COMPOSITE HISTORY OF JESUS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 February 1931, Page 7

COMPOSITE HISTORY OF JESUS

- GERMAN JEW ADDS TO CURIOSITIES OF LITERATURE. UNUSUAL STORY OF TWIN BROTHER Received Friday, 8.5 p.ra. LONDON, Feb, 19. Though admitting that the recon-■-struetion was purely hypothetical, the German Dr. Eisler gives in a book on the Messiah Jesus and John the Baptist, the translation of which in English is just available, a picture of "Christ's life on earth conflicting startlingly with the orthodox versions. It purports to be based on contemporary accounts of Christ as quoted by .Josephus in the Old Russian and other versions recently discovered. Dr Eisler contends that despite the tireless efforts of ecclesiastical revisers, enough is preserved in 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 his armed followers attempted to seize Jerusalem upon which Pilate suppressed the rising and crucified Christ and two followers elsewhere described as thieves. He also alleges, that the resurrection was made possible by a twin brother of Jesus who was seen after the crucifixion. No reason is given why the Romans -■did not produce the body thus settling the question. The Reverend Thomas Nightingale, -on.'behalf of the National Council of Free Churches, issues a dramatic denunciation of Dr Eisler’s book as a pf a hostile., Jew attempting to account for the resurrection and put' -ting the best face he can on the treat-

ment of Jesus by his fellow countrymen. Rev Nightingale says the book starts postulating a theory which the writer builds up to suit is own purpose. Experts should not find it difficult to reduce his theories to their proper value. Even supposing that the text of Josephus was 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 but Christianity remains. Dr. Mingana, of Rylands Library, Manchester, chief authority on Josephus, says that there are only two references to Christ in the recognised edition of Josephus. Leading authorities are unanimous that both are mediaeval forgeries.