In Their Own Words: Stop The Presses: Report on “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife” Due Out Mid-Summer

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On September 18, 2012, Professor Karen King of Harvard Divinity School revealed the existence of a small papyrus fragment in Coptic from a fourth-century apocryphal gospel that contains a reference to Jesus’ wife. Professor King called the document the “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife.”

King is clear that this is no indication that Jesus was in fact married, only that perhaps some people in the fourth century thought he had been. King wrote a long scholarly article on the fragment, which was accepted for publication by the prestigious Harvard Theological Review (HTR)—and then withdrawn from publication. HTR wants to make sure, we are told, the text isn’t a forgery, even though two leading Coptic papyrologists have pronounced it authentic.

Nothing has been heard from HTR since—except that the new issue of HTR came out without Professor King’s article.

So what’s been happening since the article was withdrawn? I thought I could find out. So I wrote to the director of communications at the Harvard Divinity School. The following exchange ensued.—H.S.

Dear Ms. Dodgson,

Regarding the now-famous Coptic fragment brought to public attention by Prof. Karen King, can you please tell me (1) the company or companies that are doing the testing of the fragment; (2) the tests they are performing (or in case you don’t know, the testing they were instructed to perform); and the date when their report is due (or in case there is no due date, approximately when it is expected).

Many thanks for your openness in this matter.

Sincerely,
Hershel Shanks

Dear Mr. Shanks,

Thanks for your email. Testing is still underway, and there is really nothing more to say at this point.

Sincerely,
Kit

Dear Kit:

You did not answer any of my questions to which you obviously know the answers. Who is doing the testing, what are they doing and when will they be finished? Are you refusing to answer?

Is this the Dead Sea Scrolls all over again?

All best.
Hershel

Dear Herschel,

When testing is completed, and the various reports are ready for publication—hopefully by early to mid-summer—all your questions will be answered. Unfortunately, there is nothing more to say at this time.

Best,
Kit

Dear Kit,

Why won’t you tell me who is doing the testing and what tests are at least tentatively being applied?

However, I’m glad you are willing to tell me that there will be “various reports.” This must mean that there is more than one tester. And I’m glad to know that you are hopeful of reports by mid-summer. Can you say whether you will release the reports when you receive them?

All best.
Hershel

P.S. There is no “c” in my name.

Hershel,

My deepest apologies for misspelling your name.

We really have nothing more at this time.

Best wishes,

Kit

On September 18, 2012, Professor Karen King of Harvard Divinity School revealed the existence of a small papyrus fragment in Coptic from a fourth-century apocryphal gospel that contains a reference to Jesus’ wife. Professor King called the document the “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife.” King is clear that this is no indication that Jesus was in fact married, only that perhaps some people in the fourth century thought he had been. King wrote a long scholarly article on the fragment, which was accepted for publication by the prestigious Harvard Theological Review (HTR)—and then withdrawn from publication. HTR wants to make […]