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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Jesus did have children with 'wife' Mary Magdalene 'lost Gospel' proves
A controversial manuscript that is nearly 1,500 years old claims that Jesus Christ was married to prostitute Mary Magdalene and the couple had two children - despite no historical accounts of the marriage A bombshell manuscript said to be nearly 1,500 years old has sparked fresh debate by suggesting Jesus Christ was wed to Mary Magdalene and the pair had children. Dubbed the "Lost Gospel", the document, which surfaced in the British Library, reveals these shocking claims after translation from Aramaic as reported by The Sunday Times. While many scholars have historically downplayed Mary Magdalene's role, translators of this text believe she held much more prominence. Professor Barrie Wilson and writer Simcha Jacobovic devoted months to translating the ancient text, concluding that it identifies the original Virgin Mary as Jesus's spouse rather than his mother and asserts they conceived two children. Mary Magdalene's presence is woven throughout traditional gospel narratives, witnessing key events in Jesus's life, but this "Lost Gospel" isn't the pioneer in proposing she was Jesus's wife, reports the Express. The audacious idea previously surfaced in Nikos Kazantzakis's 1953 novel "The Last Temptation of Christ" and was famously echoed by Dan Brown in his bestseller "The Da Vinci Code". Known from the four canonical gospels as a devout follower who journeyed with Jesus, Magdalene's story remains interlaced with his, her significance perhaps greater than ever imagined. She is also thought to have been present at his crucifixion and subsequently, his resurrection. She is named a dozen times in the canonical gospels - more than most of the apostles. It's widely acknowledged among secular historians that Mary Magdalene, like Jesus, was a real historical figure. She is also referred to more than any other woman in the gospels, apart from Jesus's family. Magdalene is recognised as a saint by several religions including the Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Lutheran churches. In 2016, Pope Francis elevated the level of liturgical memory on July 22 from memorial to feast, and declared her to be known as the "Apostle of the apostles". In some Protestant Churches, she is celebrated as a heroine of the faith, while the Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates her on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers. During the Counter-Reformation in Roman Catholicism, the descriptor "penitent" was appended to her name on her feast day.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Lost Gospel' claims Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had two children
A controversial new claim, countering traditional narratives, alleges Jesus Christ tied the knot with 'prostitute' Mary Magdalene and fathered two kids. This bombshell is based on a nearly 1,500 year old manuscript unearthed in the British Library. Labelled as the "Lost Gospel" and translated from ancient Aramaic, the document reportedly includes these shocking revelations, as reported by The Sunday Times. Despite the tendency of many scholars to dismiss the historical influence of biblical figures, this newly interpreted gospel paints Magdalene in a far more pivotal role than previously assumed. After extensive work on the translation, Professor Barrie Wilson and author Simcha Jacobovic assert that the text confirms Jesus's parenthood of two children and identifies the real Virgin Mary as his spouse rather than his mother. Mary Magdalene's presence intertwines throughout the prevailing gospels, witnessing many crucial events of Jesus's life. However, this "Lost Gospel" isn't the inaugural suggestion of a marital bond between her and Jesus, reports the Express. The notion was famously echoed by Nikos Kazantzakis in "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1953) and quite notably by Dan Brown in his blockbuster novel "The Da Vinci Code", both weaving the same claim into their stories. Magdalene maintains a significant presence in Jesus's tale, remembered as a key follower who accompanied him as per the four canonical gospels. She is widely believed to have witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus and also his resurrection. Mary Magdalene's name appears a dozen times across the canonical gospels, which is more than many of the apostles. There is a broad consensus among secular scholars that Mary Magdalene was as much a historical figure as Jesus himself. Moreover, apart from the family of Jesus, she is the most frequently mentioned woman in the gospels. Regarded as a saint by various Christian faiths, including Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Lutheranism, Magdalene holds a revered place in religious history. In a significant move by the Vatican in 2016, Pope Francis elevated Mary Magdalene's July 22 memorial to the rank of a feast day and declared her the "Apostle of the apostles". Within certain Protestant denominations, she is celebrated as a beacon of faith, while the Eastern Orthodox Church honours her annually on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers. The Roman Catholic tradition, particularly during the Counter-Reformation, began denoting her with the title "penitent" when referring to her on her feast day.
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Digital collection of oldest English-language daily paper News Letter now available
From today, copies from across three centuries of the title will be accessible to the public for the first time. First published in September 1737, the News Letter will mark its 288th anniversary as the oldest continuously published English-language daily paper this year. The Northern Ireland Office has worked in partnership with the British Library and Findmypast to expand the online collection of the historic publication on the British Newspaper Archive dating to the late 18th, early 19th and 20th centuries. Announcing the launch, Secretary of State Hilary Benn visited the British Library in London to view the new additions to the online archive. The British Library provided originals of the News Letter in microfilm and newspaper format, which were digitised by the online platform Findmypast. Mr Benn said: 'It was wonderful to be able to view the newly digitised editions of the Belfast News Letter at the British Library in London using the online archive. 'Bringing Northern Ireland's newspaper heritage to a global audience will encourage research, exploration and appreciation of Northern Ireland's rich political and cultural history. 'This UK Government project has opened up a unique resource to readers and researchers in nations around the world with historic links to Northern Ireland, including the US.' The archive is available online through the British Newspaper Archive and on Findmypast and can be viewed freely at the British Library sites in London and Yorkshire, as well as at any library or by any private individual around the world with a subscription. Lee Wilkinson, managing director of DC Thomson History, which owns Findmypast and the British Newspaper Archive, said: 'Over the past 15 years, through our unique relationship with the British Library, we have been able to bring millions of these key historical records to communities across the globe so that families and researchers alike can uncover and understand their heritage.' British Library chief Rebecca Lawrence said: 'Digitising all known surviving copies of the News Letter and making them available online preserves a vital piece of heritage and opens up the archive to researchers around the world.' National World founder David Montgomery said: 'Digitising the News Letter is an important step in preserving the paper's iconic history of covering news from Northern Ireland and across the world for three centuries. By making historic copies of the paper available, we can recognise its continuing role in delivering quality journalism on stories that matter to its community.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Letter: Peter Lovesey obituary
Your obituary of the crime writer Peter Lovesey mentions his history of athletics The Kings of Distance (1968), and I knew him as an inspirational figure from this parallel universe. His publication with Tom McNab in 1969 of The Guide to British Track and Field Literature, 1275-1968 was the spur to me to pursue the history of club athletics in Britain. Alongside this he authored The Official Centenary History of the AAA (1979), and another pivotal piece of research, An Athletics Compendium (2001), written by Lovesey, McNab and Andrew Huxtable and published by the British Library, built very significantly on his 1969 survey. Later came Black Athletes in Britain: The Pioneers (2024). When I was researching athletic club histories about 30 years ago, he wrote to offer his assistance, which I gladly accepted. I met him only once – at a British Society for Sports History Conference – when, very self-effacingly, he came up to me and said quietly: 'I'm Peter.'
The Guardian
5 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Letter: Peter Lovesey obituary
Your obituary of the crime writer Peter Lovesey mentions his history of athletics The Kings of Distance (1968), and I knew him as an inspirational figure from this parallel universe. His publication with Tom McNab in 1969 of The Guide to British Track and Field Literature, 1275-1968 was the spur to me to pursue the history of club athletics in Britain. Alongside this he authored The Official Centenary History of the AAA (1979), and another pivotal piece of research, An Athletics Compendium (2001), written by Lovesey, McNab and Andrew Huxtable and published by the British Library, built very significantly on his 1969 survey. Later came Black Athletes in Britain: The Pioneers (2024). When I was researching athletic club histories about 30 years ago, he wrote to offer his assistance, which I gladly accepted. I met him only once – at a British Society for Sports History Conference – when, very self-effacingly, he came up to me and said quietly: 'I'm Peter.'
