by Scott Christmas

Created on: December 29, 2009

The success of Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code has brought the question of Jesus’ marital status into focus for modern minds.  Brown was by no means the first person to suggest such a thing.  As early as the 2nd century, Christian writers such as the author of the Gospel of Philip suggested that Mary Magdalene was the “companion” (Greek: koinnos) of Jesus.  This Greek word was used to suggest any type of companionship (such as the companionship of two fellow travelers), but when used between a man and a woman, it is generally understood to be a euphemism for marriage. 

In the texts of the New Testament, there is no explicit suggestion that Mary and Jesus were married.  All four Gospels mention her, and it is clear that she was one of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples, but for these writers, she is simply one of several prominent female followers of Jesus. 

Jesus’ marital status is something that was simply not of much interest to those folks who penned the texts of the New Testament.  While it is true that none of those writers ever suggest that Jesus was married, it is also true that none of them ever suggest that Jesus was not married.  His personal relationships with members of the opposite sex are simply never mentioned.  It is noteworthy to point out, however, that no New Testament writer ever mentioned whether Jesus had a beard or not, whether he was tall or short, or whether he preferred venison to fowl. 

In fact, the only appropriate answer to the question of Jesus’ marital status is that we simply do not know for sure.

There are good arguments to be found on both sides of the debate.  Those who believe Jesus was single suggest the following:

* No New Testament text ever suggests Jesus was married, despite the existence of at least four “biographies” of Jesus written during the 1st century. 

* As an itinerant prophet, Jesus did not live the lifestyle of an average male in 1st century Galilee, and as such it is not unreasonable to assume he never took a wife.

* If one accepts the traditional view of Jesus’ divinity, marriage to an earthly wife does not seem to make much theological sense.

* No suggestion is ever made of Jesus having offspring.  In an era before birth control, if Jesus had been married, it is likely he would have had children.  Such children, as the offspring of Jesus, would no doubt have gone on to prominence

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