Citing concerns about fragment\u2019s authenticity and its origin, the paper also criticized Harvard, a Vatican newspaper declared the so-called \u201cJesus wife\u201d papyrus a fake.<\/p>\n
Nine days after early Christianity scholar Karen King announced the discovery of an ancient text suggesting that some Christians believed Jesus was married, the debate has been seemingly nonstop about the Coptic fragment\u2019s authenticity and its role in understanding Jesus\u2019 life.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe newspaper, L\u2019Osservatore Romano, published an article Thursday by leading Coptic scholar Alberto Camplani and an accompanying editorial by the newspaper\u2019s editor, Giovanni Maria Vian, an expert in early Christianity. They both cited concerns expressed by other scholars about the fragment\u2019s authenticity and the fact that it was purchased on the market without a known archaeological provenance,\u201d the\u00a0Associated Press<\/a> reported Thursday.<\/p>\n Last week, Harvard Divinity School professor Karen King cited the ancient text during a presentation at a conference for Coptic scholars in Rome. The text while not declaring that he was married, suggests some early Christians believed he had a wife.<\/p>\n Camplani, a professor at Rome\u2019s La Sapienza university who helped organize Tenth International Congress of Coptic Studies, said he and other attendees questioned King\u2019s understanding of the text.<\/p>\n Read more here<\/a><\/p>\n