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The True Myth of Gay Jesus
Jesus.
His public life changed world history. Two thousand years on, his deeds inspire billions of people.
Yet, when it comes to his personal life, not much is known. A beloved bond did exist between Jesus and a close, male disciple. Descriptions in the gospel of John attest to that.
But the Christian church has never acknowledged that Jesus may have been a gay man. In fact, large swathes of this institution continue to deny the validity of LGBTQIA+ people. Or, at best, tardily bestow a limited recognition.
Then… in 2026… everything changes.
Professor Lynda Jansen, a humble Canadian historian, publishes the contents of six papyri. The Six Papyri prove, definitively, that Jesus was in a loving same-sex relationship with his devoted follower, Lazarus.
Jesus is gay.
How do you react? How does the Church react, let alone the entire world?
Will the scourge of Christian homophobia end at last?
Welcome to 'The True Myth of Gay Jesus'.
Moving. Engrossing. Liberating.
His public life changed world history. Two thousand years on, his deeds inspire billions of people.
Yet, when it comes to his personal life, not much is known. A beloved bond did exist between Jesus and a close, male disciple. Descriptions in the gospel of John attest to that.
But the Christian church has never acknowledged that Jesus may have been a gay man. In fact, large swathes of this institution continue to deny the validity of LGBTQIA+ people. Or, at best, tardily bestow a limited recognition.
Then… in 2026… everything changes.
Professor Lynda Jansen, a humble Canadian historian, publishes the contents of six papyri. The Six Papyri prove, definitively, that Jesus was in a loving same-sex relationship with his devoted follower, Lazarus.
Jesus is gay.
How do you react? How does the Church react, let alone the entire world?
Will the scourge of Christian homophobia end at last?
Welcome to 'The True Myth of Gay Jesus'.
Moving. Engrossing. Liberating.
154 pages, ebook
Published September 1, 2025
1 person is currently reading
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 4, 2025
thank you to NetGalley for the free arc copy of this book
This was an interesting speculative exploration of how the Christian Church might respond if a scholar found evidence supporting Jesus having a male romantic partner. It is commentary on how the Christian church treats lgbtq people. Though this was speculative, it didn’t have a narrative and was written in fragments, from pieces of the evidence to a lecture transcript. Not sure I would call it a novella, but was an interesting piece of writing.
This was an interesting speculative exploration of how the Christian Church might respond if a scholar found evidence supporting Jesus having a male romantic partner. It is commentary on how the Christian church treats lgbtq people. Though this was speculative, it didn’t have a narrative and was written in fragments, from pieces of the evidence to a lecture transcript. Not sure I would call it a novella, but was an interesting piece of writing.
September 17, 2025
I wanted to like this, but I found the story to be extremely dry and, honestly, difficult to read. I think the idea of a gay Jesus is interesting, but I found the six papyri to be really repetitive and uninteresting, and the TED talk type thing at the end was almost unbearable to read. I wish we could have gotten some narrative to go along with the documents. I really liked the idea behind the part with Lazarus’s “resurrection”, but wish it was told in a way where we could be closer to the characters. I think a dual timeline would have added a lot to the papyri, and I think the bit at the end would be more interesting if I was introduced to the characters before hand or if it was told in a way other than reading a TED talk transcript.
December 1, 2025
Rupert Evensong's book is intensely interesting, and I am giving it 5 stars. It is also beautifully written.
The book is written in an academic format which may not appeal to everyone, but which I think gives weight to his central thesis that Jesus was same sex attracted, and that he had a male lover, who turns out to be Lazarus - the Lazarus of John's Gospel, the one whom the gospel record tells us that Jesus raised from the dead. The same Lazarus whose death induced Jesus to openly weep, the only time where Jesus giving way to such an extreme human emotion is mentioned anywhere in the gospels. Even on the cross he is not recorded as having wept.
The author has used his imagination extensively but has kept his story telling under strict control, with the concept of the amazing discovery of six ancient papyri attesting to the fact of Jesus having had a male lover. Each papyrus is short and to the point and tells the facts simply and without embellishment. The various reactions to the discovery and research into the papyri are expressed in the account of a public academic meeting with an extended Q and A session. All of this is recorded in the second part of the book.
An important part of the book's value is the mention of other indications over the centuries since Jesus lived, where there has been speculation about his sexuality. Because one of the papyri contains a supposed letter written by Lazarus to Paul the Apostle the book hints at the difference that Jesus had towards human sexuality and the negative approach to human sexuality that Paul demonstrated. The author has done his research diligently and extensively. A sizeable Bibliography at the end of the book points the interested reader towards further reading.
