Pretty sure that has been the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches' teaching since the beginning.

 

I should qualify...there was a time in Medieval history that Popes did marry, as well as Bishops. Ostensibly, this practice was to increase the wealth of the Church

But I don't believe the Bible ever touches on the issue of Jesus being unmarried or married, does it?

 

Now that you mention it I don't recall ever seeing it. Good question.

The text may have, if the real thing, been referring to the "Church" being the bride (wife) of Jesus.

 

This^^

The cynic in me wants to believe my Lord had more sense than that.

The scripture never refers to a fact of marriage or lack thereof of Jesus. We have some metaphor about it (Read Luke 8:21) and there is the parable of the bridesmaids, but nothing explicit.

 

There is a 4th Century Coptic fragment that has Jesus quoted as saying "My wife . . .," but most scholars generally agree that the statement is metaphorical.

 

The irony posted by mountain ref is valid. Noone in American is likely to bomb the State Department because of this, whereas in the Muslim world there would be attacks.

 

The question posed by Rockmom is even more valid, and I would postulate as follows (very off the cuff):

 

1. Jesus would have married, knowing that he was going to be executed and abandon her;

2. The purpose of marriage being to partner and procreate, not Jesus' goal in his ministry;

3. Other answers I can't articulate at the moment.

 

I think we would have heard if he had a wife. See I Corinthians 9:5.

The 1 Corinthians 9:5 argument makes the most sense to me. One would think if Paul would mention Peter having a spouse that he would also include Jesus, if he indeed had one.

 

This papyrus fragment is about the size of a business card, if I'm reading this correctly. And there are only eight lines of text, with about 4-5 words per line. And the fragment comes in the middle of the text, which doesn't give you room to understand the overall context.

So, to answer my own question. The biggest controversy that I see is the effect of this find on the Catholic doctrine that priests are to be unmarried, because Jesus was a bachelor.

 

What effects are there on other denominations?

 

I have questioned the priest/marriage issue in the past, and the answer I have been given is that the reason that priests are to be unmarried is NOT because Jesus was a bachelor. It is because of the demands of their job, and expectations to put their parish and priest duties first, before even their own needs. The church thinks that having a wife and family would take away from their ministry.

Not saying that is my opinion or that I agree.

 

Priests also take a vow of poverty.

 

IMO this controversy will not affect the Catholic Doctrine.

Do you think that if the guy had gone to Murray or Morehead or Western that the headline would have read "Morehead scholar suggest Jesus was married"? With all due respect to Harvard and their scholar, other than the headline grab, I'd likely paid more attention if it said "rockmom suggest Jesus was married".

Do you think that if the guy had gone to Murray or Morehead or Western that the headline would have read "Morehead scholar suggest Jesus was married"? With all due respect to Harvard and their scholar, other than the headline grab, I'd likely paid more attention if it said "rockmom suggest Jesus was married".

 

I would have definitely paid more attention.

 

And RM would have been more creative, she would have said, "Jesus was married, and complained that his wife couldn't cook."

1. Jesus would have married, knowing that he was going to be executed and abandon her

 

I have pondered this question before ever since reading The Da Vinci Code and just thought it created an interesting dialogue amongst friends. Never during those conversations has this ever been mentioned and I think it's brilliant.

I have questioned the priest/marriage issue in the past, and the answer I have been given is that the reason that priests are to be unmarried is NOT because Jesus was a bachelor. It is because of the demands of their job, and expectations to put their parish and priest duties first, before even their own needs. The church thinks that having a wife and family would take away from their ministry.

Not saying that is my opinion or that I agree.

 

Priests also take a vow of poverty.

 

IMO this controversy will not affect the Catholic Doctrine.

 

You are absolutely correct. It is Church law not Church doctrine. This pope or any down the road can simply change his mind and priests would be allowed to marry. In truth, this is a holdover from a time in which priests and bishops having wives and children caused VERY serious problems. Many of those problems would no longer be an issue in the modern Church. Still, in principle, priestly celibacy can be a great thing and the best Catholic priests devote their entire lives to their parishes and other duties.

At least Jesus is being acknowledged as being real.

So, to answer my own question. The biggest controversy that I see is the effect of this find on the Catholic doctrine that priests are to be unmarried, because Jesus was a bachelor.

 

Not quite correct. The primary reasoning behind the Catholic doctrine on this is because of the idea of vocations. Your vocation is your specific calling from God, and as such, you are expected to follow and work for that vocation wholly. As a married man, practicing the vocation of matrimony through work and dedication towards your wife and family is expected to receive your complete dedication. As a priest, practicing the vocation of Holy Orders through work and dedication tending to those to whom you minister is expected to receive your complete dedication. The Catholic Church's perspective is that you cannot be dedicated wholly and give 100% of your complete effort to your family and then be dedicated wholly and give 100% of your complete effort to your ministry at the same time. Therefore, priests cannot marry.