Re:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... chers.html
"The ancient books were found in 2008 in a cave in northern Jordan by a Jordanian Bedouin, after which they are said to have been acquired by an Israeli Bedouin.
The lead 'pages' - known as codices - are held together like a ring binder. The pages are thought to be 2,000 years old and are said to contain the earliest mentions of Jesus Christ, including an image."
Here's an interesting archaeological point (use of the cross symbol):
http://www.templestudy.com/2011/03/29/d ... lates-bbc/
(comment by larryco_, March 30, 2011)
"As I’ve read and pondered this find some more, I find one prominent part of the most talked about plate curious: at the forefront of it is the cross. From everything I’ve ever read, the earliest Christians did not feature the cross in their depictions. It doesn’t show up in the earliest Christian catacombs and seems to be a later addition to Christian symbolism, preceded by the fish symbol (with it’s greek c-x symbolism). If they are authentic, this might move the earliest date to the 3rd century, despite the initial rust analysis, which would still be really cool."
Very recent commentary on the lead codices and the 2011 article:
http://www.thesleuthjournal.com/2000-yo ... existence/
"However, this artifact will not be readily accepted by many in the Christian church. It has already undergone intense scrutiny and claims of forgery. But new testing proves that it cannot be so easily dismissed, and does authenticate to the historical period in question."
"Central to the books is the idea that Christ promoted worship in Solomon’s Temple where the very face of God was believed to be seen"
~ ~ ~
Of course, "face of God" was an accurate belief about Jesus, relative to our Urantia revelation. The UB mentions Jesus in Solomon's Temple multiple times:
"Although his disciples had not expected Jesus to attend the feast, the vast majority of the pilgrims from afar who had heard of him entertained the hope that they might see him at Jerusalem. And they were not disappointed, for on several occasions he taught in Solomon’s Porch and elsewhere in the temple courts. These teachings were really the official or formal announcement of the divinity of Jesus to the Jewish people and to the whole world." (162:1.9)
"On the afternoon of the last day of the feast and after the apostles had failed in their efforts to persuade him to flee from Jerusalem, Jesus again went into the temple to teach. Finding a large company of believers assembled in Solomon’s Porch, he spoke to them, saying: 'If my words abide in you and you are minded to do the will of my Father, then are you truly my disciples. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'" (162:7.1-2)
"All of the time this Sabbath-breaking session of the Sanhedrin was in progress in one of the temple chambers, Jesus was walking about near at hand, teaching the people in Solomon’s Porch" (164:5.1)
See also:
http://www.theub.org/part-iv.html#P162_1_9
http://www.theub.org/part-iv.html#P162_7_1
http://www.theub.org/part-iv.html#P164_5_1
~ ~ ~
Thus, the lead codices may not be forgeries but neither are they precise commentary on the then recently departed Jesus of Nazareth, instead probably being a compilation of reports/beliefs about Jesus.
Rod