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The Lost Gospel
In a startling follow-up to the New York Times bestseller The Jesus Family Tomb, a historical detective story that unravels a newly translated document filled with startling revelations and fascinating detail about the life and times of Jesus.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gnostic writings and now The Lost Gospel, a newly decoded manuscript that uncovers groundbreaking revelations about the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth - a startling follow-up to the New York Times bestseller The Jesus Family Tomb.
Waiting to be rediscovered in the British Library is an ancient manuscript of the early Church, copied by an anonymous monk. The manuscript is at least 1,450 years old, possibly dating to the first century i.e., Jesus’ lifetime. And now, The Lost Gospel provides the first ever translation from Syriac into English of this unique document that tells the inside story of Jesus’ social, family and political life.
The Lost Gospel takes the reader on an unparalleled historical adventure through a paradigm shifting manuscript. What the authors eventually discover is as astounding as it is surprising: the confirmation of Jesus’ marriage to Mary Magdalene; the names of their two children; the towering presence of Mary Magdalene; a previously unknown plot on Jesus’ life, 13 years prior to the crucifixion; an assassination attempt against Mary Magdalene and their children; Jesus’ connection to political figures at the highest level of the Roman Empire; and a religious movement that antedates that of Paul—the Church of Mary Magdalene. Part historical detective story, part modern adventure The Lost Gospel reveals secrets that have been hiding in plain sight for millennia.
481 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2014
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February 7, 2022
2022.02.07 Update: And, of course, there's this: https://www.chronicle.com/article/a-s...
Having studied theology and the historical Jesus, the idea that Jesus was likely married is not new, nor is the idea that religions borrow from each other. I also knew that early members of the Jesus movement did not understand Jesus primarily in terms of the crucifixion (it was too stark and raw), though until now I'd read that they understood it in terms of God's love as mother's milk. So I wasn't as appalled as the authors appeared to think I would be that the early Jesus movement may have been a syncretistic blend of the worship of Astartis and Jesus-as-Astartis-consort. I have no idea what the status of this idea is in scholarly circles, but it struck me as not inconceivable, and it does explain the early roots of Gnosticism (especially Valentinan gnosticsim) to some extent. (Interestingly, the authors note that Valentinus almost became bishop of Rome in the 130s . .. interesting to think of what might have been.
The authors point out quite convincingly that the wide "diversity" of Christians today (western, Orthodox, Coptic, Chaldean) are actually all the inheritors of Pauline Christianity, which was not originally the "only" or even the dominant way to be Christian. In fact, there were at least two ways to be Christian that we're aware of -- the Jesus movement, which was led from Jerusalem by James the brother of Jesus, the Christ movement, led by Paul mostly among the God-fearers, or the non-Torah-observant but interested-in-monotheism pagans. The authors posit a third "Church of the Gentiles" that believed in a historical, Jewish Jesus, but understood as a divine being/Son of God with a divine consort (i.e., Mary the Magdalene). They provide some archaeological evidence of "synagogues" that may in fact include "Christian" (or "Church of the Gentiles") imagery, including one mosaic that shows Jesus and bride together.
They point out that mystery religions were prevalent during the time of Jesus (and, having just read Heirs to the Forgotten Kingdom, I would suggest that to some extent they remain so today in the form of the Druze, etc.) In these religions, the most sacred truths were understood to be secrets closely held by the initiated that were kept from others, perhaps because they were considered too incendiary or too complicated for others to understand. It's not clear to me that this would have been necessary in the context of the time of Jesus -- certainly sacred sex would have seemed perfectly normal, rather than subversive, to the many followers of the Artemis cults.
They present fascinating evidence linking "Jesus and Asenath" to Artemis, including bee imagery that depicts "the first ever Communion ceremony between Asenath (a.k.a. Mary the Magdalene) and the angel (a.k.a. Jesus). But take note, in this ceremony it is not _his_ body they are eating -- it is _hers_ (114). Other imagery taken from Artemis and appropriated later to Jesus includes the fish -- one of Artemis's common signs - and in early imagery there are often _two_ fish rather than one. According to Margaret Starbird, the discovery of the Megiddo church mosaic, "confirms that early Christians honored the zodiac symbol for Pisces [as two fish rather than one] long before they chose to identify themselves with the cross . .. . I have long asserted that Mary Magdalene represented that 'other fish'" (141). In regard to the Tel Istaba mosaic, the authors write, "this is the only mosaic that is clearly in a Christian context and in a house of worship that depicts Jesus with a female partner" (145) The authors point out that resurrection imagery was taken from Helios Mithras, around which there was a cult based on "the slaying of the primordial bull and the redemption of the world through his blood . . . [they] had a communion-like meal where the initiates ate bread and drank from a cup of water mixed with wine" (192). The bull died and was resurrected _as bees_. The resurrected Jesus, in this sense, _was_ Mary Magdalene. "In the 2nd century there was a movement in Phrygia, modern Turkey, known as montanism. A man named Montanus and two women named Priscilla and Maximilla led it. One of these "Chrsitian prophets" had a 'famous vision of Christ in female form.' In fact, from teh 4th century onward, a tradition developed in Christian art that involved 'representing Jesus as quite feminine with long hair, wide hips and even breasts' Basically, Jesus came to be depicted as Mary the Magdalene." (193).
Can I just say how useless traditional bibliographic style is, especially when it doesn't include a list of works cited? p. 411 lists as one critical citataion "Hill, op. cit." -- but this is on page 40 of the footnotes, and I have yet to be able to figure out what "Hill" refers to, having spent at least 15 minutes looking.
Having studied theology and the historical Jesus, the idea that Jesus was likely married is not new, nor is the idea that religions borrow from each other. I also knew that early members of the Jesus movement did not understand Jesus primarily in terms of the crucifixion (it was too stark and raw), though until now I'd read that they understood it in terms of God's love as mother's milk. So I wasn't as appalled as the authors appeared to think I would be that the early Jesus movement may have been a syncretistic blend of the worship of Astartis and Jesus-as-Astartis-consort. I have no idea what the status of this idea is in scholarly circles, but it struck me as not inconceivable, and it does explain the early roots of Gnosticism (especially Valentinan gnosticsim) to some extent. (Interestingly, the authors note that Valentinus almost became bishop of Rome in the 130s . .. interesting to think of what might have been.
The authors point out quite convincingly that the wide "diversity" of Christians today (western, Orthodox, Coptic, Chaldean) are actually all the inheritors of Pauline Christianity, which was not originally the "only" or even the dominant way to be Christian. In fact, there were at least two ways to be Christian that we're aware of -- the Jesus movement, which was led from Jerusalem by James the brother of Jesus, the Christ movement, led by Paul mostly among the God-fearers, or the non-Torah-observant but interested-in-monotheism pagans. The authors posit a third "Church of the Gentiles" that believed in a historical, Jewish Jesus, but understood as a divine being/Son of God with a divine consort (i.e., Mary the Magdalene). They provide some archaeological evidence of "synagogues" that may in fact include "Christian" (or "Church of the Gentiles") imagery, including one mosaic that shows Jesus and bride together.
