First, let me start with a link to a Washington Post Article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/11/10/the-book-that-claims-jesus-had-a-wife-and-kids-and-the-controversial-author-behind-it/?tid=trending_strip_2
This is
sort of like the kind of stuff I really love to read. I love to sink my teach into well written books on textual criticism/discussion of scripture and books that were not considered as part of the final Christian canon (ie the current Bible). The current 'final Bible' actually varies amongst various Christians groups today. Some books that are called apocryphal by Protestants are called deuterocanonical by Roman Catholics and members of the various Orthodox branches of Christianity. And some Orthodox Christians and some Roman Catholics might not agree on what they consider deuterocanonical.
I am not sure what to think of this latest to be published book. I can promise you that if I can get an e-version, I will read it. But, a few thoughts in the meantime.....
First, how old is the manuscript they found? Where was it written? Who do they think wrote it? What makes the authors of the above referenced book think that the manuscript is the 'real deal'? And, what do other scholars have to say about it? There are A LOT of ancient texts floating around the world that date from the time of the early Christian church. Some, are obviously just interesting stories but originally written for a reason other than entertainment. For example, the infancy narratives of Christ that are not considered canon by any current mainstream Christians faith groups are entertaining reading but, at least obviously to some, are not to be taken seriously as written history. Whenever folks wrote stuff about Jesus back in the early years of the Christian church, they most likely had an agenda. The question is then, what was the agenda of that 'author'?
There's a lot of 'fluffiness' out in the world that looks like documentaries. My daughter enjoys watching ones on 'proof' that there are aliens - and she laughs through them. We'll see if this book is part of the 'fluffiness' genre.
Peace.
