AP International APRIL 1st, 2007
"The Gospel According to the Moneychangers"
The excitement over the recent release to the media, of copies of key passages of the text, and analysis by scholars and theologians has heightened to new levels with the authentication of its estimated age. Student scientists from the University of Washington have used a preliminary type of amino acid analysis to place the manuscript's age at about 1,650 years old. Orville Baird, one of a team of scholars who originally examined the parchment said that, " It's more than likely that GAMC was translated from a previous manuscript, originally written in first century Greek.This is accepted fact." Dr. Baird bases his conclusions on the inclusion of Greek loan words in the portions of the codex which have not crumbled from the ravages of time.

Now on display in specially lighted, oxygen free viewing cases and sponsored by the Department of Oriental Antiquities at the British Museum, the fragments have already been seen by thousands of visitors from every part of the globe. Albert Sandgren, a visiting professor of religious studies has declared, "We now know that the broader view of Christianity has not been seen or known by previous generations, and the discovery of these parchments reveals that the early Church was a much more tolerant and inclusive body of people than heretofore was revealed."

The Gospel According to the Moneychangers paints a picture of loving friendship between Jesus and the business men who were previously thought by Biblical scholars to have committed a 'grievous sin.' "I can see that what Jesus was really upset about here was money in general, not the money guys themselves." said one museum patron.

Though the translation of the Coptic parchment fragments appear below each segment in several languages, some have wondered if too free a hand was given to them in giving the moneychangers a pass. "The language of the parchments is hardly succinct," Dr. Baird declares, " but it is understood from the reading, that the relationship Jesus had with the moneychangers was shortchanged by the synoptic Gospels, no pun intended. He spent much more time with them than was previously thought. They paid tribute to Him, and He visited them often."

Despite the fact that a group of well-respected scholars have dismissed the parchments as a fairly typical commercial exchange between merchants from the second or third century, and who have also pointed out that Jesus' name is nowhere mentioned in the manuscript, Professor Sandgren remains steadfast in his opinions. "God's name is not mentioned in the Book of Esther, yet we see the connection to Him in those writings. The same is true here."

Professor Sandgren's remarks certainly echo those of the DOAs head, Sir Wayne Gravenslund, who stated, "These parchments set forth the role of the moneychangers as co-participants in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus who now, it is clear, acted in cooperation with these much maligned individuals, to bring about a desired response from a public who is said to have admired Him." Sir Gravenslund made his remarks before the ragged parchment remains could be completely examined, but followed up by saying that he is sure enough of his statement because John records an early routing of the moneychangers from the temple, while the other three Gospels suggest that there was a second event, much later in Jesus' ministry. "How could this occur, but that these men were in alliance?"

"Money was evil," Sandgren said, "not these men. If these men were joined to Christ for eternity as His friends, who else have we misplaced from a Heavenly repose?"