You are here: Home » Education »

Harvard Theological Review Hesitating on “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife”?

Share this Article

Author:

Black Church News™

Harvard University says it hasn’t committed to publishing research that purportedly shows some early Christians believed Jesus had a wife even though its divinity school touted the research during a publicity blitz this week.

The research centers on a fourth-century papyrus fragment containing Coptic text in which Jesus uses the words “my wife.” On Tuesday, Harvard Divinity School professor Karen King announced at an international conference that the fragment was the only existing ancient text in which Jesus explicitly talks of having a wife.

Harvard also said King’s research was scheduled to be published in the Harvard Theological Review in January and noted the journal was peer-reviewed, which implied the research had been fully vetted.

But on Friday, the review’s co-editor Kevin Madigan said he and his co-editor had only “provisionally” committed to a January publication, pending the results of the ongoing studies. In an email, Madigan said the added studies include “scientific dating and further reports from Coptic papyrologists and grammarians.”

After Tuesday’s announcement, The Associated Press raised questions about the fragment’s authenticity and provenance, quoting scholars at the international congress on Coptic studies in Rome, where King delivered the paper. The scholars said the fragment’s grammar, form and content raised several red flags. Alin Suciu, a papyrologist at the University of Hamburg, flatly called it a “forgery.”

Boston University archaeologist Ricardo Elia said Friday that the Harvard Theological Review should delay publication until the fragment’s owner and origins are more clearly documented. Read More

Source:http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2012/09/22/harvard-theological-review-hesitating-on-gospel-of-jesus-wife/

Click here to cancel reply.

Other Stories

Feature Uncategorized
Higher Education Grants of Interest to African-Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education. Historically Black Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, received a $100,000 grant from DEX Imaging Inc. The grant will fund a scholarship program for Meharry’s School of Graduate Studies and Research, including four scholarships for students in the school’s master of science in public health degree program. The Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, received a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The grant will fund the Carolinas Alcohol and Drug Resources (CADRE) program that will target racial and ethnic minorities, and particularly African Americans, for HIV and hepatitis testing and for substance abuse treatment. Historically Black Fayetteville State University in North Carolina received a $100,000 grant from the Smithfield-Luter Foundation of Smithfield, Virginia. The grant will fund a scholarship program for children and grandchildren of employees of Smithfield Foods who attend the university. Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, received a three-year, $902,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for a program to train instructors to teach computer science courses in schools in the predominantly Black Hartford public school system that [...]

Read more →
Feature
Kwanzaa: An African-American cultural celebration

Wednesday, Dec. 26, marks the first day of Kwanzaa, a non-religious celebration of African-American culture. Kwanzaa lasts for seven days, ending on Jan. 1. Kwanzaa, which means “first fruits of the harvest” in Swahili, was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga and focuses on family, community and culture. Though gifts are exchanged and a feast is enjoyed, Kwanzaa is not to be mistaken as a substitute for Christmas. Instead, it is an affirmation of seven guiding principles, based on the “Nguzo Saba” (“Seven Principles”). These principles pay tribute to our ancestors and culture while reaffirming community values. The seven principles : Umoja (oo-MO-jah): Unity Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah): Self-determination Ujima (oo-GEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah): Cooperative economics Nia (NEE-yah): Purpose Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity Imani (ee-MAH-nee): Faith As with any holiday tradition, there are items used in the celebration. The most familiar symbol of Kwanzaa is the “Kinara,” which is similar to, but not to be confused with, the Menorah used in the Jewish celebration of Hanukah. The Kinara holds seven candles while the Menorah holds nine. The seven candles of Kwanzaa are called “Mishumaa Saba,” featuring three green on the right, three red on the left and one black in the center. Each candle represents [...]

Read more →
Feature
Md. pastors were searching for solutions even before mass shooting

Long before a 20-year-old suspected gunman walked into a Connecticut elementary school and killed 20 small children and seven educators, several Washington area pastors had planned programs this weekend designed to help families often coping with violence. On Saturday, the Rev. Elwood Gray will oversee a Christmas party for soon-to-be-released inmates at the Montgomery County Detention Center in Rockville. Also, in Glendale, former professional athletes will gather with pastors and a White House official for a town hall meeting on fatherhood. In terms of what happened in Newton, Conn., Gray said mass killings involving children are very hard to deal with in terms of the community. “This hard because these children have not had the opportunity to go through life to go through school,” said Gray, who has worked in prison ministries for more than three decades. “Incidents like this show us how frail life is and how it could be snuffed out at any moment.” Gray said when one looks at incidents like school shooting, there is a pattern because, in many cases, the shooter will either take his life or put himself in a position to be killed. Read More Source:http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/under-god/post/md-pastors-were-searching-for-solutions-even-before-mass-shooting/2012/12/14/1eae8296-4640-11e2-9648-a2c323a991d6_blog.html

Read more →
Feature
Hoping for A SPARK of Genius

FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1, KJV) What does that mean in 2012, mainly to an entrepreneur like me? Especially, when you feel like every day is spent hoping… Hoping that the investors you reached out to return your calls, hoping that your concept doesn’t get lost in trying to make ends meet…just hoping! Well for me, hope is all that I have! It’s the fuel that runs my creativity. It is the spark that ignites my fire, and most of all it’s the substance that keeps my dreams ALIVE. I believe that everyone is created with a spark of genius that is special to them alone. That spark once discovered and meticulously developed will bring that person much success; and those they share it with much joy. That spark can be identified as the one thing that gets you extremely excited when you do it; and others compliment you on it so much that you disregard it. Its simplicity is often overshadowed by the many things that you are “trying” to do, to fit into what society says you should be doing at the stage which you’re in right now. Your spark more often than not will be unconventional [...]

