Did Jesus have a wife? The owner of the papyrus fragment revealed!

The controversy surrounding the so-called "Gospel of Jesus' wife" has mostly subsided. There is still no definitive deceleration on the fragment's authenticity, although most if not all experts in the field have serious doubts.

One lingering mystery has been the identity of the fragment's owner. Until now, no one but Karen King knew his identity. But in a recent article in the Atlantic, the owner has been revealed as well as some rather bizarre perspectives he holds on the gospels.

Read it here.

From the Scroll to the Book (March 10): Upcoming lecture at Christ Church in Columbia Station

Here is information about an upcoming lecture 
I am doing in Columbia Station.

Dr. John Byron, professor of New Testament at Ashland Theological Seminary, will speak on the topic, “From the Scroll to the Book,” on Thursday, March 10, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Christ Church, Main Campus, located at 23080 Royalton Road in Columbia Station.

In this lecture, which is free and open to the public, Byron will explain how the Bible evolved from scrolls and papyri written in numerous languages to the English Bible that is used today. At the conclusion of the lecture, the audience will be invited to view a selection of ancient Bibles and manuscripts including a fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls and pages from the Wycliffe, Tyndale and Luther Bibles.

“The Bible is one of the most widely read books in the world. In North America, most homes have at least one copy of the Bible, but many probably have several,” Byron said. “Yet, it can be easy to take our possession of the Bible for granted. We don't often appreciate the long and sometimes di­fficult process that brought us the Bible we read today.”

Refreshments will be available following the lecture.

Those wanting more information can contact Angela Cirone at acirone@ashland.edu or 419.289.5926.

Ashland Theological Seminary is a graduate division of Ashland University. With campuses in Ashland, Detroit, Cleveland and Columbus, Ashland Theological Seminary integrates theological education with Christ-centered transformation as it equips men and women for ministry in the church and the world.

- See more here. 

Corruption, Conspiracy and Confusion: Can we trust the New Testament?

Below is the video of my most recent lecture at Ashland Theological Seminary. 

Over the years various arguments have been mounted against the trustworthiness of the New Testament. Scholars have noted the fragmentary nature of the earliest copies of the New Testament and concluded the evidence is too corrupt to be trusted. Conspiracy theorists, influenced by popular books and movies, claim the Emperor Constantine and church councils decided what books should be in the Bible while suppressing others. And some, observing the multiplicity of available translations, have suggested there is too much confusion and disagreement over what the Bible “really says.” In this lecture Dr. Byron will demonstrate why the New Testament is reliable. He will explain how scholars reconstruct the New Testament from thousands of pieces of evidence, how the New Testament books came to be canonized and why modern translations are a reflection of longstanding Christian heritage, rather than a source of confusion. He will conclude with some thoughts on the nature of the Bible, inspiration and the role scripture plays in informing our faith.