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Is it permissible to hold an office in the LDS Church and teach that Jesus had a wife (or wives) and children while on earth?
Almost 25 years ago (pre DaVinci Code) I did much of the same research as Dan Brown. My conclusion then and now is that the marriage of Jesus is not just possible but actually probable. I would be pleased to expand on that if there is any interest
I have a few questions.Some years ago following a scripture reading in which Jesus was addressed as "Rabbi", the minister made a comment to the effect that "at the time of Jesus all rabbis had to be married".
In addition, when the content of Jesus' teaching is examined, it is found to be for the most part in agreement with the Pharisaic teachings of his day.
Another possible interpretation of the word "Magdalene" is that it is derived from an Aramaic word meaning roughly "the most important".
I believe that you are correct.Aramaic point of order: "Magdalene" in Aramaic would have been /maḡdalayṯa/ (or /maḡdalaya/ in the masculine) which would have denoted her place of origin (i.e. Magdala in Galilee -- which comes from the word for "tower" or "fortress"). This is a locative name shared by others (such as Rabbi Yodan of Magdala in Bereshit Rabba, and Isaac of Magdala in the Babylonian Talmud).
It would not have meant "the most important," nor is there an Aramaic word -- at least that I know of -- that is close to it that would mean "the most important."
You are reading Rabbinic Judaism into the NT which is generally anachronistic. We do know that there were Jewish ascetics living in the first century, St Paul was one of them. John the Baptist another.Some years ago following a scripture reading in which Jesus was addressed as "Rabbi", the minister made a comment to the effect that "at the time of Jesus all rabbis had to be married".
The same is true of St Paul, remember. He studied under the famous Gamiel and still prided himself on being celibate.when the content of Jesus' teaching is examined, it is found to be for the most part in agreement with the Pharisaic teachings of his day.
Well, to be quite frank Judaism is a Hellenism. The ancient Mediterranean was much more a complex conglomerate of cultures than is generally acknowledged. One can look into the ancient Jewish world for anti-sex motifs just as one can look into the Hellenic world, at times the two were one and the same (as in the case with Middle Platonism).It is also worth noting that the antisex, antifemale, provirginity attitude that quickly developed in the Gentile branch of the early church was the product of the strong influence of Greek philosophy and not the result of any authentic teaching of Jesus himself.
This is true and something that very many feminist theologians have sought to recapture, however this doesn't suggest that she was Jesus' wife. And the feminist theologians would cringe at the thought of Mary's importance necessitating marriage. She was simply more worthy of the title of Apostle than any of the men.Early Christian writers have sometimes referred to her as "Mary the Great" and also as the “Apostle to the Apostles”. Why should such importance be attached to this woman?
James Talmage thought he was married
To you maybe but what importance did they have at the time of Christ and after? You don't know. Christ quoted from books that are not found in he bible. Where are thy? Why wouldn't they be included? Are they lost or were they destroyed by evil men?You are reading Rabbinic Judaism into the NT which is generally anachronistic. We do know that there were Jewish ascetics living in the first century, St Paul was one of them. John the Baptist another.
The same is true of St Paul, remember. He studied under the famous Gamiel and still prided himself on being celibate.
Well, to be quite frank Judaism is a Hellenism. The ancient Mediterranean was much more a complex conglomerate of cultures than is generally acknowledged. One can look into the ancient Jewish world for anti-sex motifs just as one can look into the Hellenic world, at times the two were one and the same (as in the case with Middle Platonism).
This is true and something that very many feminist theologians have sought to recapture, however this doesn't suggest that she was Jesus' wife. And the feminist theologians would cringe at the thought of Mary's importance necessitating marriage. She was simply more worthy of the title of Apostle than any of the men.
Your subsequent points about the Nag Hammadi library are historically baseless, with the exception of the Gospel of Thomas there is virtually no historicity in any of the other gospels there.
In conclusion, no historians, even secular and feminist historians, think that Jesus was married. Whether he died a virgin or not is not something a historian can be certain of though.
There was a massive conspiracy. It's called the Great Apostasy and all us Catholics are in on it... Sorry...To you maybe but what importance did they have at the time of Christ and after? You don't know. Christ quoted from books that are not found in he bible. Where are thy? Why wouldn't they be included? Are they lost or were they destroyed by evil men?
What are you specifically referring to?To you maybe but what importance did they have at the time of Christ and after? You don't know. Christ quoted from books that are not found in he bible. Where are thy? Why wouldn't they be included? Are they lost or were they destroyed by evil men?