Read more →
Feature
Obama Proclamation On World Aids Day 2012

On World AIDS Day, more than 30 years after the first cases of this tragic illness were reported, we join the global community once more in standing with the millions of people who live with HIV/AIDS worldwide. We also recommit to preventing the spread of this disease, fighting the stigma associated with infection, and ending this pandemic once and for all. In 2010, my Administration released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, our Nation’s first comprehensive plan to fight the domestic epidemic. The Strategy aims to reduce new infections, increase access to care, reduce health disparities, and achieve a more coordinated national response to HIV/AIDS here in the United States. To meet these goals, we are advancing HIV/AIDS education; connecting stakeholders throughout the public, private, and non-profit sectors; and investing in promising research that can improve clinical outcomes and reduce therisk of transmission. Moving forward, we must continue to focus on populations with the highest HIV disparities — including gay men, and African American and Latino communities — and scale up effective, evidence-based interventions to prevent and treat HIV. We are also implementing the Affordable Care Act, which has expanded access to HIV testing and will ensure that all Americans, including those living with HIV/AIDS, have access to health insurance [...]

Read more →
Feature
A Thank You Letter, From A 1st Year Entrepreneur!

As Christmas trees are being mounted and the New York City streets begin to twinkle with crystal-like illumination; one thing that we can say is that Thanksgiving if officially over!! I don’t know about you, but Thanksgiving was especially emotional for me this year. I can’t remember a Thanksgiving time where I truly meant everything that I said I was thankful for. After enduring a year as a new entrepreneur, financial uncertainty, and Hurricane Sandy, I can honestly say that I meant everything I said that I was thankful for this year. It’s scary enough to be an entrepreneur in this ever-changing market, but to also endure one of history’s worst storms and to leave unscathed; I attribute it to nothing more than destiny. I excited in anticipation of what the future has in store for me. Recently, I was speaking to a family friend regarding her decision not to put up a Christmas tree or celebrate Christmas this year. To give you some background, she is a Christian and believes that Christmas is to be celebrated with friends and family. And, she spends countless hours every year decorating her home to welcome the holiday. She’s mounted her family Christmas tree every year since I [...]

Read more →
Feature
Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

BCN – Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays on the American calendar. Airports are usually filled, traffic is gruesome and grocery stores are a nightmare. The excitement of gathering with friends and family over a delicious spread of foods like stuffing, candy yams, vegetable and we can’t forget the turkey, makes your mouth water. The word Thanksgiving to me is broken up into two words that dictate what we all should do with our day. First, give THANKS!! We all feel that there is a lack of something in our lives. A lack of money, of security, of confidence and the list goes on. But the bible says “in EVERYTHING give THANKS.” So I give thanks to God for what he has provided for me and my family. It is so easy to sit and complain about what we don’t have, but we need to admit that where we are is much better than where we could have been. The second part of the word Thanksgiving is “GIVING.” This simply means that I need to give, not to myself, but to others. Opening your heart to someone who has a greater need than yourself, is key. I understand that my family is blessed [...]

Read more →
Feature
Helping Our Neighbors after Hurricane Sandy

BCN – On Thursday November 8th 2012, I volunteered with United Way of New York City in an effort to help some of the people still suffering in the after math of Hurricane Sandy. Like many others, I sat looking at the images of the hardest hit areas on the television in dismay and disbelief. These images often made me feel over whelmed and full of emotion. Those emotions led me to donate money to various organizations that were already in the disaster areas. But my inner voice (my spirit) would tell me to get out there and help those who are in great need. I finally started to do my research to figure out which organization i would roll up my sleeves and volunteer with. To my surprise, after filling out several volunteer applications online, many of the opportunities were already at capacity and closed. At that point I secretively said “well, at least I tried .” The next day a representative of one of the companies I applied to returned an email and asked for my assistance. As if God was telling me “you’re not done yet.” I quickly accepted and was on my way to Coney Island, Brooklyn. I assumed the position of [...]

Read more →
Feature
Four More Year for President Barack Obama

BCN – Last night, November 6th 2012, the country sat at the edge of their seats in front of their televisions waiting to find out who the 45th President of the United States of America would be. Although a close race, President Barack Obama won by a landslide and was re-elected as Commander – in- Chief of USA for the next four year. President Obama received 303 electoral votes and Mitt Romney only received 203, out of the 207 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. Check out his Victory Speech below: Written by Keba Cairo, BCN Contributor

Read more →
Feature
Voting vs. Hurricane Sandy

Today is “Super Tuesday!” The day that many rush to the polls to exercise their rights and to support the candidate they think will best run our country. But one week after Hurricane Sandy reeked havoc on the East Coast, many polling sites are either still without electricity, have been severely damaged, or are being used as a temporary shelter for victims of the storm. Governor Cuomo signed an executive order yesterdays which allowed voting Affidavit ballots. This meant that voters were able to go to polling sites outside of their district. The governor also allowed MTA buses to be used as shuttle service to take voters from damaged polling sites to alternate sites. With all these plans put into place to help gain the vote of those affected by the storm, do you think that the people will see voting as priority? Think about it, if your house was or is under water, all of you belongings were damaged and for the past week you’ve been cold and hungry without a home to settle into, would running to the polls be at the top of your priority list? Tell us what you think. Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter

Read more →