Was Jesus ever married

Djamila said:

Yes, I don't know how the structure of these American denominations works. I've never heard of them existing in Europe. But the Roman Catholic Church in America had some of the most infamous sex scandals of the Roman Catholic world, and the... Anglican Church? Has that split because of the gay bishop. I forget the rest.

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We're overlapping each other's responses here

But as I said in my other response, the non-Catholic churches here in the US are not at all similar in structure to the Catholics.

But yes, there have been some very unfortunate and ugly scandals here, usually involving various levels of church leadership and children. This in no way implies that all priests are gay or that gay men join the priesthood to 'fit in' with society.

Djamila said:

like I'm being condescending? I make people so defensive and I really don't mean to.

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Maybe a little... but I think it's more of a misunderstanding of cultural and religious differences and misconceptions. I don't get the impression you are deliberately trying to go on the offensive

Snowbear said:

We're overlapping each other's responses here

But as I said in my other response, the non-Catholic churches here in the US are not at all similar in structure to the Catholics.

But yes, there have been some very unfortunate and ugly scandals here, usually involving various levels of church leadership and children. This in no way implies that all priests are gay or that gay men join the priesthood to 'fit in' with society.

Maybe a little... but I think it's more of a misunderstanding of cultural and religious differences and misconceptions than it is you deliberatly trying to go on the offensive

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In Europe it was just... saying gay men joined the Church to be accepted is like saying... housewives drank cough medicine to deal with life in the 30s. There was lots of cough medicine in everyone's cabinet, and there was lots of homosexuals in the church - can we say without a doubt the reasons for it, of course not. But it's generally accepted.

But paedophiles, I agree, have nothing to do with homosexuals. Homosexuals like men. Paedophiles like the androgenous bodies of small children, their non-sexual attributes is what paedophiles are attracted to and for most boys or girls work just as well.

Oh, my God - offensive, really? LOL Oy... I get defensive fairly easily. It takes me a while to notice if someone is trying to have an honest conversation with me or if they're just spouting their prejudice in polite ways, but I can say honestly I very rarely go on an offensive. My mind isn't closed, and I do enjoy discussing these things.

Djamila said:

Oh, my God - offensive, really? LOL Oy... I get defensive fairly easily. It takes me a while to notice if someone is trying to have an honest conversation with me or if they're just spouting their prejudice in polite ways, but I can say honestly I very rarely go on an offensive. My mind isn't closed, and I do enjoy discussing these things.

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Oh No!! I said I DON'T think you were deliberately trying to go on the offensive (In other words, I DON'T think you were attacking). It's not your style at all.

I know what you mean, though. I'm a pretty crappy communicator and folks quite often take my meaning to be the complete opposite of what I actually tried to say. Even just asking a question the wrong way gets perceived as an attack. It's been cause for some folks to take a pretty strong dislike to me on this board. Unfortunately, I'm not as good as you at defusing it, though.... so it usually just gets worse

Hahaha, oh I'm the same, Snowbear. I'm very stubborn. If I've been nothing but nice to someone, and they think I'm a horrid *****... lets just say I make sure their expectations are not dissappointed.

Djamila said:

If I've been nothing but nice to someone, and they think I'm a horrid *****... lets just say I make sure their expectations are not dissappointed.

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You too, huh?

I like to think that he was married. It helps me relate to him better. If I don't think of him as married, then he really seems untouchable to me. I have a lot of problems relating to Jesus, and thinking of him as married brings me closer to him. That's just me though.

exgirlfriend said:

I like to think that he was married. It helps me relate to him better. If I don't think of him as married, then he really seems untouchable to me. I have a lot of problems relating to Jesus, and thinking of him as married brings me closer to him. That's just me though.

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It's not just you. I feel the same way.

Halcyon said:

Jayhawker Soule said:

Out of curiosity, why would someone who presumably believes the Gospel of Matthew suddenly concern himself with evidence?

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What makes Matthew any less reliable than Luke or John?

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I do not believe I suggested such a thing. I personally find it to be somewhat more absurd, but certainly no less reliable.

