Married Jesus? New book adds fuel to conspiracies

Canadian-Israeli documentary film-maker and writer Simcha Jacobovici, right, and religious studies professor Barrie Wilson, the authors of “The Lost Gospel” pose for photographs after giving a press conference with a copy of an ancient manuscript at the British Library in London, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014. AP PHOTO/MATT DUNHAM

LONDON—A researcher who has attracted attention and criticism with revisionist Biblical theories says he has found new evidence that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and that early Christians considered her a deity.

Canadian-Israeli documentary-maker Simcha Jacobovici says an ancient manuscript in the British Library relates the story of Jesus, his wife Mary Magdalene and their children.

He and religious studies professor Barrie Wilson outline their theory in “The Lost Gospel,” published Wednesday.

Jacobovici says the book shows “that Mary Magdalene really got ripped off,” in mainstream Christian theology.

But most religious scholars think the library’s document tells the story of the Hebrew patriarch Joseph and his wife.

Greg Carey, professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary, said the story is well known and “doesn’t require any decoding.”