The Wife of Jesus: Ancient Texts and Modern Scandals, by Anthony Le Donne
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The Wife of Jesus: Ancient Texts and Modern Scandals, by Anthony Le Donne
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The idea that Jesus was married continues to incite fierce debate. But most who address the topic either dismiss the possibility or propound conspiracy theories. Amid the storm of controversy, Le Donne provides a haven of clarity and sense. Approaching the subject from a fresh, historical perspective, Le Donne places Jesus firmly within a socio-cultural context and, by investigating gender and marriage norms, provocatively argues that Jesus could well have been married – although not to Mary Magdalene.
The Wife of Jesus: Ancient Texts and Modern Scandals, by Anthony Le Donne - Amazon Sales Rank: #2769944 in Books
- Published on: 2015-06-16
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 7.60" h x .70" w x 5.10" l, .55 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 224 pages
The Wife of Jesus: Ancient Texts and Modern Scandals, by Anthony Le Donne Review 'A marvellous survey of ancient and modern attitudes toward Jesus' possible marriage.' Maclean's 'An impressive work from beginning to end, "The Wife of Jesus: Ancient Texts and Modern Scandals" is a fascinating, informed, informative, and iconoclastic work that is as thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is well written and presented. Enhanced with extensive notes, an impressive nine page bibliography, and a reference index as well as a subject index, [it] is highly recommended reading and will make an enduringly popular addition to community and academic library Christian Studies collections.' The Midwest Book Review 'Reasonable, provocative [and] courageous... Le Donne reaches his conclusion with much careful thought and analysis.' Chicago Tribune "Despite a subject matter that is sure to be provocative, Le Donne manages not to take sides but also reminds readers that our ideas on Jesus' sexuality and marital status show more about us than they do about him. A welcome resource and fresh voice." Kirkus Reviews "Anthony Le Donne balances strong scholarship with sensitivity as he lays out the possibilities in The Wife of Jesus: Ancient Texts and Modern Scandals. This is an eminently readable book for nonspecialists and specialists alike that contributes to the discussion with clarity and candor even as it challenges readers to ask what it is about ourselves that we might learn from our curiosity and concern." Publishers Weekly
About the Author Anthony Le Donne is a visiting lecturer at the University of the Pacific, California. He completed his Ph.D at Durham University, England, in 2007 and his books include "The Historiographical Jesus: Memory, Typology, and the Son of David" and "Historical Jesus: What Can We Know and How Can We Know It?" He lives in Sebastopol, CA.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful. A Responsible Historiography By Ben Sutton Anthony Le Donne has provided interested readers with a double blessing. In The Wife of Jesus, the initial intrigue of Jesus' marital status gives way to a crash course in responsible historical inquiry.Le Donne's expressed goal is two-fold: to provide arguments for and against the possibility of a married Jesus (p. 7), and to provide a self-critique of a culture so captivated by the scandal of Jesus' sex-life (p. 8).To accomplish these goals Le Donne begins with a sketch of the prevalence of sexual insecurity, which is the likely candidate for the enduring memory of a celibate Jesus. This is followed by a series of chapters examining the development of various non-celibate pictures of Jesus in the last 2,000 years. These pictures are the result of individuals or groups who project their current circumstances and struggles onto the life of Jesus by retelling stories from the Gospels (which contain the closest historical evidence for Jesus' life). By retelling stories of Jesus, each group or individual can `create' affirmation for whatever position they hold.The repeated theme of the book is that our current situation will inevitably influence how we interpret the past. The problem with these portrayals of Jesus is not necessarily that they construct a Jesus which reflects their perspective, it is that they do so without appropriate consideration for the context of Jesus' life.Le Donne proceeds cautiously--surveying the available ancient documents which provide a picture into the expectations and values current in Jesus' time. It is only after this cultural background is understood that the teachings of Jesus can be examined and contemporary pictures assessed for historical plausibility. The unexpected result is a subversively celibate Jesus, who may be as unpalatable to Christians for his opposition to blood-relatives (Jesus emphasizes the spiritual `family of God') as a married Jesus.If offence is taken either way this book should be a wake-up call to assess the assumptions we may have about Jesus. Le Donne doesn't just provide a tentative answer to a difficult question. He demonstrates the kind of sustained effort it takes to answer historical questions responsibly, while calling all people to examine their cultural frameworks for traditions that might be better forgotten.Engaging, concise, and well-researched, this is a quick read that gives a substantial return on investment.