The Orthodox Church does not, and never did, teach that St. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. She is one of our most important saints, is considered to have preached the Gospel both in Ephesus and to the Emperor (which is where the story behind our red Paschal eggs comes in) and was never considered to be the same person as the unnamed sinful woman. The conflation of the two women was the mistake of Pope St. Gregory the Great and whilst the idea became popular in the west it was never taken up in the east. St. Mat=ry Magdalene is, in fact, known as 'Equal to the Apostles'. Even if she had been a prostitute, though, this wouldn't have been a reason to denigrate her in any way. Another very important saint, Mary of Egypt, was a prostitute and St. Moses the Ethiopian was a bandit and murderer, both obviously prior to their conversions. We do not believe, though, and nor do I know of any evidence to suggest it (other than in some apocryphal Gnostic writings), that Christ was ever married to anyone, whether St. Mary Magdalene or anyone else.

James

JamesThePersian said:

We do not believe, though, and nor do I know of any evidence to suggest it (other than in some apocryphal Gnostic writings), that Christ was ever married to anyone, whether St. Mary Magdalene or anyone else.

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This again raises the interesting question: What constitutes probative evidence?

JamesThePersian said:

The Orthodox Church does not, and never did, teach that St. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. She is one of our most important saints, is considered to have preached the Gospel both in Ephesus and to the Emperor (which is where the story behind our red Paschal eggs comes in) and was never considered to be the same person as the unnamed sinful woman. The conflation of the two women was the mistake of Pope St. Gregory the Great and whilst the idea became popular in the west it was never taken up in the east. St. Mat=ry Magdalene is, in fact, known as 'Equal to the Apostles'. Even if she had been a prostitute, though, this wouldn't have been a reason to denigrate her in any way. Another very important saint, Mary of Egypt, was a prostitute and St. Moses the Ethiopian was a bandit and murderer, both obviously prior to their conversions. We do not believe, though, and nor do I know of any evidence to suggest it (other than in some apocryphal Gnostic writings), that Christ was ever married to anyone, whether St. Mary Magdalene or anyone else.

James

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Thanks for sharing that! It's nice to know!

Anade said:

I personally don't believe that Jesus was married because the Bible never says so. However, even if He was, it would not make a differance in my faith, so it does not really matter to me.

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These are my thoughts.

It makes more sense to me that he wasn't married...as he'll be returning for his "bride"...the church. It really wouldn't surprise me at all if Christ was an unmarried, virgin when he was crucified.

But as Anade has pointed out...whether he was or wasn't...it doesn't have any bearing on my faith.

JamesThePersian said:

We do not believe, though, and nor do I know of any evidence to suggest it (other than in some apocryphal Gnostic writings), that Christ was ever married to anyone, whether St. Mary Magdalene or anyone else.

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Actually, they don't. They refer to her as Jesus's companion, and say that he loved her more than other women. But they never refer to her as his wife, nor suggest anything more than platonic love.

Halcyon said:

Actually, they don't. They refer to her as Jesus's companion, and say that he loved her more than other women. But they never refer to her as his wife, nor suggest anything more than platonic love.

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I didn't say they stated the two were married. I said that they were the only evidence available for the belief that Christ was married to St. Mary Magdalene. I didn't say that it was good evidence, but poor evidence is still evidence and this, despite it's poverty, is used by the 'Jesus was married' crowd. I'm well aware of what the Gnostic texts actually do say as I've read them for myself.

James

JamesThePersian said:

I didn't say they stated the two were married. I said that they were the only evidence available for the belief that Christ was married to St. Mary Magdalene. I didn't say that it was good evidence, but poor evidence is still evidence and this, despite it's poverty, is used by the 'Jesus was married' crowd. I'm well aware of what the Gnostic texts actually do say as I've read them for myself.

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Fair enough. I just felt your statement needed clarifying - the uninformed could have read your post as suggesting that Gnostic texts did state they were married.

Sorry if I come across as being ignorant, but what evidence is there that Jesus had foreknowledge of the way and the time he would die ?

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I think there is circumstantial evidence that Jesus knew exactly what His role was and how it was to be fulfilled. There were prophecies given to the parents of both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ about their respective roles, and I have no doubt these would have been recounted to Jesus as He was growing up. At the age of 12 He knew He had to be "about His Father's business" (Luke 2:41-51). He must have been familiar with the Old Testament prophecies about the suffering and death of the Messiah, and He clearly knew when His death was near because He told His disciples about it (Luke 18:31-33). And He seemed to have some memory of His pre-human existance as the Word when He said that He say Satan fall like lightening from heaven (Luke 10:18). Everything about His life and teachings indicates that He had a perfect knowledge of His role, who He was, and even many details of events and how they would fulfill prophecy.

Moreover, God the Father certainly knew when Jesus would die, and no doubt God would reveal to Jesus that it was not His will that Jesus marry a woman in His physical life. But Jesus will marry the resurrected Church, which is called the bride of Christ in Revelation, when He returns.

I can't read this entire thread right now, but why would God marry a human? And why would He need children other than the ones He created?

Colossians 1
16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Revelation 4
11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Ecclesiastes 12
13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Micah 6
8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

John 1
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

It sounds sick to me to think a woman would want to sleep with God!!!! Those who love Christ want to keep His commandments not what people are suggesting.

I agree. There is no reason for Christ to marry a woman while He was on earth as a human being. There are many reasons why He would not.

Christ is engaged to marry the church, the bride of Christ, at His second coming.

:no: I have never seen anything to indicate that Jesus was married....From the time He was 12 his main goal seemed to be "Doing my Father's business" as quoted from Jesus when his mother and Joseph found him in the temple teaching. I believe He knew His destiny and that His time would be short, so I don't think He had much time for earthly pleasure......We know he attended a wedding, and had friends like Lazarus, Martha, Mary and Mary Magdalene, the Disciples, and Mary his mother and other family members.....But when you walk from place to place these journeys take time and I just don't see much time for social activity.....If He had a wife surely there would have been mention of her at the crucifixion.

Snowbear said:

The LDS folks on RF seem in agreement that at least at some point in His life, Jesus was probably married. Now I'm asking the rest of the Christian (non-LDS) community.... Was Jesus ever married? Why do you or don't you think He was? Is there any biblical or non-biblical evidence or documentation of this? I mean real evidence or documentation, not "that it's not mentioned in the bible is evidence He was married."

Thanks in advance

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THE WEDDING OF JESUS

Now, please, hold on unto the stones, and no throwing at least until you hear what I have to say. Besides, that's not my final word. I am still researching the matter. I am partially submitting this topic for some second thoughts to make sure it remains no doubt in my mind.

Jesus was a Rabbi and here are the proofs: Matthew 23:7; Luke 7:37-39; John 1:38; 3:2; 20:16. In many other instances he was addressed as Master which means the same. The point is that a Rabbi in Israel, then and today, had to be a married man or about to get married. Otherwise, he could not be ordained as such.

According to Judaism, after the proper procedure, the Jewish prospect would undergo the ceremonial "mikveh" or immersion in waters and, if not married yet, to take care of that before ordination.

After Jesus' immersion in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, Jesus was seen during the next two days recruiting his disciples and on his way to Galilee. (John 1:35,43) Then on the third day after his mikveh, the family and friends were celebrating his wedding in Cana with Mary Magdalene. Wait! Put down the stones! I'll explain.

First of all, and according to the custom, usually the mother of the Bride would be in charge of the celebrations, but probably Mary's parents had passed away because she used to live with her sister Martha and brother Lazarus in Bethany. I mean, they used to live with Mary who was the one well-to-do. Martha would pay her room-and-board as a maiden servant, and Lazarus... well, I think he was a loafer boy taking advantage of his rich sister. He was probably a sick man anyway.

Okay, but back to the wedding, Jesus' mother Mary had to do the host job; and she did it quite well by giving orders around to the servants. Also, according to the custom, the Bridegroom was in charge to provide the guests, especially with the wine, which Jesus, mind you, made sure it was of the best quality. The tale of the miracle was interpolated much later to deviate the probing attention of those who have a mind of their own from finding out what was really going on in Canah.