They point out that mystery religions were prevalent during the time of Jesus (and, having just read Heirs to the Forgotten Kingdom, I would suggest that to some extent they remain so today in the form of the Druze, etc.) In these religions, the most sacred truths were understood to be secrets closely held by the initiated that were kept from others, perhaps because they were considered too incendiary or too complicated for others to understand. It's not clear to me that this would have been necessary in the context of the time of Jesus -- certainly sacred sex would have seemed perfectly normal, rather than subversive, to the many followers of the Artemis cults.
They present fascinating evidence linking "Jesus and Asenath" to Artemis, including bee imagery that depicts "the first ever Communion ceremony between Asenath (a.k.a. Mary the Magdalene) and the angel (a.k.a. Jesus). But take note, in this ceremony it is not _his_ body they are eating -- it is _hers_ (114). Other imagery taken from Artemis and appropriated later to Jesus includes the fish -- one of Artemis's common signs - and in early imagery there are often _two_ fish rather than one. According to Margaret Starbird, the discovery of the Megiddo church mosaic, "confirms that early Christians honored the zodiac symbol for Pisces [as two fish rather than one] long before they chose to identify themselves with the cross . .. . I have long asserted that Mary Magdalene represented that 'other fish'" (141). In regard to the Tel Istaba mosaic, the authors write, "this is the only mosaic that is clearly in a Christian context and in a house of worship that depicts Jesus with a female partner" (145) The authors point out that resurrection imagery was taken from Helios Mithras, around which there was a cult based on "the slaying of the primordial bull and the redemption of the world through his blood . . . [they] had a communion-like meal where the initiates ate bread and drank from a cup of water mixed with wine" (192). The bull died and was resurrected _as bees_. The resurrected Jesus, in this sense, _was_ Mary Magdalene. "In the 2nd century there was a movement in Phrygia, modern Turkey, known as montanism. A man named Montanus and two women named Priscilla and Maximilla led it. One of these "Chrsitian prophets" had a 'famous vision of Christ in female form.' In fact, from teh 4th century onward, a tradition developed in Christian art that involved 'representing Jesus as quite feminine with long hair, wide hips and even breasts' Basically, Jesus came to be depicted as Mary the Magdalene." (193).
Can I just say how useless traditional bibliographic style is, especially when it doesn't include a list of works cited? p. 411 lists as one critical citataion "Hill, op. cit." -- but this is on page 40 of the footnotes, and I have yet to be able to figure out what "Hill" refers to, having spent at least 15 minutes looking.
May 12, 2015
I have long been a fan of “The Naked Archeologist,” Simcha Jacobovici for his imaginative look at history. He is not swayed by centuries of an accepted theory of history or religion. He uses his immense analytical skills to explore what are uncomfortable ideas for millions of people. I can see how some might believe his life goal is to undermine Christianity but I do not think that is his intent. I think his intent is to undermine myths that rule our way of thinking and of relating to other people and cultures. Along with his co-writer Barrie Wilson, Jacobovici wants to prove the human side of Christ was just that: human; and being human means experiencing the whole of personhood, marriage, sex, children, death, etc. Christians tend to belief in the paradoxical Christ as both divine and human but they don’t want to grant him the reality of being human, he was not even conceived or birthed naturally!
“The Lost Gospel: Decoding the Ancient Text that Reveals Jesus’ Marriage to Mary the Magdalene” is the newest book along this path. Jacobovici and Wilson expostulate on an ancient Greek text (possibly as old as the canonical Gospels, certainly as old as other Gnostic writings) called “Joseph and Aseneth.” On the surface this story purports to be about the Biblical Joseph and how he met his wife Aseneth, how they proceeded to have children, and then have a murder plot thwarted. But as the authors convincingly write, other than names, the story is entirely different in themes, rituals and language than would be found in Jewish texts. Likening Joseph to the “Son of God” would be blasphemous for a Jewish person. It simply would not be done. There is a ritual where Aseneth is purified and then eats of the honey comb which is heavy in Eucharistic symbolism, again a Christian reference.
What the authors conclude is that this story is a coded story for the real story of the marriage of Jesus and his foremost disciple Mary the Magdalene (Mary of the Tower) and the plot to murder them. This is where the book gets fun. The authors take the reader on a journey through the text, through Gnostic texts, ancient historians such as Josephus, archeological sites and more to provide evidence for their theory. Dan Brown in “The Da Vinci Code” popularized the idea of the Jesus family and also of coded history. It is accepted as fact that many mystical and early Christian and Judaic texts were written in code, after all, anything that was different than the proposed way was heretical and could put the lives of the writers and readers in danger.
Many people (though I assume not the majority) do not have a problem with a married Jesus, though I think it is daunting to think that there could be descendants of Jesus walking the earth today. What makes the detective work of Jacobovici and Wilson different than these controversial assumptions is the clarification they make that Joseph is Jesus and that Aseneth is Mary the Magdalene. Furthermore, Mary is the original Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus gaining that status later in a deliberate attempt to wipe out Mary the Magdalene’s influence. They go further still, Mary the Magdalene is a stand-in for the goddess Artemis. There is a quite long and mind-blowing lay out of the evidence for this. I won’t explain the evidence for any of their arguments because you should read it for yourself.
One of the driving factors of skepticism in any kind of ancient world and text scholarship is that we will ultimately never know, really, what is truth, myth, lies, etc. While I was keeping a vein of doubt open as I read this, I did find myself getting sucked into the mystery of this text and what it meant when written and the relevance it has today. I agree that the text does seem to portray a marriage between Jesus and someone, and that the Magdalene seems the best fit. Whether people replaced the pagan goddess with a new Christian version is probably unknowable, but it makes sense. As the authors point out, there were many kinds of Christianity before Pauline Christianity succeeded in stamping out the contenders.
One of the more disturbing parts of their research is the discussion on the Gnostic “bridal-chamber” rituals. If this is correct than Jesus and Mary the Magdalene would have created salvation by their sexual union and that the Last Supper would have sexual overtones and that Jesus may have been with many people. This may or may not be true but it fundamentally changes the nature of the ethical and loving Jesus and makes him sound like any sexual predator from our modern day cults. I do not believe that the authors were calling Jesus a pervert but it came dangerously close to it. I certainly believe that sex was used in many religious rituals, but it was the undertones about what that would mean if Jesus was leading people toward sex with him.
This story could have been a way of preserving the knowledge of Jesus’ marriage and his divinity may have been symbolic, rather than literally believed. In this version Magdalene was also made divine and shared in the mission of Christ: together they would reunite the schism between God and humanity, by reuniting Man and woman. If the authors’ interpretation is correct then this text would truly have harbored dangerous knowledge.
The research they did is prodigious but I think the conclusions they draw come from their creative capacity to think outside of the box (something that Jacobovici thanks his family for in the “Acknowledgements” section). They make leaps of faith in their connections as much as traditional believers do because the past is obscure. But I think they go in the right direction, even if all of their talking points aren’t correct.
They provide an English translation of “Joseph and Aseneth” by their colleague Dr. Tony Burke. They take pains to explain that they asked him for a translation and did not tell him of their theory so his translation is pure and not biased toward their interpretation. They provide an extensive “Further Reading” section and the entire book is heavily annotated. The endnotes are fascinating but really slow down the reading process.
While at times they veer into sheer speculation, this book is intelligently and passionately written, while keeping in mind that most readers are not Biblical or ancient text scholars. They clearly make their case and attempt to be as transparent in their documentation and research as is possible.
“The Lost Gospel: Decoding the Ancient Text that Reveals Jesus’ Marriage to Mary the Magdalene” is the newest book along this path. Jacobovici and Wilson expostulate on an ancient Greek text (possibly as old as the canonical Gospels, certainly as old as other Gnostic writings) called “Joseph and Aseneth.” On the surface this story purports to be about the Biblical Joseph and how he met his wife Aseneth, how they proceeded to have children, and then have a murder plot thwarted. But as the authors convincingly write, other than names, the story is entirely different in themes, rituals and language than would be found in Jewish texts. Likening Joseph to the “Son of God” would be blasphemous for a Jewish person. It simply would not be done. There is a ritual where Aseneth is purified and then eats of the honey comb which is heavy in Eucharistic symbolism, again a Christian reference.
What the authors conclude is that this story is a coded story for the real story of the marriage of Jesus and his foremost disciple Mary the Magdalene (Mary of the Tower) and the plot to murder them. This is where the book gets fun. The authors take the reader on a journey through the text, through Gnostic texts, ancient historians such as Josephus, archeological sites and more to provide evidence for their theory. Dan Brown in “The Da Vinci Code” popularized the idea of the Jesus family and also of coded history. It is accepted as fact that many mystical and early Christian and Judaic texts were written in code, after all, anything that was different than the proposed way was heretical and could put the lives of the writers and readers in danger.
Many people (though I assume not the majority) do not have a problem with a married Jesus, though I think it is daunting to think that there could be descendants of Jesus walking the earth today. What makes the detective work of Jacobovici and Wilson different than these controversial assumptions is the clarification they make that Joseph is Jesus and that Aseneth is Mary the Magdalene. Furthermore, Mary is the original Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus gaining that status later in a deliberate attempt to wipe out Mary the Magdalene’s influence. They go further still, Mary the Magdalene is a stand-in for the goddess Artemis. There is a quite long and mind-blowing lay out of the evidence for this. I won’t explain the evidence for any of their arguments because you should read it for yourself.
One of the driving factors of skepticism in any kind of ancient world and text scholarship is that we will ultimately never know, really, what is truth, myth, lies, etc. While I was keeping a vein of doubt open as I read this, I did find myself getting sucked into the mystery of this text and what it meant when written and the relevance it has today. I agree that the text does seem to portray a marriage between Jesus and someone, and that the Magdalene seems the best fit. Whether people replaced the pagan goddess with a new Christian version is probably unknowable, but it makes sense. As the authors point out, there were many kinds of Christianity before Pauline Christianity succeeded in stamping out the contenders.
One of the more disturbing parts of their research is the discussion on the Gnostic “bridal-chamber” rituals. If this is correct than Jesus and Mary the Magdalene would have created salvation by their sexual union and that the Last Supper would have sexual overtones and that Jesus may have been with many people. This may or may not be true but it fundamentally changes the nature of the ethical and loving Jesus and makes him sound like any sexual predator from our modern day cults. I do not believe that the authors were calling Jesus a pervert but it came dangerously close to it. I certainly believe that sex was used in many religious rituals, but it was the undertones about what that would mean if Jesus was leading people toward sex with him.
This story could have been a way of preserving the knowledge of Jesus’ marriage and his divinity may have been symbolic, rather than literally believed. In this version Magdalene was also made divine and shared in the mission of Christ: together they would reunite the schism between God and humanity, by reuniting Man and woman. If the authors’ interpretation is correct then this text would truly have harbored dangerous knowledge.
The research they did is prodigious but I think the conclusions they draw come from their creative capacity to think outside of the box (something that Jacobovici thanks his family for in the “Acknowledgements” section). They make leaps of faith in their connections as much as traditional believers do because the past is obscure. But I think they go in the right direction, even if all of their talking points aren’t correct.
They provide an English translation of “Joseph and Aseneth” by their colleague Dr. Tony Burke. They take pains to explain that they asked him for a translation and did not tell him of their theory so his translation is pure and not biased toward their interpretation. They provide an extensive “Further Reading” section and the entire book is heavily annotated. The endnotes are fascinating but really slow down the reading process.
While at times they veer into sheer speculation, this book is intelligently and passionately written, while keeping in mind that most readers are not Biblical or ancient text scholars. They clearly make their case and attempt to be as transparent in their documentation and research as is possible.
July 16, 2019
It’s a fascinating read. It poses a controversial idea that Christ was not only married and had children, but that his marriage was central to early Christian worship. By examining an ancient text and explaining the symbolism therein, the authors actually provide a valid argument for their opinion. This book has been highly criticized by the current Christian community and even by those in the secular realm because it challenges long held beliefs of a chaste and celibate Christ. But I found myself convinced of the validity of their argument by the end of the book.
Now, I feel like I need to include a disclaimer of sorts. I grew up in a Christian cult. I won’t disclose the name as I don’t wish to offend anyone who may be stuck in it and object to my calling it a cult. I have since embraced paganism. Because of my experiences as a child and the trauma I endured because of that situation, I may more readily accept theories that challenge the landscape in which I grew up. I readily admit that. But I do feel that the authors of this book provide valid arguments and have done their due diligence to back up their claims with evidence.
The writing style is a bit dry (hence my 4 stars instead w 5) and at times it feels a little bit like you’re reading someone’s thesis paper. But considering what the authors are arguing, I believe it had to be written this way so that readers can fully appreciate and understand the research behind their theory.
Bottom line: This is worth a read for anyone interested in an alternative view of early Christian belief or for anyone interested in biblical archeology (which is what drew me in).
Now, I feel like I need to include a disclaimer of sorts. I grew up in a Christian cult. I won’t disclose the name as I don’t wish to offend anyone who may be stuck in it and object to my calling it a cult. I have since embraced paganism. Because of my experiences as a child and the trauma I endured because of that situation, I may more readily accept theories that challenge the landscape in which I grew up. I readily admit that. But I do feel that the authors of this book provide valid arguments and have done their due diligence to back up their claims with evidence.
The writing style is a bit dry (hence my 4 stars instead w 5) and at times it feels a little bit like you’re reading someone’s thesis paper. But considering what the authors are arguing, I believe it had to be written this way so that readers can fully appreciate and understand the research behind their theory.
Bottom line: This is worth a read for anyone interested in an alternative view of early Christian belief or for anyone interested in biblical archeology (which is what drew me in).
July 29, 2017
I tried but I can't get through it. The leaps being taken are truly absurd. Review to come shortly.
++++++++++++++++++++
My book blog ---> http://allthebookblognamesaretaken.bl...
Did Not Finish
Honestly, the subtitle alone is absurd. If you have read my reviews before, you know how I feel about ridiculously long subtitles. If the subtitle needs to be that long, you are doing something wrong. In this case, there is much, much wrong. I contemplated not even bother with a short review, since I quit this one very early on, but I just could not remain quiet and had to say SOMETHING.
I will start with the positives, because despite what it looks like, I do try to find something good in every book I review. It is tough sometimes, and I REEEEEALLY have to look, but there is always some little nugget of positive that I can show. In this case, it is that the writing itself is actually quite good. I don't mean the content, I will get to that in a moment, but the actual writing. It flows well, and the style is engaging. Any other book or subject and I might be able to make it through the entire thing.
Now, onto the not so good. Pretty much, everything else. I wanted to give this one a try, as I am always interested in these ideas of 'lost gospels'. There is so much we do not know about the early days of Christianity and Jesus, as well as his family and followers. Imagine if manuscripts were discovered that could truly be authenticated and just came right out and said, "Here's the story." Wouldn't that be amazing? Instead, we have things like this, 'hidden gospels' that we have to use a great stretch of the imagination and connect all these dots that don't totally seem to fit, in order to make something kind of make sense if you look at it sideways.
I am not opposed to the idea of Jesus being married, and it does make sense. It is not a new idea by any means, and certainly would not have changed His work or Message. I can also understand the whitewashing of that aspect of His life from the Gospel, if that were to turn out to be the case, as the Apostles were only concerned with the work that Jesus performed and His role as Savior. His possible wife and children did not fit into that mold and thus would not have been something they considered important for future generations to know.
I was ready to give up on page 36 when Gnosticism reared its ugly head - particularly as the author seemed to find a fault in Christianity as we know it today and seemed to scoff at it, while giving favor to Gnosticism. Being objective did not seem to be on the menu. Additionally when the author straight out said Gnosticism was more grounded in history than the Gospel, I knew I may not be able to continue on much longer.
While I found the author's factual history to be interesting, and even enjoyed that aspect of the book early on, I could not abide the constant ending of each chapter with a silly 'cliffhanger'. It was incredibly juvenile and kind of annoying, truth be told. I barely even got into the actual content, the core thesis of the book, in that this obscure manuscript was really he hidden story of Jesus and Mary, and had to quit around page 50. It was simply too absurd to continue.
++++++++++++++++++++
My book blog ---> http://allthebookblognamesaretaken.bl...
Did Not Finish
Honestly, the subtitle alone is absurd. If you have read my reviews before, you know how I feel about ridiculously long subtitles. If the subtitle needs to be that long, you are doing something wrong. In this case, there is much, much wrong. I contemplated not even bother with a short review, since I quit this one very early on, but I just could not remain quiet and had to say SOMETHING.
I will start with the positives, because despite what it looks like, I do try to find something good in every book I review. It is tough sometimes, and I REEEEEALLY have to look, but there is always some little nugget of positive that I can show. In this case, it is that the writing itself is actually quite good. I don't mean the content, I will get to that in a moment, but the actual writing. It flows well, and the style is engaging. Any other book or subject and I might be able to make it through the entire thing.
Now, onto the not so good. Pretty much, everything else. I wanted to give this one a try, as I am always interested in these ideas of 'lost gospels'. There is so much we do not know about the early days of Christianity and Jesus, as well as his family and followers. Imagine if manuscripts were discovered that could truly be authenticated and just came right out and said, "Here's the story." Wouldn't that be amazing? Instead, we have things like this, 'hidden gospels' that we have to use a great stretch of the imagination and connect all these dots that don't totally seem to fit, in order to make something kind of make sense if you look at it sideways.
I am not opposed to the idea of Jesus being married, and it does make sense. It is not a new idea by any means, and certainly would not have changed His work or Message. I can also understand the whitewashing of that aspect of His life from the Gospel, if that were to turn out to be the case, as the Apostles were only concerned with the work that Jesus performed and His role as Savior. His possible wife and children did not fit into that mold and thus would not have been something they considered important for future generations to know.
I was ready to give up on page 36 when Gnosticism reared its ugly head - particularly as the author seemed to find a fault in Christianity as we know it today and seemed to scoff at it, while giving favor to Gnosticism. Being objective did not seem to be on the menu. Additionally when the author straight out said Gnosticism was more grounded in history than the Gospel, I knew I may not be able to continue on much longer.
While I found the author's factual history to be interesting, and even enjoyed that aspect of the book early on, I could not abide the constant ending of each chapter with a silly 'cliffhanger'. It was incredibly juvenile and kind of annoying, truth be told. I barely even got into the actual content, the core thesis of the book, in that this obscure manuscript was really he hidden story of Jesus and Mary, and had to quit around page 50. It was simply too absurd to continue.
February 23, 2018
Right, straight off, let's keep this objective. The 'shocking' part. No, not really. Not if you've had your eyes, ears and mind open for most of your adult life. Shocking maybe, if you're a mid-west American 'Christian' I'll admit, but then, they don't really count as thinking people, now do they? Not recently - not since November 2016 anyway.
I think most rational people, would be fairly up-to-date with the possibility, at least, that Jesus was married and married to Mary Magdalene, whether it says so in the Bible or not. And that's the funny thing, because, as this book points out, there is evidence in the actual Bible, the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Bible, to show that Jesus was married and married to Mary Magdalene. However, because that evidence isn't in the form of "And lo! Jesus said I do, and Mary said I do and the priest said 'I now declare you (Son of) man and wife," it does give all the 'call this number and pledge money now Christians,' wiggle room. The Catholic church would just stay silent on this sort of thing, theirs' isn't this, original Christianity anyway, so they could remain unaffected.
This book is about evidence from the early Christian church, the church started - or continued, depends on how you look at it - by Jesus and his disciples, brothers and people who knew him, heard him and believed in his words. This book is about interpreting the text of a 1,450-year old manuscript, which was found, forgotten in the British Library. It's written in Syriac, a later form of Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, and includes a text about about 'the Story of Joseph and Aseneth.'
The book deals with an absolutely exhaustive, fascinating, dissection and discussion about the Joseph and Aseneth text. It looks at the text, from every imaginable angle. It puts the theories to the test, mentions the arguments for, and discusses away the arguments against. It is a detective story in part, a theological discourse in another part. Personally, while the above description doesn't exactly make it sound the most accessible and/or tempting of books, I found it spell-bindingly fascinating. Simcha has a good style of writing, which sets things out very clearly and then turns and twirls the argument around, allowing any possible doubt to also come in and have its day. Even the really theological point of a needle stuff is made easily readable. What I perhaps found most interesting, was the history of the early Christian church. The Christianity, as I said, that was the first Christianity, before Paul got hold of it (remember, he never saw, met, or knew Jesus at all) and twisted it out of all recognition - even to Jesus himself I suspect - and thoroughly stamped out the 'competing' but original Christian ideas and teachings.
I did have reservations at certain points, but then at some time or other in the book, all those reservations were satisfied. If you want a really objective look at early Christianity and the real message of the historical Jesus, then you really need to read one of the Simcha Jacobovici books.
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I think most rational people, would be fairly up-to-date with the possibility, at least, that Jesus was married and married to Mary Magdalene, whether it says so in the Bible or not. And that's the funny thing, because, as this book points out, there is evidence in the actual Bible, the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Bible, to show that Jesus was married and married to Mary Magdalene. However, because that evidence isn't in the form of "And lo! Jesus said I do, and Mary said I do and the priest said 'I now declare you (Son of) man and wife," it does give all the 'call this number and pledge money now Christians,' wiggle room. The Catholic church would just stay silent on this sort of thing, theirs' isn't this, original Christianity anyway, so they could remain unaffected.
This book is about evidence from the early Christian church, the church started - or continued, depends on how you look at it - by Jesus and his disciples, brothers and people who knew him, heard him and believed in his words. This book is about interpreting the text of a 1,450-year old manuscript, which was found, forgotten in the British Library. It's written in Syriac, a later form of Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, and includes a text about about 'the Story of Joseph and Aseneth.'
The book deals with an absolutely exhaustive, fascinating, dissection and discussion about the Joseph and Aseneth text. It looks at the text, from every imaginable angle. It puts the theories to the test, mentions the arguments for, and discusses away the arguments against. It is a detective story in part, a theological discourse in another part. Personally, while the above description doesn't exactly make it sound the most accessible and/or tempting of books, I found it spell-bindingly fascinating. Simcha has a good style of writing, which sets things out very clearly and then turns and twirls the argument around, allowing any possible doubt to also come in and have its day. Even the really theological point of a needle stuff is made easily readable. What I perhaps found most interesting, was the history of the early Christian church. The Christianity, as I said, that was the first Christianity, before Paul got hold of it (remember, he never saw, met, or knew Jesus at all) and twisted it out of all recognition - even to Jesus himself I suspect - and thoroughly stamped out the 'competing' but original Christian ideas and teachings.
I did have reservations at certain points, but then at some time or other in the book, all those reservations were satisfied. If you want a really objective look at early Christianity and the real message of the historical Jesus, then you really need to read one of the Simcha Jacobovici books.
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January 26, 2015
You have to give Mr. Jacobovici and Mr. Wilson credit for an engaging writing style; however, that's the only thing to their credit with this book. When they aren't brushing off any complaint about their ideas as people essentially being brainwashed by what they referred to as "Pauline Christianity", the authors are making some very strange leaps of logic in order to prove their idea that a British Library manuscript is actually a detailed account of Jesus's marriage to Mary Magdalene and their subsequent married life, including a conspiracy by Roman authorities to kill the entire family. I feel the need to do the heavy sigh of 'not everyone was out to get Jesus in antiquity' right about here. Much of their scholarship, and in this case I'm using the term loosely, seems to depend on similarities in word meanings, myths, and later stories in order to get their starting point. Then they move on to an argument which boils down to 'if all that is correct, then so is our idea that Jesus was married' paired with 'so, here's the bad guys based on the assumption that what we started with was correct'. When Mr. Jacobovici and Mr. Wilson aren't propping their argument up on suppositions, they're using the Talpiot Tomb contents as proof of their theory. Since much of the finds from that tomb are still both controversial and unproven by historical methods, it seems illogical to use those findings as support for the theories expounded in this book. Finally, in a postscript to the book, the authors decide to claim that since a tiny papyrus fragment, proven by a full scientific review to be an authentic manuscript from approximately the first or second century when many of the earliest writings about Jesus were written, has Jesus saying 'his wife' to someone then they are of course correct in their theory all along regarding the British Library manuscript the book was about; however, there is one problem with this argument - the fragment in question is 1.5 inches by 3 inches and consists of a handful of disconnected lines, no context at all for the text. So, if you're into the Dan Brown/Mary Magdalene phenomenon of a marriage and family for Jesus, this book will be a great read. Those wanting unbiased scholarship into ancient manuscripts which may or may not support that idea had better give this book a pass.
July 10, 2016
I enjoy this genre and was really looking forward to reading this book as soon as I saw it in my local library. I read the first thirty pages and could not finish it. I get that there were a number of messianic movements at the time of Christ in lands that now comprise Israel. I understand that the Christ movement was not unified and there were several expressions of early Christianity. Ultimately, Pauline theology prevailed largely due to Constantine and the political forces then at work. Many early texts, particularly those not aligning with Pauline orthodoxy, were either destroyed over the centuries that followed, or weren't maintained and copied - which was much the same thing as destruction before the printing press and mass publication.From time to time old texts do emerge - Nag Hamadi and the Dead Sea Scrolls are examples. Sometimes these materials were previously unknown or represent new or much more comprehensive versions of old texts. These discoveries get scholars pretty sure excited. This book is about one such text. The problem is that without more context the work is largely conjecture heaped upon many layers of prior conjecture. At best, the author has crafted an argument for one interpretation but it is not particularly compelling on its face. I just couldn't continue with this book.
Want to read
June 4, 2017
'Lost gospel' claims Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had children
in: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/relig...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/m...
April 9, 2016
The author wants to make a case that the story about Aseneth and Joseph is about Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Despite a couple of logical assumptions, most of his conclusions don't add up.
June 7, 2023
Engaging. As a world history teacher, I already was aware of much of the history that the authors connected. Loved the symbolism and found it completely engaging. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Will listen to it again.
January 20, 2017
Opinião: O primeiro terço foi lido aos bocados, mas os restantes foram literalmente devorados.
Pessoalmente acredito bem mais na história que Jesus foi um profeta, que casou e teve filhos como qualquer “bom judeu” naquele tempo.
O estudo (aqui revelado) do documento do cristianismo primitivo com mais de 1450 anos existente na Biblioteca Britânica (A história de José e Assenate ) e que nunca tinha sido traduzido nem descodificado, é para mim, capaz de esta bem mais próximo da realidade histórica do que o da “versão original”
A história de José e Assenate é, na verdade, a história de Jesus e Maria Madalena, do seu casamento e da religião que ambos fundaram. A necessidade de recorrer a um subterfúgio porque a “imposição” do cristianismo ortodoxo [de Paulo de Tarso] forçou as congregações que advogavam uma teologia cristã ‘herética’ a passarem à clandestinidade”. O grupo de Paulo, que, recorde-se, nunca conheceu Jesus, “foi fundado sobre a sua experiência mística de Cristo pós-crucificação. Pelo contrário, o grupo de Maria, a Madalena, parece ter nascido de uma tentativa para compreender o seu casamento terreno com Jesus de Nazaré”. “Paulo e os cristãos Paulinos tornaram retroactivamente Jesus celibatário para poderem excluir a esposa de Jesus da sua teologia e em simultâneo assumirem o controlo da sua Igreja gentílica.
Será que o mundo seria diferente, para melhor, se acreditássemos num Jesus casado e com filhos? Pelo menos, acredito, não existiria o Vaticano (pelo menos não na configuração actual) Em relação à mensagem do profeta.. digam vocês mesmo...
Sinopse:: Em parte história de detectives, em parte biografia, A vida privada de Jesus, revela pormenores que estiveram escondidos à vista de todos durante mais de um milénio. Os autores descobriram um documento do cristianismo primitivo com mais de 1450 anos, na Biblioteca Britânica, e que nunca tinha sido traduzido nem descodificado. O que descobrem é assombroso e surpreendente: o relato do que se supõe ser o casamento de Jesus com Maria Madalena; os nomes dos filhos; uma conspiração contra Jesus uma década antes da crucificação, entre outros factos até agora desconhecidos.
A Vida Privada de Jesus de Simcha Jacobovic , Barrie Wilson
Ficha Técnica
Edição/reimpressão: 2015
Páginas: 488
Editor: Clube do Autor
ISBN: 9789897242090
Idioma: Português
Pessoalmente acredito bem mais na história que Jesus foi um profeta, que casou e teve filhos como qualquer “bom judeu” naquele tempo.
O estudo (aqui revelado) do documento do cristianismo primitivo com mais de 1450 anos existente na Biblioteca Britânica (A história de José e Assenate ) e que nunca tinha sido traduzido nem descodificado, é para mim, capaz de esta bem mais próximo da realidade histórica do que o da “versão original”
A história de José e Assenate é, na verdade, a história de Jesus e Maria Madalena, do seu casamento e da religião que ambos fundaram. A necessidade de recorrer a um subterfúgio porque a “imposição” do cristianismo ortodoxo [de Paulo de Tarso] forçou as congregações que advogavam uma teologia cristã ‘herética’ a passarem à clandestinidade”. O grupo de Paulo, que, recorde-se, nunca conheceu Jesus, “foi fundado sobre a sua experiência mística de Cristo pós-crucificação. Pelo contrário, o grupo de Maria, a Madalena, parece ter nascido de uma tentativa para compreender o seu casamento terreno com Jesus de Nazaré”. “Paulo e os cristãos Paulinos tornaram retroactivamente Jesus celibatário para poderem excluir a esposa de Jesus da sua teologia e em simultâneo assumirem o controlo da sua Igreja gentílica.
Será que o mundo seria diferente, para melhor, se acreditássemos num Jesus casado e com filhos? Pelo menos, acredito, não existiria o Vaticano (pelo menos não na configuração actual) Em relação à mensagem do profeta.. digam vocês mesmo...
Sinopse:: Em parte história de detectives, em parte biografia, A vida privada de Jesus, revela pormenores que estiveram escondidos à vista de todos durante mais de um milénio. Os autores descobriram um documento do cristianismo primitivo com mais de 1450 anos, na Biblioteca Britânica, e que nunca tinha sido traduzido nem descodificado. O que descobrem é assombroso e surpreendente: o relato do que se supõe ser o casamento de Jesus com Maria Madalena; os nomes dos filhos; uma conspiração contra Jesus uma década antes da crucificação, entre outros factos até agora desconhecidos.
A Vida Privada de Jesus de Simcha Jacobovic , Barrie Wilson
Ficha Técnica
Edição/reimpressão: 2015
Páginas: 488
Editor: Clube do Autor
ISBN: 9789897242090
Idioma: Português
January 23, 2015
The authors present numerous intriguing conjectures and back them up with textual and archaeological evidence. However, as a scholarly treatise, the book falls short. References are poorly or vaguely sourced and connections among disparate findings are not made explicit. A piling up of interesting connections does not a grand theory make. There are too many leaps of logic and fact to qualify this as a definitive study of this topic but the book does have a place in the ongoing discussion of Christian origins and the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene.
Want to read
November 29, 2016"Jesus 'married Mary Magdalene and had children', according to ancient manuscript"
in:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/peo...
in:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/peo...
February 28, 2021
There is so much information out there and yet so little. Humanity has been blinded for centuries. This book brings a lot of clarity and answers some questions every Christian must face at some point.
April 3, 2021
Mind blowing. The research was fascinating and eye opening. I did get frustrated with the constant reiterations of points, "in other words" " to put it another way", Dumbing down the findings repeatedly.
February 14, 2015
I found it interesting but quite repetitive. It could have gotten to the same point in half as many pages.
January 1, 2020
Amazing read. .
Indepth Wisdom for the well guided and lots of confirmation for a chosen few.
I recommend this book to the seekers of Truth.
Indepth Wisdom for the well guided and lots of confirmation for a chosen few.
I recommend this book to the seekers of Truth.
December 13, 2021
In The Lost Gospel, the authors attempt to convince the reader that the writings of "Joseph and Aseneth" are actually the coded writings of Jesus and Mary the Magdalene. This has all the makings for a made-for-TV movie with stories of marriage, sex, children, and murder that spit in the face of Pauline Christianity.
Being raised as a, and still practicing, Roman Catholic I was fascinated and somewhat skeptical. I'm well aware that when Christianity began it was a cult, not a true religion. And like any cult, it's going to have different stories and different views on what's important to the cult leaders. Even so, the authors were going to have an uphill battle to sway my 50 years of christian indoctrination and convince me that these writings were of Jesus of Nazareth.
I must admit, as a lifelong Roman Catholic, I have always wondered what was going on with Jesus as a child, a teen, and a young adult that people wanted to follow him? He didn't go from being born to being 30 plus years old! There must have been some amazing happenings along the way. I always believed that Jesus of Nazareth would have had to have been an amazing person to have inspired such a following, yet Christ is the only Jesus mentioned in the Bible. And it's sad that the early church has chosen to ignore these happenings.
The authors do a very good job of taking the text and putting it into a context that was very common back in the day. Their research and arguments are strong and convincing. It doesn't mean the writings are true, it just presents another image of The Christ beyond the image we see on the cross. For even my more liberal interpretation of Christianity, some of their leaps were a little far-fetched for me. But in general, most of their arguments are based on a solid hypothesis and supported with know documentation of the day.
As a Catholic and a devout Christian, this book really intrigued me and, although I do not take it as fact, I believe there is so much that we don't know about the Jesus of Nazareth who eventually became The Christ. I would like to get to know that person more. I don't see how it could change my belief or my theology, only how it could make it stronger. Throughout the book the authors referred to the Gnostic texts, I am looking forward to starting to explore these as they're more focused on the teaching and sayings of Jesus versus through his life versus the passion the last days of his life.
The thing that makes me truly sad is why is the vision of Jesus as a loving husband and father such a bad image to have? The Jesus that was a father figure with a wife who was strong and powerful would provide modern-day Christians an excellent role model to look up to.
The only thing about this audiobook that disappoints me is that the authors chose not to read the "Joseph and Aseneth" document in its entirety. I would have liked to have heard the text for myself to see if my thoughts mirror theirs or if I have a differing opinion.
Being raised as a, and still practicing, Roman Catholic I was fascinated and somewhat skeptical. I'm well aware that when Christianity began it was a cult, not a true religion. And like any cult, it's going to have different stories and different views on what's important to the cult leaders. Even so, the authors were going to have an uphill battle to sway my 50 years of christian indoctrination and convince me that these writings were of Jesus of Nazareth.
I must admit, as a lifelong Roman Catholic, I have always wondered what was going on with Jesus as a child, a teen, and a young adult that people wanted to follow him? He didn't go from being born to being 30 plus years old! There must have been some amazing happenings along the way. I always believed that Jesus of Nazareth would have had to have been an amazing person to have inspired such a following, yet Christ is the only Jesus mentioned in the Bible. And it's sad that the early church has chosen to ignore these happenings.
The authors do a very good job of taking the text and putting it into a context that was very common back in the day. Their research and arguments are strong and convincing. It doesn't mean the writings are true, it just presents another image of The Christ beyond the image we see on the cross. For even my more liberal interpretation of Christianity, some of their leaps were a little far-fetched for me. But in general, most of their arguments are based on a solid hypothesis and supported with know documentation of the day.
As a Catholic and a devout Christian, this book really intrigued me and, although I do not take it as fact, I believe there is so much that we don't know about the Jesus of Nazareth who eventually became The Christ. I would like to get to know that person more. I don't see how it could change my belief or my theology, only how it could make it stronger. Throughout the book the authors referred to the Gnostic texts, I am looking forward to starting to explore these as they're more focused on the teaching and sayings of Jesus versus through his life versus the passion the last days of his life.
The thing that makes me truly sad is why is the vision of Jesus as a loving husband and father such a bad image to have? The Jesus that was a father figure with a wife who was strong and powerful would provide modern-day Christians an excellent role model to look up to.
The only thing about this audiobook that disappoints me is that the authors chose not to read the "Joseph and Aseneth" document in its entirety. I would have liked to have heard the text for myself to see if my thoughts mirror theirs or if I have a differing opinion.
December 28, 2025
Phase One of Reading: You have to be initially skeptical of any Dan Brown-esque 'Jesus was married' folks, but these authers are scholars working in Syriac-language manuscripts, so I'm totally open to it.
Phase Two of Reading: I start feeling uncomfortable with how forcefully the authors declare their theories to be unquestionable fact. They will advance some very interesting speculative ideas, but then slap a word like "obviously" or "clearly" on them. At one point they use the word "clearly" three times in two sentences, to put forward ideas that are definitely NOT clearly factual, by any stretch.
Phase Three of Reading: Alas, we descend into pure fanfiction. The "Joseph and Aseneth" text is made to support an entire web of conjecture and spin, based on the flimsiest of suppositions. At one point, they basically argue that Germanicus is a good candidate for a conspiracy with Mary the Magdalene because he had previously talked and interacted with women. (whaaaat!) At another point, the authors outright say something like "Let's see if we can find a way to change the chronology of the Crucifixion to better fit our theory." And naturally, they do manage it- that's called Confirmation Bias, folks: when you go out hunting for even the smallest piece of evidence to support your pre-existing conclusion, you are certain to find it.
The authors end the book by expecting to receive lots of negative reviews by angry people who don't bother to engage with the argument, but are just driven rabid by the idea of Jesus being married. For the record, I'm not angry or theologically-opposed to the idea of Jesus being married, I just think the "argument" in this book starts with a reasonable scholarly account of a text, but then builds upon it the most ludicrous, imaginary castles in the air.
Phase Two of Reading: I start feeling uncomfortable with how forcefully the authors declare their theories to be unquestionable fact. They will advance some very interesting speculative ideas, but then slap a word like "obviously" or "clearly" on them. At one point they use the word "clearly" three times in two sentences, to put forward ideas that are definitely NOT clearly factual, by any stretch.
Phase Three of Reading: Alas, we descend into pure fanfiction. The "Joseph and Aseneth" text is made to support an entire web of conjecture and spin, based on the flimsiest of suppositions. At one point, they basically argue that Germanicus is a good candidate for a conspiracy with Mary the Magdalene because he had previously talked and interacted with women. (whaaaat!) At another point, the authors outright say something like "Let's see if we can find a way to change the chronology of the Crucifixion to better fit our theory." And naturally, they do manage it- that's called Confirmation Bias, folks: when you go out hunting for even the smallest piece of evidence to support your pre-existing conclusion, you are certain to find it.
The authors end the book by expecting to receive lots of negative reviews by angry people who don't bother to engage with the argument, but are just driven rabid by the idea of Jesus being married. For the record, I'm not angry or theologically-opposed to the idea of Jesus being married, I just think the "argument" in this book starts with a reasonable scholarly account of a text, but then builds upon it the most ludicrous, imaginary castles in the air.
September 11, 2023
**AUDIBLE**
An interesting book basically trying to prove that an ancient scripture called Joseph and Aseneth was really about Jesus and his wife, Mary Magdalene.
I've read a few scriptures and books about Jesus and even though I am an atheist I do believe Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. It would have been highly unusual for a Jewish man not to have been married and if you read certain excerpts from the bible, with an open mind, you can believe this to be true. (For example, Mary washes Jesus' feet with her hair. In traditional Jewish culture only a husband may see the hair of a woman. The woman must wear a scarf or cover her head to any other man, so the fact that Mary shows Jesus her hair indicates some evidence that they may have been married.)
I do have to say, though, that this book was very nearly binned at the beginning when it mentions U2 (the Irish rock band) mentioning Jesus and his wife so therefore this must indicate that they were married. Like, U2 are definite proof of this! But if you can get through that and some other fanciful arguments for Jesus' marriage to Mary then this is a somewhat believable book.
The narration is also a bit robotic but overall, it is an interesting concept and very believable. In saying this though, and after looking at some other reviews, the staunchest supporters of the traditional Jesus and the bible will not be swayed it seems. I guess all religious scriptures are open to interpretation though and it is up to you what you believe.
An interesting book basically trying to prove that an ancient scripture called Joseph and Aseneth was really about Jesus and his wife, Mary Magdalene.
I've read a few scriptures and books about Jesus and even though I am an atheist I do believe Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. It would have been highly unusual for a Jewish man not to have been married and if you read certain excerpts from the bible, with an open mind, you can believe this to be true. (For example, Mary washes Jesus' feet with her hair. In traditional Jewish culture only a husband may see the hair of a woman. The woman must wear a scarf or cover her head to any other man, so the fact that Mary shows Jesus her hair indicates some evidence that they may have been married.)
I do have to say, though, that this book was very nearly binned at the beginning when it mentions U2 (the Irish rock band) mentioning Jesus and his wife so therefore this must indicate that they were married. Like, U2 are definite proof of this! But if you can get through that and some other fanciful arguments for Jesus' marriage to Mary then this is a somewhat believable book.
The narration is also a bit robotic but overall, it is an interesting concept and very believable. In saying this though, and after looking at some other reviews, the staunchest supporters of the traditional Jesus and the bible will not be swayed it seems. I guess all religious scriptures are open to interpretation though and it is up to you what you believe.
