"Wife" Papyrus Interesting, but Not Faith-Changing

"Does an ancient scrap of papyrus refer to Jesus' wife?" "How old is the writing on this piece of papyrus?" "And what difference does it make anyway?"

Scholars and scientists are arguing these questions this week, ever since a historian of early Christianity at Harvard Divinity School "identified a scrap of papyrus that she says was written in Coptic in the fourth century and contains a phrase never seen in any piece of Scripture: 'Jesus said to them, "My wife ...".’” (Laurie Goldstein, NYTimes Sept. 18, 2012)

According to the Goldstein article last week,  the next line visible on the fragment seems to read, "She will be able to be my disciple."

The tiny piece of papyrus may be historically ancient, having been authenticated by several experts in the dating of papyrus materials. But a Reuters article (available on NBCNEWS.com and NYTimes.com) reports that the Vatican calls the findings "a fake," challenging the authenticity of the writing that appears on the ancient papyrus. Although it seems probable that the piece of papyrus itself is in fact ancient, many scholars question whether the writing on the papyrus can be earlier than the twentieth century.

Details about Dr. King's findings will be featured in a forthcoming article in Harvard Theological Review.

But even if the authenticity of the writing were affirmed, the implications for our understanding of the historical life of Jesus wouldn't be as staggering as at first it seems.

At most, the writing would, in that case, simply indicate that certain ancient Christians believed Jesus to be married. Segments of the early Christian church believed many things that Christians today reject completely. Catholic tradition, which Catholics hold to have equal authority with Scripture, teaches definitively that Jesus was not married. Any belief that is briefly held by a segment of believers that does not have the backing of either Scripture or Tradition has no real consequences for contemporary faith.

On the other hand, the papyrus could refer to a spiritual bond between Jesus and his disciples. Evidence has existed for millennia to illustrate that marriage language has been used to talk about a spiritual connection between God and the Church or between an individual and Christ.

Without a larger context, though, there's no way to know for sure what the fragment means, specifically. But even the most literal interpretation of the phrase would neither add to our information about ancient beliefs nor impact contemporary Catholic teaching.

And regarding "women disciples," we know from Scripture that women "followed with" Jesus--a disciple is simply one who follows a teacher. (See NABRE LK 8:1-3, "accompanying him were the Twelve and some women..."  including Mary Magdalene.) And Paul describes some women as "co-workers" in a collegial manner.

But the controversy over women followers seems to center on whether the group known in the gospels as "the Twelve" are the only apostles whose ministry can be considered the forerunner of Roman Catholic priesthood. "The Twelve" were, by all accounts, all male (though the list of which men are included in "the Twelve" varies slightly depending on which gospel you read).

And cutting to the chase: Pope John Paul II has indicated that, based on Scripture and Tradition, the Church has no authority to change its stance in regard to women's ordination.