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The Sexuality of Jesus
In 1970 William Phipps rocked Christianity with his controversial Was Jesus Married? The Distortion of Sexuality in the Christian Tradition, ushering in a generation of critical study of this sacrosanct subject. The Sexuality of Jesus is the harvest of his research. Carefully analyzing such subjects as celibacy, sexuality, and gender in first-century Palestine, Phipps suggests how Jesus' life and teaching undermined traditional attitudes toward women and the human body - and how the Jesus of the Gospels can inform discussions of gender and sexuality today.
How does the Christian tradition of sexual renunciation reflect - or distort - biblical and Christian understandings of the body? Does Jesus represent the full flowering of sexuality, or its rejection? How did women, particularly Mary Magdalene, view Jesus? Addressing these and other questions, Phipps seeks to release the pivotal personality of Jesus from the dehumanizing treatments found in much of the Christian tradition. Unabashedly dealing with the most contentious of topics, The Sexuality of Jesus is a fresh and provocative analysis of sexuality and religious faith.
How does the Christian tradition of sexual renunciation reflect - or distort - biblical and Christian understandings of the body? Does Jesus represent the full flowering of sexuality, or its rejection? How did women, particularly Mary Magdalene, view Jesus? Addressing these and other questions, Phipps seeks to release the pivotal personality of Jesus from the dehumanizing treatments found in much of the Christian tradition. Unabashedly dealing with the most contentious of topics, The Sexuality of Jesus is a fresh and provocative analysis of sexuality and religious faith.
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First published October 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 27, 2024
PHIPPS REVISES HIS EARLIER "WAS JESUS MARRIED?" CONCLUSIONS
William E. Phipps (1930-2010) was an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, and was Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Davis & Elkins College from 1955 to 1995; he also wrote books such as 'Was Jesus Married? The Distortion of Sexuality in the Christian Tradition,' 'Muhammad and Jesus: A Comparison of the Prophets and Their Teachings,' 'Death: Confronting the Reality,' etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1996 book, "Throughout most of church history, Christians have not raised questions about the sexuality of Jesus. They have accepted the prevailing tradition from the church fathers that Jesus, like his mother, was a lifelong virgin... only one out of every five Lutherans believed that Jesus has sexual desire. Probably an even lower percentage believe that he engaged in sexual intercourse, in spite of Martin Luther's counter position." [Luther's Works, Volume 54: Table Talk, pg. 154] "When I suggested that Jesus was probably married, I was amazed to find out how much it irritated a broad spectrum of people... I defended at length my thesis that Jesus probably had a wife sometime during his adult years." (Pg. 1-2)
He admits, "A number of things have stimulated me to rethink some of my interpretations since I wrote about Jesus' sexuality a generation ago. Rosemary Ruether's insightful hypothesis that Mary Magdelene was denigrated in the Christian tradition in order to elevate Jesus' mother has caused me to back away from accepting the traditional identification of Magdalene with a prostitute described in the Gospels. Also, as a result of the more open discussion of homosexuality in recent years, my homophobia has diminished." (Pg. 11)
He suggests, "It is probable that Jesus married as a young man, even though there is no more mention in the New Testament of his fulfillment of that requirement than there is of his attending school in Nazareth." (Pg. 41) He adds, "Jesus probably had children if he married, but there are no allusions to such in historical records. Would not the offspring of a person who was worshiped as a unique manifestation of God gain recognition and have their names recorded for posterity?" (Pg. 53-54)
He points out, "If Jesus were celibate and had taught that the unmarried life is better for Christians, it is surprising that Paul writes to the Corinthians that he had received direction from Jesus on other matters pertaining to marriage but no word regarding celibacy." (Pg. 56)
He argues, "The canonical Gospels can also be validly translated to show that Magdalene was Jesus' wife. In the New Testament 'gune' most commonly means 'wife.' Journeying with Jesus and his male disciples, according to Luke [8:3], were some 'gunai' 'who provided for them out of their resources.'" (Pg. 137)
Whether one is persuaded by Phipps or not, this is a thought-provoking book, and much more calm and reasoned than the arguments one reads in the various conspiratorial "Bloodline of Jesus and Mary" books that abound.
William E. Phipps (1930-2010) was an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, and was Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Davis & Elkins College from 1955 to 1995; he also wrote books such as 'Was Jesus Married? The Distortion of Sexuality in the Christian Tradition,' 'Muhammad and Jesus: A Comparison of the Prophets and Their Teachings,' 'Death: Confronting the Reality,' etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1996 book, "Throughout most of church history, Christians have not raised questions about the sexuality of Jesus. They have accepted the prevailing tradition from the church fathers that Jesus, like his mother, was a lifelong virgin... only one out of every five Lutherans believed that Jesus has sexual desire. Probably an even lower percentage believe that he engaged in sexual intercourse, in spite of Martin Luther's counter position." [Luther's Works, Volume 54: Table Talk, pg. 154] "When I suggested that Jesus was probably married, I was amazed to find out how much it irritated a broad spectrum of people... I defended at length my thesis that Jesus probably had a wife sometime during his adult years." (Pg. 1-2)
He admits, "A number of things have stimulated me to rethink some of my interpretations since I wrote about Jesus' sexuality a generation ago. Rosemary Ruether's insightful hypothesis that Mary Magdelene was denigrated in the Christian tradition in order to elevate Jesus' mother has caused me to back away from accepting the traditional identification of Magdalene with a prostitute described in the Gospels. Also, as a result of the more open discussion of homosexuality in recent years, my homophobia has diminished." (Pg. 11)
He suggests, "It is probable that Jesus married as a young man, even though there is no more mention in the New Testament of his fulfillment of that requirement than there is of his attending school in Nazareth." (Pg. 41) He adds, "Jesus probably had children if he married, but there are no allusions to such in historical records. Would not the offspring of a person who was worshiped as a unique manifestation of God gain recognition and have their names recorded for posterity?" (Pg. 53-54)
He points out, "If Jesus were celibate and had taught that the unmarried life is better for Christians, it is surprising that Paul writes to the Corinthians that he had received direction from Jesus on other matters pertaining to marriage but no word regarding celibacy." (Pg. 56)
He argues, "The canonical Gospels can also be validly translated to show that Magdalene was Jesus' wife. In the New Testament 'gune' most commonly means 'wife.' Journeying with Jesus and his male disciples, according to Luke [8:3], were some 'gunai' 'who provided for them out of their resources.'" (Pg. 137)
Whether one is persuaded by Phipps or not, this is a thought-provoking book, and much more calm and reasoned than the arguments one reads in the various conspiratorial "Bloodline of Jesus and Mary" books that abound.
July 22, 2017
THE GOOD: The question of Jesus's sexuality and what we are supposed to do with our sexuality as a Christian has been bothering me for some time now. Although the Bible does not state anything about his sexuality explicitly, this book does give us great historical insight into what it might of looked like.
THE BAD: This book disregards Jesus' deity for the most part.
THE UGLY: You take Jesus, and put sexuality into the equation, and surely people will get all bent out of shape.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews