneth home page:

 http://markgoodacre.org/aseneth/

Joseph and Aseneth is a story inspired by the Joseph narratives in Genesis (chs 36-50). It’s a story of a Jewish boy who made good because God was with him. On his way to becoming vicegerent of Egypt (that is, second-in-command) he was given many gifts including the beautiful Aseneth. The story of Joseph and Asenath is an account of how they met, how he wooed her, and how they eventually fell in love, married, and had two children, Ephraim and Manasseh. Like Daniel it is a story to inspire Jews to remain faithful to the One, True God when surrounded by hostile forces and “pagans.” Like Ruth it is story that celebrates the conversion of a woman to the faith of Israel. So let’s be clear. It is not a Gospel. It doesn’t claim to be a Gospel or Jesus book of any kind. Simcha and Barrie want us to read it as an allegory. So every time you see Joseph (wink, wink) think of Jesus. Every time the text reads Aseneth (wink, wink) it’s really talking about Mary Magdalene. That’s a load of rubbish or as Diarmaid MacCulloch, an Oxford University professor told the Sunday Times: “it sounds like the deepest bilge.”

There is no credible evidence from contemporary sources that Jesus was ever married. But let us suppose there was married. There is no shame in marriage. The Hebrew and Christian tradition affirm the goodness of marriage as an institution ordained by God. Being married is no sin nor does it disqualify a person from God’s service. Likewise there is no shame in having children. Again, both Hebrew and Christian traditions affirm that children are a blessing from the Almighty! I am no systematic theologian, so I don’t mind being corrected on this, but I see no point of doctrine that would be compromised if it could be proven that Jesus of Nazareth married. Still there simply is no evidence from historical sources that he was.

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Slow to Judge

Last week I had the great honor of flying to Nashville to present at the sales conference for Harper Collins Christian Publishing (Zondervan & Thomas Nelson).  I spoke briefly on the topic of a book I have coming out next summer with Thomas Nelson entitled Slow to Judge: Sometimes It’s OK to Listen.  The book is about a lot of things, but it is especially about the problem Christians have of being judgmental and being perceived as anti-this and anti-that.  Too often Christians are defined by what they are “against.”

An early version of the cover art for SLOW TO JUDGE
An early version of the cover art for SLOW TO JUDGE

The big idea in this book is that it is possible to stand up for your faith, bear witness to it, defend it against detractors and yet not do so in a judgmental way because we have taken James’ advice: be quick to listen and slow to speak.

The book is part of the Refraction Series.  Here is a link to 2 minute video on YouTube about the series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omBd_s13jfI

If you are interested in culture and faith, then you will want to track this series.  The first book is already out: How to Pick up a Stripper and Other Acts of Kindness by Todd Stephens.  A second book is out as well: The Reluctant Journey: Fulfilling God’s Purpose for You by Richard Leslie Parrott.

Slow to Judge is scheduled to release next summer.  I hope you’ll look for it particularly if you find yourself up close and personal with Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and people from an assortment of faiths or no faith at all. It is chocked full of Scripture and events which have taken place over the last 30-40 years.  We’re living in interesting times. Here are my chapter titles:

Chapter 1        A Listening Heart

Chapter 2        “Do Not Judge” . . . Really?

Chapter 3        A Book by Its Cover

Chapter 4        Love & Forgiveness

Chapter 5        Homophobia, Islamophobia, Christophobia

Chapter 6        The Problem with Tolerance

Chapter 7        Authentic Tolerance

Chapter 8        Listening to a Muslim: Fetullah Gülen

Chapter 9        Listening to the Pagans: C. S. Lewis

From time to time I’ll share an excerpt from the book.  In the meantime watch for the Refraction Series.  The goal of the series is to help align God’s people with God’s purposes. My own effort has grown out of a radio show I co-host called “A Show of Faith.”  It airs Sunday evenings 7 to 9 pm (Central time) on 1070 KNTH The Answer out of Houston.  But, you can listen live weekly via the Internet or on the I Heart Radio app.

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Is There a Better Word than “Lord”?

 

Recently, I gave the Hayward Lectures at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.  My topic was “Paul’s KYRIOS Christology.”  Kyrios is a Greek word most often translated “Lord” in English Bible translations.  Paul uses the word about 200 times in his letters to refer to his Lord, Jesus Christ.  On a few occasions he used the word in reference to God, the Father. The word can be used of people as well who possess some sort of recognized, superior status, a king, a master of slave, for example. logo_kyrios

One night after the lecture during the Q&A time, someone asked a good question. It had to do with the English word “lord” or “Lord” as a translation of Kyrios.  The fellow knew about The Voice translation and he appreciated that we had tried to find new words and associations which communicate well to a modern audience.  We translated words like Christos as “the Anointed” rather than “Christ.”  We translated apostolos as “emissary” rather than “apostle.” So he asked, is there a better word than “Lord” to translate kyrios?