I loved this book because it strikes a huge blow against the extreme homophobia still expressed by large sections of the Christian Church, which still in the twenty-first century causes untold damage to young people who happen to be LGBTIQA+ growing up in churches which adopt such attitudes. I would recommend this book to any LGBTIQA+ person and to all those who have supportive attitudes towards them. If nothing else, this book will make you think.
The book is written in an academic format which may not appeal to everyone, but which I think gives weight to his central thesis that Jesus was same sex attracted, and that he had a male lover, who turns out to be Lazarus - the Lazarus of John's Gospel, the one whom the gospel record tells us that Jesus raised from the dead. The same Lazarus whose death induced Jesus to openly weep, the only time where Jesus giving way to such an extreme human emotion is mentioned anywhere in the gospels. Even on the cross he is not recorded as having wept.
The author has used his imagination extensively but has kept his story telling under strict control, with the concept of the amazing discovery of six ancient papyri attesting to the fact of Jesus having had a male lover. Each papyrus is short and to the point and tells the facts simply and without embellishment. The various reactions to the discovery and research into the papyri are expressed in the account of a public academic meeting with an extended Q and A session. All of this is recorded in the second part of the book.
An important part of the book's value is the mention of other indications over the centuries since Jesus lived, where there has been speculation about his sexuality. Because one of the papyri contains a supposed letter written by Lazarus to Paul the Apostle the book hints at the difference that Jesus had towards human sexuality and the negative approach to human sexuality that Paul demonstrated. The author has done his research diligently and extensively. A sizeable Bibliography at the end of the book points the interested reader towards further reading.
I loved this book because it strikes a huge blow against the extreme homophobia still expressed by large sections of the Christian Church, which still in the twenty-first century causes untold damage to young people who happen to be LGBTIQA+ growing up in churches which adopt such attitudes. I would recommend this book to any LGBTIQA+ person and to all those who have supportive attitudes towards them. If nothing else, this book will make you think.
August 31, 2025
The True Myth of Gay Jesus: the premise immediately grabbed me: speculative fiction that reimagines Jesus in a loving same-sex relationship? Yes, please.
I'm always drawn to stories that challenge traditional narratives and open up space for alternative, more inclusive perspectives, especially when they touch something as deeply rooted as faith.
The book follows Professor Lynda Jansen, a Canadian historian who discovers six ancient papyri that supposedly prove Jesus was in a romantic relationship with Lazarus, his "beloved disciple." The story then unfolds, exploring the global reaction, theological upheaval, and cultural shifts that follow this revelation.
I wanted to love this book. I went in rooting for it. But it just didn't land for me. The writing felt dry, and the storytelling, although ambitious, became repetitive and flat in certain places. This book had a lot of things going for it; it's a bold idea, no doubt, and I respect the heart behind it. The themes of inclusion, identity, and rethinking spiritual history are important and powerful. However, as a piece of fiction, it lacked the emotional pull and narrative spark I had hoped for.
It'll still find a home with readers who are more drawn to theological speculation or who don't mind a slower, more academic tone. But for me, it didn't quite come together.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookmundo for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I'm always drawn to stories that challenge traditional narratives and open up space for alternative, more inclusive perspectives, especially when they touch something as deeply rooted as faith.
The book follows Professor Lynda Jansen, a Canadian historian who discovers six ancient papyri that supposedly prove Jesus was in a romantic relationship with Lazarus, his "beloved disciple." The story then unfolds, exploring the global reaction, theological upheaval, and cultural shifts that follow this revelation.
I wanted to love this book. I went in rooting for it. But it just didn't land for me. The writing felt dry, and the storytelling, although ambitious, became repetitive and flat in certain places. This book had a lot of things going for it; it's a bold idea, no doubt, and I respect the heart behind it. The themes of inclusion, identity, and rethinking spiritual history are important and powerful. However, as a piece of fiction, it lacked the emotional pull and narrative spark I had hoped for.
It'll still find a home with readers who are more drawn to theological speculation or who don't mind a slower, more academic tone. But for me, it didn't quite come together.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookmundo for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
September 29, 2025
Picked up this rather wonderful book for the intriguing title and beautiful cover, and was rewarded by a profound and thought-provoking piece of literary fiction.
