CAIRO – Fresh reports claiming that the Vatican wants to check a 1,500-year-old Bible, predicting the coming of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and denying that Jesus was crucified, has reemerged as Turkey plans to put the antique version in public display at Ankara Ethnography Museum.
The secret Bible was first seized by the police from a smuggling gang in 2000 in Turkey’s Mediterranean region and since placed in Ankara’s Justice Hall.
There, it waited for eight years before being transferred to the Ethnography Museum with a police escort, Hurriyet Daily News said in a report in 2012.
Yet, a fresh report published by the Daily Mail on February 1, 2016, said that “Pope Benedict XVI”, who resigned in 2013, wants to see the 1,500-year-old book, which many say is the Gospel of Barnabas.
The £14million handwritten gold lettered tome, penned in Jesus’ native Aramaic language, is said to contain his early teachings and a prediction of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) coming.
The newspapers added that the Turkish culture and tourism minister Ertugrul Gunay said the book could be an authentic version of the Gospel, which was suppressed by the Christian Church for its strong parallels with the Islamic view of Jesus.
He also said the Vatican had made an official request to see the scripture which is not included in the New Testament alongside Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Despite the interest and growing number of media reports confirming the authenticity of the holy book, the Vatican Insider, a project run by the newspaper “La Stampa,” claimed that the book is a “hoax” in a report published in 2012.
The Vatican Insider believes that the holy book is not the Gospel of Barnabas, instead the site claims it is most likely the work of a forger, more specifically, a European — Jewish scholar from the Middle Ages.
Barnabas is believed to have been one of the disciples of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), and it is in the Gospel of Barnabas where it reads that Christ was never crucified.
It instead states that he rose to heaven while alive and Judas was the one crucified instead.
Additionally, this ancient Bible declares that Jesus was not the Son of God, but only a prophet who spoke the word of God, calling the Apostle Paul “The Impostor.”
Muslims believe in Jesus as one of the great Prophets of God and that he is the son of Mary but not the Son of God. He was conceived and born miraculously.
In the Noble Qur’an, Jesus is called “Isa”. He is also known as Al-Masih (the Christ) and Ibn Maryam (Son of Mary).
As for his crucifixion, Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified but was lifted up to heaven.
Muslims believe that Jesus will come back to earth before the end of time to restore peace and order, fight the Anti-Christ (Al-Masih Al-Dajjal) and bring victory for truth and righteousness.
The true followers of Jesus will prevail over those who deny him, misrepresent him and reject him.
Disclaimer:
AboutIslam.net could not authenticate Daily Mail claims in its report.