Another week brings you another round of reads from around the web, courtesy yours truly. This week we have a report in on the “Gospel” of Jesus’ Wife, a look at “Guy Secrets revealed” (a common trap for our thoughts–making gender binaries), polemics in apologetics, our attitudes over Christmas/Advent, and a response to some arguments against the conclusions of the recent book, The Great Christ Comet.
Whatever Happened to Jesus’ Wife?– Well? Notice that the media uproar over the alleged “Gospel” of Jesus’ wife has effectively disappeared? There’s a good reason for that.
Response to an Amazon Review of “The Great Christ Comet”– Colin Nicholl, author of The Great Christ Comet, responds to a highly critical Amazon review of the book. The review argues that supernatural explanation best fits the Star of Bethlehem, while Nicholl holds it was a comet that was providentially ordered. See my review of the book here.
Guy Secrets Revealed?– Here’s an analysis of a book that claims to reveal “guy secrets.” The post provides much needed correction for the whole movement that seeks to identify the alleged inherent differences in preferences, mentality, and the like between men and women.
Polemics in Apologetics– The use of polemics in Christian apologetics is a necessary endeavor, but it requires some caution. Here is a great post putting forward how to balance the use of polemics in defending the faith.
A Note from Auntie Screwtape– If you’re not familiar with C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters, I suggest you get acquainted with it ASAP. The concept is a set of letters written from a demon to another regarding temptation. Here is a post in that style about temptations this Christmas season.
J.W. Wartick - Reconstructing Faith 
I had wondered about whatever became of the “Jesus Wife” fragment only recently, so thanks for linking to that update. Of course, would it really matter if Jesus had been married? If I understand correctly, most Jewish males in first-century Palestine were. Simon Peter apparently was, or had been — we hear about his mother-in-law, but not Mrs. Peter. Her story (I bet it was fascinating) isn’t essential to salvation.
I personally take the conventional view that Jesus wasn’t married — it’s would be a major detail to omit — but the canonical Gospels are not biographies in the modern sense; and while this fragment may not be authentic, I wouldn’t be upset were some authentic document mentioning Jesus’ wife showed up sometime (though presumably it, like the Gospels, would be a manuscript witness to a tradition – we’ve got no “first editions” to deal with!). The Evangelists tell us what we need to know; Luke and John are up front about the fact that they’ve left some things out. “But *these* are written that you may believe/go on believing…” All things necessary for faith and salvation. Jesus’ marital status, while interesting, must not fall into that category.
Always appreciate your round-ups, J.W. Thanks for your blogging ministry.
Posted by Michael Poteet | December 11, 2015, 9:49 AMYeah I don’t think it would matter terribly either to be honest. What does matter is how they portray it as this potentially faith-destroying thing or like it would shatter Christian ideas. Uh, nope. Also it’s pretty clearly a forgery. I have other roundup posts with more on evidence of it being forged. Can’t get them linked right now though.
Posted by J.W. Wartick | December 11, 2015, 12:28 PMYes, I agree – the sensationalizing of it in most media is a bad thing. Whatever makes a good headline sometimes, I guess.
Posted by Michael Poteet | December 11, 2015, 12:49 PM