Rupert’s writing is refreshingly witty and erudite. The book evocatively moves through three time periods; deeply moving and personal first century AD papyri revealing the nature of Jesus and Lazarus's relationship, letters from a shocked few who discovered and then concealed the papyri in Victorian England, and lastly, a brilliant discussion and deliciously enticing re-imagined modern-day response to their rediscovery.
Whether gay or straight, a bible reader or not, Rupert deftly guides the reader to a deeper understanding of relevant academic writing about the sexuality of Jesus and the scriptures with humour and optimism. More than a piece of fiction, this book is deeply grounded in relevant research, insights, and wisdom in a most accessible way. It asks the reader to consider and dream into a church that is truly inclusive, loving, courageous, and relevant today. And left me thinking, do we need six papyri to do that? Really?
I loved it. And wanted to re-read it as soon as I finished it. Highly recommended.
Rupert’s writing is refreshingly witty and erudite. The book evocatively moves through three time periods; deeply moving and personal first century AD papyri revealing the nature of Jesus and Lazarus's relationship, letters from a shocked few who discovered and then concealed the papyri in Victorian England, and lastly, a brilliant discussion and deliciously enticing re-imagined modern-day response to their rediscovery.
Whether gay or straight, a bible reader or not, Rupert deftly guides the reader to a deeper understanding of relevant academic writing about the sexuality of Jesus and the scriptures with humour and optimism. More than a piece of fiction, this book is deeply grounded in relevant research, insights, and wisdom in a most accessible way. It asks the reader to consider and dream into a church that is truly inclusive, loving, courageous, and relevant today. And left me thinking, do we need six papyri to do that? Really?
I loved it. And wanted to re-read it as soon as I finished it. Highly recommended.
September 1, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookmundo for the ARC of this book.
I didn't really know what to expect from this when I requested it. I thought there may have been some satire in it. But what I found was a deeply profound and philosophical novella that asks the question, what if Jesus was same sex attracted? Would those in the identify as both christian and queer be respected and treated as equals?
The book doesn't significantly answer the question, but it sets the letters of Lazarus and discussion after to give the reader some serious thought. To me there was nothing offensive in this book in thinking of Jesus as gay. The very little that he was on page, it felt like a loving relationship.
The mention of agape, or selfless love of others added another interesting element to the book. While it is very briefly mentioned, it is feasible.
Recommending this book to people will be hard. I think it will be hard for some to think of the overall concept, adding to the fact that it is very literary (written well, but still very literary). However, if you do identify as both groups then I definitely recommend picking this one up.
I didn't really know what to expect from this when I requested it. I thought there may have been some satire in it. But what I found was a deeply profound and philosophical novella that asks the question, what if Jesus was same sex attracted? Would those in the identify as both christian and queer be respected and treated as equals?
The book doesn't significantly answer the question, but it sets the letters of Lazarus and discussion after to give the reader some serious thought. To me there was nothing offensive in this book in thinking of Jesus as gay. The very little that he was on page, it felt like a loving relationship.
The mention of agape, or selfless love of others added another interesting element to the book. While it is very briefly mentioned, it is feasible.
Recommending this book to people will be hard. I think it will be hard for some to think of the overall concept, adding to the fact that it is very literary (written well, but still very literary). However, if you do identify as both groups then I definitely recommend picking this one up.
September 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookmundo for a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's a shame that this book has what appears to be an AI-generated cover, because I would have rated it higher otherwise.
The actual substance of this book requires some level of suspension of disbelief - as does most fiction. But I'd say this one more than most. The actual writing is fine. Perhaps somewhat haughty at times, but digestible.
I appreciate what the author is trying to do. It's important to look at the historical Bible and question it. But if the goal is to increase acceptance for LGBTQIA+ folks in Christian spheres, this book falls flat. A more effective method would've been a nonfiction analysis of the discrepancies within the Bible's text. These points are presented in the book in the form of a conference transcript, but it's overshadowed by the fact that the discussion revolves around fictional texts.
We can have hope for acceptance in the world, but this book just seems to far-flung to make any sort of difference.
It's a shame that this book has what appears to be an AI-generated cover, because I would have rated it higher otherwise.
The actual substance of this book requires some level of suspension of disbelief - as does most fiction. But I'd say this one more than most. The actual writing is fine. Perhaps somewhat haughty at times, but digestible.
