British New Testament scholar Professor Francis Watson of Durham University says the fragment of papyrus, suggesting that Jesus had a wife, is a hodgepodge of texts from the Gospel of Thomas. Professor Watson points out that the text has been constructed out of small pieces of words and phrases taken mostly out of context from the Coptic Gospel of Thomas.
Professor Watson believes that it is indisputable that he has shown how the papyrus was composed. He says, “I would be very surprised if it were not a modern forgery, although it was composed in this way in the fourth century.” Professor Watson argues that a line-break in the middle of one word on the fragment shows that the copy has been lifted from modern editions of the Gospel of Thomas.
Such manuscripts, including the gospel of Thomas, the gospel of Philip and the Secret Revelation of John, present the Gnostic version of Christianity which is radically different from the teachings of Christ and the Bible. Gnosticism is an ancient heresy which has found popular favor with many liberal Christians. The origins of this latest fragment are as yet unknown. It was received from an anonymous benefactor.
Related articles
- “Jesus’s wife” fragment judged fake, Harvard rejects (zionistoutrage.com)
Filed under: Bible, Christianity, History, Jesus Christ, Samuel A. Cain, Samuel at Gilgal Tagged: | Gnosticism, Gospel of Thomas
