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The sexuality of Jesus has been portrayed in fiction, but the Letter to the Hebrews 4:15 states: 'We do
not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who in every respect has
been tempted as we are, yet without sin.' Most Christian denominations throughout history thus have
maintained that Jesus remained celibate until his death. Interpretation of indirect evidence has produced
widely varying theories of Jesus's sexuality.
Contents
1 Divorce and eunuchs
2 Mary Magdalene
3 The beloved disciple
4 The naked youth
5 Bride of Christ
6 Jesus said to them, My wife...
7 Latter-Day Saint views
8 In fiction, art, and imagination
9 See also
10 References
Jesus' praise for those who have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven has, for many
centuries, been interpreted by Christian theologians as a metaphor for celibacy, since the term "eunuch"
normally referred to a castrated man.[1] Some Christians (including, according to a few sources, Origen)
interpreted Jesus' words literally and hence physically castrated themselves as an act of devotion.[2] The
early Church Father Tertullian, who wrote that Jesus himself lived as a eunuch,[3] likewise encouraged
people to adopt this practice.[4]
Mary Magdalene
The Gospel of Philip (not in the Biblical canon) states that Jesus kissed Mary Magdalene. Considering
the gnostic nature of writing, most do not consider this a sexual act, instead interpreting it as an instance
of a common Middle-Eastern cultural practice, signifying the transfer of knowledge (in this case, gnosis)
between a teacher and his pupils.[5][6] However, the notion of a marriage between Jesus and Mary
Magdalene has been a frequent topic in literature, and within the 1982 book, The Holy Blood and the
Holy Grail.
love, eros.[11]
Abraham Rihbany supposed that the depicted scene was a Syrian custom, similar to present day
handshaking.[12]
Gene Robinson discussed the possible homoerotic inclinations of Jesus in a sermon in 2005. Robinson's
claim has been widely criticized, most notably by David W. Virtue, who called it an "appalling
deconstructionism from the liberal lobby which will spin even the remotest thing to turn it into a hint
that Biblical figures are gay".[13]
Bob Goss the author of "Jesus Acted Up, A Gay and Lesbian Manifesto" and "Queering Christ, Beyond
Jesus Acted Up,"[14] said of the interaction between Jesus and John, it "is a pederastic relationship
between an older man and a younger man. A Greek reader would understand."[15]
Bride of Christ
The Bride of Christ is a metaphor for the Ecclesia (church), likening the relationship between Christians
and Jesus to a betrothal pointing to a future wedding, when Christians are re-united with Jesus. In the
Gospel of John (chapter 3 verses 22-36), John the baptist speaks in terms of himself as a "best man" with
the implication that Christ the bridegroom (see also Matthew 9:15) is coming to meet his bride, although
there is nothing specific to identify the bride. Church Fathers such as Cyprian applied the image to the
Church.[18]
second century date of composition is correct, the fragment does provide direct evidence that claims
about Jesuss marital status first arose over a century after the death of Jesus in the context of intraChristian controversies over sexuality, marriage, and discipleship."[19][20][21][22]
See also
Cultural and historical background of Jesus
Historical Jesus
Christianity and sexuality
References
1. ^ In the ancient Middle East and Asia, eunuchs often served as officials overseeing harems, or in other Royal
positions. See:Encyclopaedia of the Orient (http://lexicorient.com/e.o/eunuch.htm)
2. ^ J. David Hester (2005). Eunuchs and the Postgender Jesus: Matthew 19:12 and Transgressive Sexualities.
Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Vol. 28, No. 1, 13-40 (2005)
3. ^ Note: There is some controversy in this statement as in context, spado, which in most cases means eunuch,
is generally translated as virgin as in here and a fuller explanation can be found here [1]
(http://books.google.com/books?
id=zV0jVQK0K14C&pg=PA85&dq=jesus+eunuch+tertullian&hl=en&ei=BmlrTba3N9Gltwebu7jmAg&sa=
X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=jesus%20eunuch%20tertul
lian&f=false). Tertullian, On Monogamy, 3: ...He stands before you, if you are willing to copy him, as a
voluntary spado (eunuch) in the flesh. And elsewhere: "The Lord Himself opened the kingdom of heaven to
eunuchs and He Himself lived as a eunuch. The apostle [Paul] also, following His example, made himself a
eunuch..."
4. ^ Tertullian, Adversus Marcionem i.29.
5. ^ Eric Lyons, "The Real Mary Magdalene" (http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/3059), at Apologetics
Press
6. ^ :: Jesus : expressions:: (http://www.rejesus.co.uk/davinci/index_2.html)
7. ^ Crosswalk: Gay Jesus' Claim Draws Fire (http://www.crosswalk.com/1202502) by Patrick Goodenough,
Pacific Rim Bureau Chief, CNSNews.com.
8. ^ Louis Crompton, Homosexuality and Civilization p.180
9. ^ Royal Panoply, Brief Lives Of The English Monarchs, Carrolly Erickson, St. Martin's Press (May 2, 2006).
ISBN 0-312-31643-7
10. ^ Louis Crompton, Homosexuality and Civilization, p. 111.
11. ^ Robert A. J. Gagnon, The Bible and homosexual practice (2001)
12. ^ "How often have I seen men friends in such an attitude. There is not the slightest infringement of the rules
of propriety; the act was as natural to us all as shaking hands. The practice is especially indulged in when
intimate friends are about to part from one another, as on the eve of a journey, or when about the face a
dangerous undertaking. Then they sit with their heads leaning against each other, or the one's head resting
upon the other's shoulder or breast.", Abraham Rihbany, The Syrian Christ (1916)
13. ^ Day, Elizabeth (April 3, 2005). "Jesus might have been homosexual, says the first openly gay bishop"
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1487002/Jesus-might-have-been-homosexual-says-the-firstopenly-gay-bishop.html). The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved January 29, 2010.
14. ^ http://media.www.webujournal.com/media/storage/paper245/news/2002/12/05/Culture/GossChallenges.Traditional.Christian.Beliefs-336580.shtml
15. ^ Hank Hyena, "Was Jesus Gay: A search for the messiah's true sexuality leads to a snare of lusty theories",
p.2, 1998-04 (http://www.salon.com/feature/1998/04/cov_10feature.html).
16. ^ Robert J. Myles, Dandy Discipleship: A Queering of Marks Male Disciples JMMS 4:2 (2010), p. 66-81.
http://www.jmmsweb.org/issues/volume4/number2/pp66-81
17. ^ Robert J. Miller, The Complete Gospels, Polebridge Press 1994, p. 411. ISBN 0-06-065587-9.