For scholars of faith and history, a recent discovery could prove to be a treasure trove too precious to price. An ancient collection of 70 tiny books, their lead pages bound with wire, has the potential to unlock some of the secrets of the earliest days of Christianity. While academics are divided as to their authenticity, they agree that if verified, these books could be as pivotal as the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. This article delves into the fascinating details surrounding these enigmatic texts and their potential impact on our understanding of early Christian history.
The Discovery
The collection of 70 tiny books, discovered five years ago in a cave in a remote part of Jordan, has captured the attention of scholars worldwide. Christian refugees are known to have fled to this area after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and important documents from the same period have previously been found there. These books, many of which are sealed, have led to speculation that they may be the lost collection of codices mentioned in the Bible’s Book of Revelation.
Initial Findings
On pages not much bigger than a credit card, images, symbols, and words appear to refer to the Messiah and possibly even to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Initial metallurgical tests suggest that some of the books could date from the first century AD. This estimate is based on the form of corrosion, which experts believe would be impossible to achieve artificially. If the dating is verified, these books would be among the earliest Christian documents, predating the writings of St. Paul.
Academic Reactions
The prospect that these books could contain contemporary accounts of the final years of Jesus’s life has excited scholars, although their enthusiasm is tempered by the possibility of sophisticated fakes. David Elkington, a British scholar of ancient religious history and archaeology, and one of the few to have examined the books, believes they could be ‘the major discovery of Christian history’. He remarked, ‘It is a breathtaking thought that we have held these objects that might have been held by the early saints of the Church.’
The Mystery of Their Whereabouts
The whereabouts of the books today is another mystery. After their discovery by a Jordanian Bedouin, the hoard was acquired by an Israeli Bedouin, who is said to have illegally smuggled them into Israel. The Jordanian Government is now working at the highest levels to repatriate and safeguard the collection. Professor Philip Davies, emeritus professor of biblical studies at Sheffield University, noted powerful evidence of the books’ Christian origin in plates cast into a picture map of the holy city of Jerusalem.
Significance of the Imagery
Davies was struck by the Christian imagery on the books. ‘There is a cross in the foreground, and behind it is what has to be the tomb [of Jesus], a small building with an opening, and behind that the walls of the city,’ he said. This depiction, along with other images on the books, almost certainly refers to Jerusalem and a Christian crucifixion taking place outside the city walls.
Concerns and Future Prospects
The British team leading the work on the discovery fears that the current Israeli keeper may be looking to sell some of the books on the black market, or worse, destroy them. However, the man who holds the books denies this charge and claims they have been in his family for 100 years. Dr. Margaret Barker, a former president of the Society for Old Testament Study, pointed out that the Book of Revelation tells of a sealed book opened only by the Messiah. She noted, ‘Other texts from the period tell of sealed books of wisdom and of a secret tradition passed on by Jesus to his closest disciples. That is the context for this discovery.’
Conclusion
The discovery of these 70 metallic books could potentially bring dramatic new light to our understanding of a very significant but so far little-understood period of history. The possibility of a Hebrew-Christian origin suggested by the imagery could revolutionize our comprehension of early Christian traditions. As scholars like Mr. Elkington work to ensure the collection is recovered and secured, the world watches with bated breath, eager to learn more about these ancient texts and the secrets they may hold.
