WAS JESUS MARRIED?Whats your View on that?

Question

WAS JESUS MARRIED?

A QUICK FACT SHEET



SUGGESTIVE EVIDENCE

1. The marriage of Jesus Christ is a taboo subject because most Christians regard it as an impious suggestion. They think this way because marriage implies sexuality, and sexuality is defiled in Christian dogma. A married Christ is rejected for theological reasons, not because of historical facts which may disprove the thesis.

2. While the New Testament "appears" to be silent on the subject, it was not until late in the 2nd Century, that any Christian leader denied that Jesus Christ was married. Justin Martyr and Clement of Alexandria believed that a married Jesus was inconsistent with His role as the Savior of the world, not that marriage would have Him sinful, but rather, that His mission was too demanding and heavenly to allow Him the opportunity for marriage.

3. All later references in the Patristic writings show the Church Fathers following the same pattern: they deny that Jesus was married based upon the supposed silence of the Scriptures and doctrinal problems which were inconsistent with the Church's dogma (e.g. a celibate priesthood, the ritual defilement of seminal emissions, etc.).

4. There was a 2nd Century tradition among various heretical sects which taught that Jesus was married. Clement and others may have been reacting to those movements.

5. Although he didn't say one way or the other, Irenaeus' Doctrine of Recapitulation supports the notion of a married Savior. With a style similar to the Druids, Irenaeus, another 2nd Century leader, taught that Jesus Christ symbolically entered every critical stage of human existence and sanctified it. Since family life, including sexuality, is central to our lives, it seems logically consistent with the mission of a Savior to redeem and sanctify this aspect of our experience, as well.

6. In their dispute with Augustine, the Celtic Pelagians argued that the Atonement of Christ cancelled Original Sin. If Original Sin was, as Augustine argued, a sexually transmitted disease of the soul, then Christ has reversed the process and made it a transmitter of healing, health, and virtue.

7. In keeping with the Creeds of the Church, the offspring of Christ would not have represented a "divine race". The Creeds teach that Christ had two natures: one human and one divine, without mingling and without confusion. Since procreation is a human function, we can reasonably say that the children of Jesus would have been just as human as any other human being.

INDIRECT EVIDENCE

1. Jewish customs of Jesus' day required married Rabbis. Unmarried men were considered a curse to Jewish society. Jesus would not have had much credibility as a leader had He not been married. Although Jesus was a non-conformist and had many conflicts with Jewish tradition, His parents, Joseph and Mary, were not. The Bible says that they were careful to perfectly obey the laws of their people. It also says that Jesus was "subject unto them". Since Jewish culture practiced arranged marriages and early marriage, as well (a Jewish boy was marriageable at age 16), it is reasonable to assume that Jesus' parents would have performed their parental duties faithfully and arranged a bride for the young Jesus. There are 18 silent years in His life (12 - 30). The Gospel of John tells us that there were many other things which Jesus did which have not been recorded.

This point is important because it shifts the weight of presumption. Given the cultural milieu in which Jesus lived and the supporting Biblical evidence, the burden of proof lies with those who do not believe Jesus was married. They must show why Jesus and His parents would have been derelict in their civic responsibilities and not contracted a marriage.

2. According to Josephus, descendants of the House of David felt a moral obligation to perpetuate their line, never knowing which one among their descendants would be the chosen Messiah. Jesus may or may not have known who He was, but regardless, He lived as a normal person until called by the ministry of John the Baptist.





DIRECT EVIDENCE

1. Hippolytus, a Christian leader from the late 2nd Century, was followed by Origen in the 3rd Century in saying that the Song of Solomon was a prophecy of a marital union between Christ and Mary Magdalene. Although they believed Mary was symbolic of the Church, nevertheless, the notion presupposed a real, albeit a spiritual (meaning non-sexual), marriage between Mary and Jesus.

2. There are hints scattered in the Gospels of a special relationship between Jesus and Mary. If she is the same Mary of Bethany in John 11, then we can explain why Martha arose to greet Jesus and not Mary. Some scholars say she was sitting shiva according to Jewish custom. "Shiva" was when a woman was in mourning. Married women were not allowed to break-off from their mourning unless called by their husbands. In this story, Mary does not come to Jesus, until He calls her.

· At the Resurrection, when Mary meets Jesus in the Garden, there is a degree of intimacy (see the Aramaic here) which one would expect between lovers, not friends.

· The Greek word for "woman" and "wife" is the same. Translators must rely upon the context in deciding how to translate it. Sometimes, the translation is arbitrary. When Mary is referred to as a "woman" who followed Jesus, it can just as easily be translated as "wife".

4. The story of Mary with the alabaster jar anointing the feet of Jesus is cited by some scholars as the most direct witness to their marriage. It is in all four Gospels and was a story in which Jesus gave express command that it be preserved. This ceremony was an ancient one among many royal houses in the ancient world, which sealed the marital union between the king and his priestess spouse. We find it mentioned briefly in the Song of Solomon. Although we may not understand its significance, Jesus and Mary knew exactly what they were doing. To be the valid Messiah, He had to be anointed first by the Bride. They were by-passing the corrupt Jewish establishment.