January 4, 2024
This discovery is potentially the last nail in the coffin of biblical literalism.
Waiting to be rediscovered in the British Library is an ancient manuscript of the early Church, copied by an anonymous monk. The manuscript is at least 1,450 years old, possibly dating to the first century. And now, The Lost Gospel provides the first ever translation from Syriac into English of this unique document that tells the inside story of Jesus’ social, family, and political life.The Lost Gospel takes the reader on an unparalleled historical adventure through a paradigm shifting manuscript. What the authors eventually discover is as astounding as it is surprising: the confirmation of Jesus’ marriage to Mary Magdalene; the names of their two children; the towering presence of Mary Magdalene; a previously unknown plot on Jesus’ life (thirteen years prior to the crucifixion); an assassination attempt against Mary Magdalene and their children; Jesus’ connection to political figures at the highest level of the Roman Empire; and a religious movement that antedates that of Paul—the Church of Mary Magdalene.Part historical detective story, part modern adventure, The Lost Gospel reveals secrets that have been hiding in plain sight for millennia.
Waiting to be rediscovered in the British Library is an ancient manuscript of the early Church, copied by an anonymous monk. The manuscript is at least 1,450 years old, possibly dating to the first century. And now, The Lost Gospel provides the first ever translation from Syriac into English of this unique document that tells the inside story of Jesus’ social, family, and political life.The Lost Gospel takes the reader on an unparalleled historical adventure through a paradigm shifting manuscript. What the authors eventually discover is as astounding as it is surprising: the confirmation of Jesus’ marriage to Mary Magdalene; the names of their two children; the towering presence of Mary Magdalene; a previously unknown plot on Jesus’ life (thirteen years prior to the crucifixion); an assassination attempt against Mary Magdalene and their children; Jesus’ connection to political figures at the highest level of the Roman Empire; and a religious movement that antedates that of Paul—the Church of Mary Magdalene.Part historical detective story, part modern adventure, The Lost Gospel reveals secrets that have been hiding in plain sight for millennia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2022
Probably everything you are curious about Christianity packed up in this single book. According to an ancient coded scripture, Jesus was human in all senses, which means he had intercourse with his wife, Mary Magdalene and - the true resurrection were his offspring? [conclusion is mine] Wouldn't say the book is tedious, but on some chapters I really got lost, the authors, I guess, intentionally go around the same story of a married Jesus without giving a conclusion. And on that scope they put a Jesus in his historical context, not just in the Judean world but under the conditions of Roman rule. I never knew that the Roman emperor at the time of the cruxifition was Tiberius, a pedophile who almost lost Rome due to a powerful soldier conspirator who then later was executed. Then also the bad luck touched another conspirator; Jesus, who also wanted to be king. Some historians claim that Pontius Pilate committed suicide after he was retired. Judas Iscariot in reality was Judas Sicario[t], a Zealot murderer, who consired Jesus a traitor to the jewish cause; very much like Nikos Kazantzakis' "The last temptation of Christ." This book will be in my heart!
available
July 25, 2021The History Channel level scholarship in book form. . . Besides, since Jesus referred to himself as a/the bridegroom or alludes to bridegrooms fourteen times in the canonical gospels, and since Mary Magdalene was the only bridal suspect, it's pretty obvious anyway. In fact, only an idiot couldn't figure it out for himself. Therefore, it's one of the primary reasons why having a bible in a language understandable to the laity i.e. not in ancient Greek or Latin, meant burning at the stake!
Note: The main difference between Judaism an Christianity is the forgiveness of sins. Jews contend that only God can forgive sins while Christians maintain that man can forgive sins. This nullifies the Mosaic law, of course, because it nullifies "sins against God." For how can man forgive a sin against God? Therefore, since Jesus was no hypocrite and practiced what he preached, he made the reformed prostitute Mary his wife.
Note: The main difference between Judaism an Christianity is the forgiveness of sins. Jews contend that only God can forgive sins while Christians maintain that man can forgive sins. This nullifies the Mosaic law, of course, because it nullifies "sins against God." For how can man forgive a sin against God? Therefore, since Jesus was no hypocrite and practiced what he preached, he made the reformed prostitute Mary his wife.
December 31, 2018
Not very convincing idea that an ancient, newly retranslated text is really a heavily coded story of Jesus' marriage to Mary Magdeline, the subsequent Church of Mary Magdeline, and more goings on regarding the social, political, and family life of Jesus. Interesting theory with many giant leaps of faith, so pretty far-fetched. If you believe that near-yearly finds of old bones in stone boxes in Palestine are really those of Jesus and that the Shroud of Turin was used to wrap up his dead body, you will probably believe this story as well. Anyone curious about ancient biblical texts and how our Holy Scriptures came to be accepted and canonized will probably enjoy looking this book over for some useful context, but I bet they end up being serious "Doubting Thomases" just like I did.
UNC-UL
UNC-UL
March 14, 2023
I believe if we are to follow Christ, then he must be an example to follow, including marriage and family. The Greek philosopher Aristotle taught that God must not have any body, parts or passions, else he would be fallible. And Aristotle became almost a sacred prophet to the Greeks, and also to the Romans the Romans who revered the Greek philosophy. This was inherited by the Holy Roman Catholic church, who for example accused Galileo of heresy for disputing a teaching of Aristotle. I believe this reverence for Greek philosophy has influenced the idea that Jesus would be too human to marry someone and father children. I have seen this extended to Mary the mother of Jesus who had children with Joseph after Jesus, according to the bible. They change the scriptures to say that she remained a virgin all her life and these supposed siblings of Jesus were really someone else's children.
January 25, 2021
I loved the book, but it is unabashedly speculative and assumes certain premises for the sake of argument and later uses them as premises for further assumptions. When all is said and done, you have a stack of assumed premises, anyone of which if mistaken, would crash the whole narrative. Again, I loved it, it was fun, the speculation (what if...) was exciting, but it’s not hard scholarship. Just enjoy the story and see how you react to the possibility that they could be right! It’s simply unknowable...
December 8, 2022
So, this was different. Early Christianity has always fascinated me. I like to approach things with an open mind, but even I was scratching my head at theories put forth. That being said, it was extremely entertaining. Simcha Jacobovici is an excellent storyteller even if I don’t agree with all of his conclusions.
September 15, 2023
This book was FASCINATING. No idea where I stand on the claims it makes but I love learning about the various factions of early Christianity that were later concealed in favor of Pauline theology. This book was incredibly well researched and gave me a far greater context and understanding about the political movements at play during Jesus’ life. Intriguing from start to finish.
June 27, 2019
Unfortunately this wasn’t what I was craving. I agree with another reviewer that there were quite a lot of stretches to get to the conclusion- as if they first had the conclusion and then sought proof. The book began interestingly enough, but then lost me with failed authenticity.
February 17, 2022
Some parts where they decided that what the people wrote was about a topic not even in the world yet was utterly ridiculous.
Completely changing the words to fit their own desires of what they would like things to be instead of what they are.
Completely changing the words to fit their own desires of what they would like things to be instead of what they are.
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