Was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene and did he have two children? Two authors say they have evidence backing up the controversial claim. INSIDE EDITION explains.
It's the controversial claim that inspired The Da Vinci Code that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and had children.
Now, two Biblical researchers say they've uncovered a 1,500 year old lost gospel that says it’s all true.
Simcha Jacobovici and Barrie Wilson are authors of the just released book, The Lost Gospel: Decoding the Ancient Text that Reveals Jesus' Marriage to Mary The Magdalene.
Wilson told INSIDE EDITION's Diane McInerney, "He falls in love with a very beautiful woman, he gets engaged they have a fantastic wedding ceremony, they consummate the marriage and had kids."
McInerney asked, "Jesus was married and had two children?"
"That's right," said Wilson.
See More of Wilson and Jacobavichi's Interview with INSIDE EDITION
Their “evidence" comes from this copy of an ancient text which they discovered in a London library and unveiled for the first time on Wednesday.
Jacobovici said, "Now, after all these 1,500 years, we think we have resurrected the message."
The text refers to Mary Magdalene as the "bride of God” and even offers up names for Jesus’ children: Ephraim and Manasseh.
Wilson said, "These are probably code names and we don't know what their real names might have been."
Another controversial claim was that Jesus was the target of an assassination attempt years before the crucifixion.
Jacobovici said, "What the book says is that the enemies of Jesus and his wife attempted to kill their children and rape her and that's in there and how the plot was foiled."
Bill O'Reilly, author of the best seller Killing Jesus, denounced the book last night, saying, “This stupid new book is a fraud designed only to make money. There is absolutely no evidence, none at all that Jesus was ever married to anyone or had any children.”
McInerney asked, "Some critics say that your book is a fraud and you're just trying to cash in. Your reaction?"
Jacobovici replied, "When people attack you personally, who don't know you, without having read the book, dismiss six years of work, it shows you where they're coming from, not where we're coming from."