The word “Lord” was used first to translate kyrios and other biblical words for English-speaking audiences in the middle ages when the upper classes were referred to as “my lord” or “my lady” by those who occupied lower status.  Given the sensibilities of the modern world, the fellow wondered whether there was a better word.  Though those titles are still used in some societies, they are rare in many countries including the United States.  They have lost currency in many places. The use of “Lord” is restricted to religious language most often referring to God, Christ or, in some cases, the Holy Spirit.  For some “Lord” functions as a name or title for God.

Well, I had no answer. No one had ever asked me that question before so I had never thought about it.  I’m embarrassed to admit I had no response given the fact that we rethought so many of the other key religiously-laden words. I’m still puzzling over it.  I’d be interested in your thoughts.  Is there a better word than “Lord” to translate kyrios in modern English? It would have to have the right meaning and sets of associations. It would need to convey the idea that the person holding the title had supreme authority and power.   Since it is most often used in the New Testament as a title for Jesus linking him with the One, True God, it must be an appropriate honorific (fancy word for “title”) for the Liberating King. I’m hard pressed to come up with anything. If we put our heads together, I bet we can think of something.  Then again, maybe not?!

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Michael Bird’s Review of THE VOICE translation

Dr. Michael F. Bird is a well known New Testament scholar.  When I met him a few years ago, he was teaching at Highland Theological College in northern Scotland.  Since then he has taken a prestigious post in Australia at Ridley Melbourne College.  Recently, he offered some reflections on The Voice translation.  Mike Bird

Here is his review: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/euangelion/2014/10/reflections-on-the-voice-bible/

Dr. Bird is an able commentator on culture and Scripture.  Look for his books and blogs.  In addition, he is one of the funniest people I’ve met, especially among scholars who tend to be a rather dour lot.  While Dr. Bird takes his subject seriously, he doesn’t take himself too seriously.   One person has called him the Conan O’Brien of evangelical scholars.

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One God, One Lord

In a few weeks I’ll fly to Nova Scotia to give a series of lectures at Acadia Divinity School.  The lecture series is known as the Hayward Lectures.  Some of the best scholars in the world have been invited to give the Hayward Lectures.  I’m not sure why they invited me.  I’m not being modest.  I’m being truthful.  The list of past lecturers is a veritable “Who’s Who” in biblical studies: N. T. Wright, James D. G. Dunn, John Stackhouse, John J. Collins, Edith Humphreys, Emmanuel Tov, James Charlesworth,  just to name a few.  So I’m honored to be part of this series. Acadia Divinity College

My topic is academic but it has to do with what it meant for early Christians to call Jesus “Lord.”  Where did the title come from?  What did they mean by it?  One of the passages I’m considering in the lectures is 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 (from The Voice):

And even if the majority believes there are many so-called gods in heaven and on earth (certainly many worship such “gods” and “lords”), this is not our view. 6 For us, there is one God, the Father who is the ultimate source of all things and the goal of our lives. And there is one Lord—Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King; through Him all things were created, and by Him we are redeemed.

The passage is Paul’s unique modification of a Jewish prayer and confession known as the Shema: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One” (Deut 6:4).

Paul’s expanded-Shema acknowledges the unfortunate reality of idolatry in the world and then trumps the claim that the world is populated with many so-called gods and lords.  They may be called “gods,” but “gods” they ain’t (if I can borrow a southern expression).  They may be called “lords,” but “lords” they ain’t.  For us (Christ-believers) there is One God, the Father, the source and goal of all reality, and One Lord, Jesus Christ, the agent of creation and redemption.

The confession Paul makes is properly-speaking binitarian.  It sees the two—God, the Father, and Lord, Jesus Christ—in unity.  The two are one.  We are not dealing with any sort of primitive ditheism, that is, two separate and distinct gods.  As a Jew Paul was an exclusive monotheist but now—given all that the God of Abraham has been up to—he understood that Jesus somehow must be reckoned within God’s unique covenant identity.

We should not fail to notice that the title “Lord” here, associated as it is with Jesus, has its roots in the Shema.  Spoken versions of the prayer substituted Adonay (Lord) for the divine name out of reverence for the name, but it is clear the original contains the covenant name of God: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD (YHWH) is our God, the LORD (YHWH) is One” (Deut 6:4, my translation). In The Voice we translated  every occurrence of the divine name as “The Eternal One” or “Eternal One.”  You can read about that in earlier posts.

AcadiaDivinityThe link between YHWH and Jesus in Paul’s version is unmistakable and remarkable.  What makes it all the more remarkable is that Jesus is not a figure of the ancient past whose legend and stature build over the centuries, but a man who recently walked the earth with people Paul himself had met and knew (Galatians 1).  The claim is audacious.  The link—if it were a fiction—would be scandalous.