Jesus cites wife in ancient script fragment: US scholar
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This Sept 5, 2012 photo released by Harvard University shows a fourth century fragment of papyrus that divinity professor Karen L. King says is the only existing ancient text that quotes Jesus explicitly referring to having a wife. -- PHOTO: AP
BOSTON (AP) - A Harvard University professor on Tuesday unveiled a fourth-century fragment of papyrus she said is the only existing ancient text quoting Jesus explicitly referring to having a wife.
Prof Karen King, an expert in the history of Christianity, said the text contains a dialogue in which Jesus refers to "my wife", whom he identifies as Mary. Ms King says the fragment of Coptic script is a copy of a gospel, probably written in Greek in the second century.
Prof King helped translate and unveiled the tiny fragment at a conference of Coptic experts in Rome.
She said it doesn't prove Jesus was married but speaks to issues of family and marriage that faced Christians.
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