Abstract
Although they have received little scholarly attention, the beatitudes for childless and barren women (Lk. 23.29; Gos. Thom. 79b) and warnings to pregnant women and mothers (Mk 13.17-19; Lk. 23.28, 30-31) probably originated with Jesus. When read in light of Jewish apocalyptic eschatology, they reveal a trajectory of apoca lyptic asceticism in the Jesus tradition. This examination uses them as evidence for the argument that Jesus advocated the renunciation of procreation.
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