I appreciate what the author is trying to do. It's important to look at the historical Bible and question it. But if the goal is to increase acceptance for LGBTQIA+ folks in Christian spheres, this book falls flat. A more effective method would've been a nonfiction analysis of the discrepancies within the Bible's text. These points are presented in the book in the form of a conference transcript, but it's overshadowed by the fact that the discussion revolves around fictional texts.
We can have hope for acceptance in the world, but this book just seems to far-flung to make any sort of difference.
September 16, 2025
NetGalley ARC. Really enjoyed this novella! It begins with the text of the six newly-discovered papyri. After that are some letters from the people who purchased them in the late 1800s and their debate over whether to release them, then letters when the papyri are rediscovered, and then a transcript of three academics discussing how this discovery fits with the other evidence people connected to the church have debated in the past.
I enjoyed the structure of the story (letters and transcripts only). The academics each had their own unique characters and POVs, and there were fun human moments woven into the transcript, so it didn't feel like a slog to read even though the depth of info shared was pretty intense. The subject is clearly something the author is very passionate about, and it is very well-researched. I was googling some interesting tidbits as I read, and there's a long bibliography at the back with more resources to explore. A really interesting read!
I enjoyed the structure of the story (letters and transcripts only). The academics each had their own unique characters and POVs, and there were fun human moments woven into the transcript, so it didn't feel like a slog to read even though the depth of info shared was pretty intense. The subject is clearly something the author is very passionate about, and it is very well-researched. I was googling some interesting tidbits as I read, and there's a long bibliography at the back with more resources to explore. A really interesting read!
December 18, 2025
I was drawn to the title of this beautiful book which I found moving, erudite and at times quite hilarious.
The narrative arc of the six papyri, the exchange of letters and vigorous discussion at Bradfield University hung together like a masterful triptych; deftly crossing millennia and introducing new characters. Each part is bound together by the moving story of love and humanity at its centre.
Beyond Evensong’s distinctive and erudite narrative voice, he is clearly very knowledgeable about theology and includes a detailed list of references for further reading.
This book is deeply thought-provoking. It made me reflect on the prejudice, exclusion and hatred visited upon gay people, immigrants, and others and imagine an alternative paradigm.
Highly recommended.
The narrative arc of the six papyri, the exchange of letters and vigorous discussion at Bradfield University hung together like a masterful triptych; deftly crossing millennia and introducing new characters. Each part is bound together by the moving story of love and humanity at its centre.
Beyond Evensong’s distinctive and erudite narrative voice, he is clearly very knowledgeable about theology and includes a detailed list of references for further reading.
This book is deeply thought-provoking. It made me reflect on the prejudice, exclusion and hatred visited upon gay people, immigrants, and others and imagine an alternative paradigm.
Highly recommended.
November 20, 2025
I loved the idea of this book. The execution, not so much. I see why the author chose this structure but it didn't work in my opinion. The epistolary format made the fact that all characters had the same voice more evident (and they have some 2000 years in between them). It also filled the pages with mundane information that didn't feel like ambiance but distraction. The author took gay Jesus and went nowhere, reading the novella didn't give me more than the sinopse did, unfortunatelly. The idea merited a full novel, time for it to develop, for the impact to feel big and real, not just some anecdotes from a handful of characters.
October 30, 2025
The greatest love story never told…until now. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this reimagining of Jesus, Lazarus, Martha and the Marys. It runs through the arc of history at a cracking pace, introducing delightful and thoughtful new characters along the way. I read it in one sitting, cup filled, spirit lifted. Highly recommended.
November 11, 2025
This is a highly enjoyable read which cleverly disguises its robust and scholarly research base (see the appendix/references at the end) with a variety of lyrical “voices” who persuasively lead the reader on a journey to the conclusion that Jesus was indeed a gay man. Very thought provoking and beautifully written - highly recommend!
December 21, 2025
This review has been cross posted between NetGalley, Goodreads and Storygraph.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher (Bookmundo, I think) for the chance to read and review this book.
I really like the idea behind this book. Papyri are found that once and for all answers the question: who was the beloved disciple? However, it was not an expected answer and it sends the Christian world into a tizzy. (Lazarus - of the 'he's been dead for three days' tale - is the answer.)
However, this is a fiction book with delusions of non-fiction. (Either that or the author is hiding something.)
And by that I mean that the way this book is written is much more commonly found in non-fiction than fiction: epistolary and transcripts. I, personally, hate this format and if I had know that was how it was written, I never would have requested it. (There is a reason I never read the Illuminae Files.)