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Thorough, Relevant, Accessible By Mitchell Chilcott No other book better investigates the historical question of the wife of Jesus.Anthony Le Donne's work is thorough, meeting the demands of modern historiographical research and providing lengthy discussions of relevant topics, such as asceticism in the first century, western notions of sexuality, interpretations of Jesus' celibacy throughout history, and ancient texts related to the wife of Jesus.However, this book is much more than a discussion of ancient texts. Last year's announcement of a small Coptic papyrus, quickly named "The Gospel of Jesus' Wife," spurred newspaper articles, blog posts, and op-eds related to this topic. However, it also brought about new discussions of our own sexual culture and how that might impact the historical inquiry of Jesus' sexual identity. This book is born out of that kind of dialogue.The accessibility of this book is one of its greatest qualities. Explanations of key terms, cultural references, and brilliant illustrations all serve to make the content of the book understandable to those not well-read in the discipline. And yet, Le Donne provides substantial arguments, reaching defensible conclusions that are characteristic of careful biblical and historical scholarship.Devoid of obfuscating prose and not overly technical, Le Donne's writing style will engage the casual reader as well as the tenured New Testament scholar.Mitchell Chilcottduke.academia.edu/MitchellChilcott
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful. Was Jesus scandalous? Yes, but not as most people think. By Loren Rosson III In this terrific and accessible book, Le Donne argues that many Christians have been right for the wrong reasons. While the gospels don't say that Jesus had a wife, neither do they say he didn't, and silence means nothing. Marriage was a cultural given in Jesus' time and place, the most important way of honoring parents, and the path to economic integrity and manhood. It was considered necessary for survival, and so we should assume that Jesus was married unless we have reason to believe otherwise.Though that last is admittedly the rub. In scrutinizing the New Testament, it appears that Jesus was abnormal -- not on account of being too holy for sex, says Le Donne, but for having wild ideas about honor and family. By his 30s at least (i.e. by the time of his gospel ministry), he was dishonoring his blood ties and reshaping a spiritual family around him. He had embraced many (though not all) of the ascetic and non-conformist teachings of his mentor John the Baptist. He lived as if the world was coming to an end, and provision for future generations (family property rights secured through marriage) wasn't a part of his message. He said there were different kinds of eunuchs -- those who lack reproductive organs, but also those who choose celibacy for the sake of God's kingdom (Mt 19:12). "In all of these ways, Jesus subverted civic masculinity and quite possibly the institution of marriage, which stood at the center of civic masculinity (p 128)."Le Donne allows that Jesus may well have been married prior to becoming a prophet. It's more plausible that he was married in his 20s and that his wife died in childbirth (as was extremely common), than that he would have shamefully dishonored his family by rejecting the Abrahamic blessing of progeny. Only by the time of his itinerant prophetic career was he engaged in the flagrant dishonor of severing blood ties. Of course, from his radical point of view, he wasn't being dishonorable at all: he thought of his disciples and followers as his true family; his blood relations weren't even real.The gospels are replete on this point, and Le Donne discusses all the relevant passages. Jesus declares that his family members are not biological kin, but those who do the will of God (Mt 12:46-50; cf. Mk 3:31-35; Lk 8:19-21); that he hasn't come to bring peace but a sword -- "to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother"; that if you loved your biological family more than him, you were unworthy (Mt 10:34-36); indeed you had to hate your biological family to be a disciple (Lk 14:26). Following Jesus meant surrendering economic and social security, sacrificing inheritance rights, hating your family, and living like a shameful itinerant. Le Donne notes the irony that many modern Christians who see Jesus as "above sex" tend to be the same who champion "family values", which Jesus clearly had no use for.The Wife of Jesus is a sober analysis devoid of sensationalism, but don't fear: sensationalist claims are addressed by the author, which makes the book fun (and amusing at times) to read. He covers the recent hoax of the Jesus' Wife fragment, noting that whoever forged it had internet access to a source with a typographical error which the forger copied. He even discusses the Secret Mark hoax, which of course depicted a gay Jesus. He traces the evolution of Mary Magdalene, who began in the gospels as a follower of Jesus, was later cast a prostitute by the church, and in recent years became the actual wife of Jesus (in the hack novel by Dan Brown). It's a concise and well-written book that couldn't be more timely, and I hope many people will read it.
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