Was Jesus an Hermaphrodite?

“Jesus was a woman,” are words that, although I don’t agree with, I could still read with open mind. But to read that Jesus was a “hermaphrodite,” is beyond belief!

Dr. Susannah Cornwall, a professor at Manchester University's Lincoln Theological Institute, wrote in a recent paper that the idea that Jesus was male is "simply a best guess."

In her paper, titled "Intersex & Ontology, A Response to The Church, Women Bishops and Provision," she states that it is impossible to know "with any certainty" that Jesus did not have both male and female organs.

On her blog, Cornwall notes that, "About 1 in every 2,500 people is born with an intersex condition which means that their body varies from the typical male or female pattern. It's therefore possible that Jesus – in common with many other people whose sex is never called in question – had a hidden or 'invisible' intersex condition."

She goes on to note in her paper that because of this, "It is not possible to assert with any degree of certainty that Jesus was male as we now define maleness. There is no way of knowing for sure that Jesus did not have one of the intersex conditions."

Cornwall also argues that because Jesus is not known to have had children, this also makes his gender status "even more uncertain."

Okay then, let’s see if there is confusion in the bible about the gender of Jesus. Six hundred years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah (9:6) prophesied these words: “For to us a child is born” (could be male, could be female), “to us a SON is given” (bingo!). 

Now let’s move from centuries before the birth of Christ to the actual birth itself.

In Matthew 1:18, we read, “Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child” (could be either a male or female) “by the Holy Spirit.” An angel then appears to Joseph to assure him that even though Mary is pregnant with a child that is not personally his, he should take Mary as his wife because God had miraculously blessed her with this child. The angel then tells Joseph the following (Matt. 1:21): “And she shall bear a SON” (bingo!)

Remember how mad Herod was over the news that Jesus was born? He thought that his throne was in jeopardy because a king had been born to take his place. So Herod went on a killing spree. This is what we read: “When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged and sent and slew all the MALE” (Bingo!) “children who were born in Bethlehem” (Matt. 2:16).  It seemed pretty obvious to Herod what Jesus’ gender was.

At the age of 30 when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, God the Father spoke from heaven these words: “This is My beloved SON. . .” (Matt. 3:17). God knew what Jesus was BEFORE His birth (remember Isaiah’s prophecy?) He obviously knows what Jesus was when He was at the age of 30.

But what about the parents of Jesus – Joseph and Mary? Shouldn’t they know? We read in Luke 2:21, “And when the eight days were completed before His CIRCUMCISION. . .”  The parents of Jesus had him circumcised. Certainly that would be a strong clue that Jesus was indeed male.

But what about after Jesus’ death and resurrection?  Maybe there was some confusion on the part of the New Testament writers. Paul, who wrote 13 of the 27 books found in the New Testament, said this: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the MAN Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).

So now I find myself in a personal dilemma. When I read the bible, I read where God, an angel, Jesus' parents, Herod, and Paul, all affirm that Jesus was born a male. But then there is this scholar who says that since Jesus did not have any kids of his own, that is a strong clue he could have been born a hermaphrodite.

Whew! This is going to be a tough choice to decide. I may have to take a day off from canoe practice in order to ponder this decision. I hope you won’t have to go through the struggling of not knowing Jesus’ true gender, as I am faced with. The evidence on the side of Jesus being a hermaphrodite is so strong and staggering. My faith is being tested! And it is even more compelling because it was written by a university professor.  

Oh, I am also reminded of one more piece of evidence that may (I use the word “may” because of the source) indicate Jesus’ true gender. Over in Mark, Jesus travels to the country of the Gerasenes and He encounters a man who living among the tombs. Within this man were many demons. So when Jesus approached this man, the demon (main spokesperson on behalf of the other demons) within him spoke these words, “What do I have to do with You, Jesus, SON of the Most High God” (Mark 5:7). In this one statement, these demons understood the following:

1.       Jesus actually existed as a person – “What to I have to do with you”

2.       His name – “Jesus”

3.       His gender – “Son”

4.       His origin – “Most High God”

Could it be, that evil, depraved, dirty, sinful, rotten, vile, corrupt, hell-bound demons know more about Jesus' gender than Dr. Susannah Cornwall, a university professor?

But I did in the beginning use the word “may” as proof of Jesus’ gender. Because after all, we all know that demons lie!   J