'Ancient' script that suggested Jesus was married likely a forgery, says prof who first made it famous
The Washington Post and Postmedia Network
First posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 02:23 PM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 02:38 PM EDT
A Harvard professor who revealed what came to be know as "The Gospel of Jesus's Wife" now believes the ancient script might be a forgery.
The scrap of papyrus that included the words "Jesus said to them, My wife ..." attracted worldwide attention in 2012.
At the time, Professor Karen L. King, of Harvard University's Divinity School, said it was highly probably "that the fragment is an ancient text."
Harvard Theological Review editors agreed, authenticating it likely came from the sixth century or even earlier.
But questions have risen in the past couple of years over the original donor of the script, and historical inaccuracies in the documents that accompanied it.
"If you ask me today which direction am I leaning more toward - ancient text or a modern forgery - based on this new evidence, I'm leaning toward modern forgery," King told The Associated Press.
Professor Karen L. King had believed this fragment quoted Jesus referring to his wife. However, she now believes the document is a fake. (Karen L. King / Associated Press)
'Ancient' script that suggested Jesus was married likely a forgery, says prof wh
The Washington Post and Postmedia Network
First posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 02:23 PM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 02:38 PM EDT
A Harvard professor who revealed what came to be know as "The Gospel of Jesus's Wife" now believes the ancient script might be a forgery.
The scrap of papyrus that included the words "Jesus said to them, My wife ..." attracted worldwide attention in 2012.
At the time, Professor Karen L. King, of Harvard University's Divinity School, said it was highly probably "that the fragment is an ancient text."
Harvard Theological Review editors agreed, authenticating it likely came from the sixth century or even earlier.
But questions have risen in the past couple of years over the original donor of the script, and historical inaccuracies in the documents that accompanied it.
"If you ask me today which direction am I leaning more toward - ancient text or a modern forgery - based on this new evidence, I'm leaning toward modern forgery," King told The Associated Press.
Professor Karen L. King had believed this fragment quoted Jesus referring to his wife. However, she now believes the document is a fake. (Karen L. King / Associated Press)
'Ancient' script that suggested Jesus was married likely a forgery, says prof wh