There is more support for the marital status of Jesus. However, it involves a discussion of the Old Testament prophets which would be too tedious to undertake, here. It is important to realize, however, that belief in a married Jesus does not require any more faith than a resurrected Jesus. And if you know where to look, you can find just as much biblical evidence for both.


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Recommended reading: Was Jesus Married?, by William E. Phipps, Harper & Row, 1970

The Woman with the Alabaster Jar, by Margaret Starbird, Bear & Company, 1993


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The above is taken from Hierogamy & the Married Messiah which is now available. It is the most complete analysis of the "married Jesus" doctrine to date.


http://www.grailchurch.org/marriedjesus.htm

To Astrid:Quran does't mention his marraige or says he was not married

Answer 1

Wow, good research! The Bible itself does not say if He was married or had children. It probably would have mentioned something about it if that were the case. I assume this is in support of the Da Vinci Code and the grail being Mary Magdalene.
If there is/was a fleshly lineage, there is the probability that they would not possess the power of God. The fact is that to most Christians it doesn't really matter if He was. Here is another passage to consider;

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Another thing that Christians believe is that through Christ, all believers become Children of God, with some amazing things being done through them by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit within the believer that is proof of who Christ is, and that we are one with Him and the Father.

John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name

1 Corinthians 6:17
But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

The lineage continues....

Answer 2

1. The marriage of Jesus Christ is a taboo subject because most Christians regard it as an impious suggestion. They think this way because marriage implies sexuality, and sexuality is defiled in Christian dogma. A married Christ is rejected for theological reasons, not because of historical facts which may disprove the thesis.

I am only really going to reply to this one because within the answer to it is the answer to the entire question

The fact is that real Christians could care less weather Jesus was married or not. Christianity does not defile or think that sex within marriage is anything but a direct gift from God. In the Bible God created Man and Woman and instituted marriage right from the start. Jesus himself blesses the wedding feast of Cana as the site of His first miracle, so any suggestion that Christianity is not in favor of marriage or sex is just plain wrong.

As to weather Jesus was married, the Gospel does not say He was. Granted they do not say he wasn’t but you would think they would mention it.

But even given that they did not how would it change the story if He was?

Would He not have died?
Would He not have taken the sins of Mankind upon Himself?
Would His death be any less real?
Would He not have risen on the Third Day and thereby redeemed Mankind?
Would He not even now stand as the only true intercessor between God and Man?
Would He not cover us in His righteousness and thereby enable us to escape the wraith of God?

All of the things that matter when it comes to Jesus would still be true. He would still God and Savior

It matters very little to the Christian story if Jesus married or not.

Personally I do not think he was because the Gospel would have almost certainly mentioned it. But If He was He would still be my God

And somewhere deep inside I almost wish He was, heaven knows that the Son of Man had little joy in His life amongst us As He himself said "The fox has its borrows but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head" If it was married and it brought Him some small joy, why would any one want to deny the Lord that?

But as I said it is unlikely and it just does not matter

Answer 3

Any jw or former knows that they must keep Jesus subjugated under the GOD FATHER Jehovah. For some reason they cannot fathom how an original God Almighty, could pull from his own loins loins (so to speak) a SON GOD that was the EXACT same substance as father God. Your example does not go far enough, the bible tells us in the first two chapters just where this SON GOD or Word stood with his father. Father God said simply stated "let us make man in OUR image", could he have said it any clearer? Not the angels image, but us OUR image God's image. All the scriptures that jw use to subjugate Jesus as somehow not a REAL God or one that should be worshiped, were spoken by Jesus while in the flesh and blood body of a man. Of course he was less than GOD he was a man! There is no question about it, Jehovah's Witnesses have twisted scripture to uphold a doctrine so convoluted that they must deny what Hebrews chapter 1 clearly says about GODS SON not being any sort of angel. They will not comment on that chapter, ignorance is much more acceptable when it comes to trying to uphold what Watchtower men have decided who GOD HIMSELF is.

Answer 4

A little too much said...

And in the end, I don't think we know, or will know, until He comes again (or shortly thereafter). I would hope he was, seeing that marriage and procreation was always such a big thing in religion and God's plan. That being said, I don't think about trivial matters much, but stick to the basics, which I still need help with.

Answer 5

Islam has no accounts of Jesus' marriage. However, Muslim scholars unanimously agree that even if he did marry, that's not a fault or a flaw, as many prophets of God before him did marry and marriage itself is a virtue in the eyes of God.

Peace and Love

Answer 6

Great, another conspiracy theorist. No point in arguing facts or evidence, since I see that you have made up your own mind already.

However, if Jesus WAS married, why didn't the Bible just say so? "Christian Dogma" is based on the Bible, not the other way around.....

Answer 7

The scriptures did not mention it,
To make any opinion on the matter is just speculation with no prove.

Answer 8

I don't think he was. It's not written on Bible or Quran (Muslim believe that Jesus was not married either).

Answer 9

If Jesus was married, trust me, we would know. His purpose on earth was NOT to pro-create, it was to be the ultimate sacrifice for everyone.

Answer 10

He was not. Christians know that it is a lie.