It shows the six papyri and then a bunch of letters to and from various people - mostly the Westerners first involved in reading the papyri - and then a transcript of a public panel talk and then finally a ... note about how the Vatican handled it.
None of this is in prose. It is all, basically, dialogue. And dialogue written in such a way that the ancient papyri, the letters from the late 1800's and the modern day talks all sound exactly the same. (Okay, there are pop culture references in the modern day transcript, but... meh, my point stands.) There is also a huge bibliography at the back of the book (yay! less pages to read!) that directs you to all the references that the people make to various books.
Now, all that being said, I would have preferred either a true non-fiction book examining actual evidence and speculation that we actually have (which I very happily would not have read, likely would never have even come across) OR an actual novel with prose and dialogue and actual emotion that could have been a fictional account drawn from history. (There's a lot of that in the Christian fiction sphere - at least there used to be back when I read it - where people take biblical characters and expound on their lives.) That could have been cool and that is what I thought I was actually getting.
Instead of this book that I did not enjoy to the point that I would often read a couple paragraphs and put it down because it was just so dry and boring. (Or actually choose to go to bed over read more of it.)
So, yes, I did not enjoy it. Some people might, if they like this writing structure. I do, however, appreciate what the author was trying to do - but I also think that the people that would actually read this book are not the people that most need a book like this.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher (Bookmundo, I think) for the chance to read and review this book.
I really like the idea behind this book. Papyri are found that once and for all answers the question: who was the beloved disciple? However, it was not an expected answer and it sends the Christian world into a tizzy. (Lazarus - of the 'he's been dead for three days' tale - is the answer.)
However, this is a fiction book with delusions of non-fiction. (Either that or the author is hiding something.)
And by that I mean that the way this book is written is much more commonly found in non-fiction than fiction: epistolary and transcripts. I, personally, hate this format and if I had know that was how it was written, I never would have requested it. (There is a reason I never read the Illuminae Files.)
It shows the six papyri and then a bunch of letters to and from various people - mostly the Westerners first involved in reading the papyri - and then a transcript of a public panel talk and then finally a ... note about how the Vatican handled it.
None of this is in prose. It is all, basically, dialogue. And dialogue written in such a way that the ancient papyri, the letters from the late 1800's and the modern day talks all sound exactly the same. (Okay, there are pop culture references in the modern day transcript, but... meh, my point stands.) There is also a huge bibliography at the back of the book (yay! less pages to read!) that directs you to all the references that the people make to various books.
Now, all that being said, I would have preferred either a true non-fiction book examining actual evidence and speculation that we actually have (which I very happily would not have read, likely would never have even come across) OR an actual novel with prose and dialogue and actual emotion that could have been a fictional account drawn from history. (There's a lot of that in the Christian fiction sphere - at least there used to be back when I read it - where people take biblical characters and expound on their lives.) That could have been cool and that is what I thought I was actually getting.
Instead of this book that I did not enjoy to the point that I would often read a couple paragraphs and put it down because it was just so dry and boring. (Or actually choose to go to bed over read more of it.)
So, yes, I did not enjoy it. Some people might, if they like this writing structure. I do, however, appreciate what the author was trying to do - but I also think that the people that would actually read this book are not the people that most need a book like this.
October 29, 2025
Intriguing enjoyable detective story qualities. I enjoyed the varied approach to the subject. A good read.
November 4, 2025
Fascinating read and clever technique - as a non- religious person, I enjoyed the curtain being lifted on debates that have dogged the Christian world since its beginning.
December 1, 2025
Something to make you think! Engagingly written. Who doesn’t want a cover featuring hot, gay Jesus.
November 4, 2025
The author of this highly imaginative novella skillfully uses fictional historical letters to explore Jesus and Lazarus' loving relationship, which I found deeply moving.
The reactions of those who discovered the letters in the nineteenth century and the responses and discussions set in the present day are stimulating and thought provoking.
The author appears to have thoroughly researched the historical and theological framework because it all hangs together convincingly.
It is a beautifully written tour de force that I found very compelling and it was a delight to read. Highly recommended.
The reactions of those who discovered the letters in the nineteenth century and the responses and discussions set in the present day are stimulating and thought provoking.
The author appears to have thoroughly researched the historical and theological framework because it all hangs together convincingly.
It is a beautifully written tour de force that I found very compelling and it was a delight to read. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews