The Smithsonian Channel has delayed airing a documentary about a controversial ancient manuscript that quotes Jesus as saying "my wife."

That is partly because scholars raised doubts about the authenticity of the papyrus fragment on which the statement was written. They have questioned its lack of known archaeological provenance.

Harvard Divinity School professor Karen King released the papyrus fragment last month. She said the fragment does not prove Jesus was married, only that some early Christians believed he was.

The documentary was set to air Sept. 30. But the Smithsonian Channel said it put the film on hold until the document undergoes additional tests.

"This will enable us to present a richer and more complete story," the channel's general manager, Tom Hayden, said.