CHRIST’S LIFE ON EARTH

Hawera Star, Volume L, 21 February 1931, Page 5

CHRIST’S LIFE ON EARTH

STARTLING GERMAN BOOK AN IMAGINARY RECONSTRUCTION RESURRECTION ‘ ‘EXPLAINED. ’ ’ I lUmted Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) LONDON, Feb. Iff. Though admitting that his _ reconstruction was purely hypothetical, a .German. Dr. Eisler, gives in his book, “The Messiah, Jesus and John the Baptist,” a translation of which in English is just available, a picture of I Christ’s life on earth conflicting in a startling manner with the orthodox versions. It purports to he based on contemporary accounts of Christ _as quoted by Josephus in old Russian and other versions recently discovered.

“Despite the tireless efforts of ecclesiastical revisers,” Dr. Eisler contends, “enough has been preserved in the out of the way corners of the world among Jews and heretics, besides quotations in Christian literature, to allow of a reconstruction of the fundamental features of Christ’s personality and mission as it appeared to his enemies.” ' '' .

Josephus as reconstructed describes Jesus as a small, bent, homely figure. He alleges that some of Christ’s armed followers attempted to seize Jerusalem, upon which Pilate suppressed the rising and crucified Christ and two followers elsewhere described as thieves.

Dr. Eisler alleges that the resurrection was made possible by a twin brother of Jesus who was seen after the crucifixion. “No reason is given whv the Romans did not produce the body, thus settling the question.” Rev. Thomas Nightingale, on behalf of the National Council of Free Churches, issues a dramatic denunciation of Dr. Eisler’s book as the work of a hostile Jew attempting to account for the resurrection and putting the best face he can on the treatment of Jews by his fellow-countrymen. “The book starts postulating a theory which the writer builds up to suit his own. purpose,” Mr Nightingale says. “Experts should not find it difficult to reduce his theories to their proper value. Even supposing' that the text of Josephus is authentic the whole of Dr. Eisler’s work involves a reconstruction which is largely imaginary. This kind of thing has been attempted again and again, hut Christianity remains.”

Dr. Mingana, Rylands Library, Manchester, the chief authority on Josephus, says there are only two. referenese to Christ in the recognised edition of Josephus. Leading authorities . are unanimous that both are mediaeval forgeries.