After Jesus' wedding, you can check for yourselves, all Jesus' come-and-goes were from and to Bethany, the home of Mary Magdalene. It must have been a very spacious beautiful home since Mary had the means to maintain it. Mind you that she would also take the tab for the expenses of Jesus' group of the Twelve, along with some other women of course who would tip in from time to time. (Luke 8:2,3)

Whenever Jesus would return from his missionary campains throughout Israel, the address was Bethany. To his wife obviously, although most the time Mary Magdalene would follow Jesus as his beloved disciple; but never like one of the Twelve. The Church later interpolated John as the "beloved disciple" for the same reason to get the mind of the readers away from the thought that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. But it's not helping because the evidences are just too shouting.

Do we have any hint to pick up as evidence for any romantic approach prior or after their wedding? Of course, we do! After Jesus exorcized seven demons from Mary, she must have fallen in love with him. (Luke 8:1-3) The expression "seven demons" means only the struggle Jesus had to go through to extricate Mary from her not-so-reputable business in Magdala.

Then, in Bethany - where else? - when Mary was smearing Jesus' body with that expensive pefume, we all know, although we forbid ourselves to think about, that
Mary did not just throw that perfume at him from afar. Definitely not! she did smear him almost all over even in terms of massage, so much so that some of the guests thought it to be unbecoming. (Mat. 26:10-13; Luke 7:37-39)

Then, while everyone else would address Jesus as Rabbi, Mary would call him "Rabboni," a colloquial term used as an expression of love, especially by a Rabbi's wife. It also means "Master of my suffering," as Rachel named her son Benoni before she died from child birth. (Gen. 35:18)

In another occasion, when Mary went to the tomb area after the crucifixion, and saw the empty tomb, she never suffered more in her life. She wanted to take him away with her. (John 20:15) Then, she was crying without consolation. In the middle of her travails, she saw a man standing by and thought to be the Gardener. "Why are you crying?" the man asked. Of course, Jesus knew why, but he wanted to enjoy the answer from his beloved. Alas! She did not identify him; it was too dark. But then Jesus tried her name the way he used to call her: "Mary...!" It's hard to say it in writing, but Mary melted all down and exclaimed" "Raboni!"

This term "Raboni", or Master of my sufferings, is such a solemn and love-tender expression in Hebrew and Aramaic that only seldom it is used out of the frame of deep love. It was then that she jumped to hug him but Jesus, probably all in bandages, forbade her to cause him any unnecessary pain. He would meet her later at more propitious circumstances. (John 20:17)

Then, after some apparitions to the disciples, Jesus said goodbye and left his company. From then on, the names of these three peoples were never mentioned again; Jesus, Mary Magdalene and Joseph of Arimathea. Jesus yes, but only in connection with his teachings by the Nazarenes, a Jewish Sect organized by his Apostles. Joseph had to go along because if he had stayed, he would probably be crucified for having cheated on Pilate regarding Jesus who was not dead when he took him off the cross.

Today, there are three speculations about their whereabouts. The first is that they settled down incognito in Talpiot, a small town not too far south of Jerusalem, where some people have claimed to have found out the graves of Yeshua, Miriam and Joseph. I went there personally but just to be told that the area could not be explored or visited by order of the local Meier for being under an Apartment building.

The second speculation is that they left Israel in the direction of Cashmere, India, where a Russian Archaeologist had found the graves of Yeshua, Miriam and Joseph under the sign of the shield of David.

And the third speculation is the one of the Da Vinci Code, that the three went to Europe and settled down in the Southern part of France in a small village. And that Mary gave birth to a daughter, who eventually got married into the Merovingian nobility.

Whatever happened after Jesus said goodbye to his disciples, I don't endorse anything that has been speculated. My point is only to verify the truth about Jesus' marriage to Mary Magdalene. If that's true without the shadow of a doubt, we have only to be joyful that Jesus fulfilled also the commandment to get married and father children. Besides, a married man only adds to his honour for being so. Why deny Jesus the pleasure of being a man by experiencing the love of
a woman?

Okay, now you can throw the stones. Nu! I am ready! Hello! Where is everybody? Hellooo! Well, I guess they all left. They must have got the idea that they all have feelings too.

Ben