The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-11-11
REPORT OF PLATE
ANCIENT DOCUMENT AGITATEs
THE CHRISTIAN WORLD.


New York, Nov. 1O.-The Herald says:
Is the document just found In the Vatf-
can archives the original report Of the
crusifixion of Christ made by Pontius
Plate to the Emperor Tfberius. or is it
merely an alleged transcript Of the ori-
ginal? The question is one Of impor-
tance and usual interest. The cable has
informed US of the discovery OF the
manuscript and the reticence Of the
Papal authorities concerning it.
Catholic authorities IN this country
doubt it's authenticity. So do other
Biblical sholars. Dr. William Hayes
Ward declares in the interview below
that no reliance can be placed in the
date or authenticity Of such manu-
scripts. There is already one such ale
ged report known to be in existence, and
this DR.. Ward quotes in full.
In considering the question Of the pre-
sent discovery, it must be remembered
that numerous forged documents of
similar import were f1oated in the early
ages down to the third century. The
apochryphal document OF Nicodemus is
almost entirely analogous.
The cable brings US news that a new
and NEST important document has been
brought TO light in the archives Of the
Vatican library. 1t is nothing less than
the official announcement Of PontiuS Pi
late 10 the Emperor Tiberius of the Cru
cifixion OF Christ. Accounts differ as to
hot ~ --1f Nc -;rrt-
nal, made in A. D., 14S, or the original
Itself, which, according to accepted Bib
iical chronology, would date from 33, A.
d. The Vatican authorities are them
selves reticent about the matter They
evidently contemplate the possibility
that this may be only a new addition to
the mass OF apocrypha relating to the
New Testament which has floated down
to US from the early ages Of the church.
tur of their sanction to khat may prove
to ze another forgery.
FORGED LETTERS OF PLATE.
They are wise in thiss reticence. For
this is not the first time that a document
has been discovered claiming to be Pr
late's description Of Christ's Crucifxion.
Theologians are well acquainted with
three different forgeries OF this sort.
One is contained in the apocryphal "Acts
of the Holy Apostles" which was first
published in a complete form by Thilo
in 1897. Thilo collated six MSS. for this
edition, the oldest OF the end of the
ninth century. Another is a separate
document entitled ''The Letter Of Pom
thus Plate which ne wrote to the Ro-
man Emperor concerning Our Lord
Jesus Christ" There are four extant
manuscripts of this lette. none Of them
very ancient. A long and more elabor-
ate fabrication Is entitled The Report
of Plate, the Procurator, concerning
Our Lord Jesus Christ, sent to August
Caesar Tiberius in Rome" Six manu-
scripts, all in Greek, differing slightly
in details are extant. The earliest is
assigned to the twelfth century, but the
date Of the original, which has now per-
ished, is unknown. In addition an en-
craving on a copper plate, entitled
Death Warrant of Jesus Christ pur-
porting to be the sentence passed by
Pontius PLATE on the Saviour, was un-
So1i L-iCA III IclV III l4lC city VI
Aguilla, in the Kingdom OF Naples.
The new document follows in the steps
Of the old ones and has analogies With
all, but the closest likeness is to De
found in what is the most interesting of
all these ancient forgeries, the apocry-
phal Gospel of Nicodemus.
This consists OF two Seperate works
the Acts of Plate and the Descent of
Christ Into He'll" These appear to have
been joined together at an early date,
though the combination did not receive
The name it now bears until after the
thirteenth century. The former Of these
two parts is of some Importance for the
explatioin and further elucidation Of the
canonical Gospels. Tischendorf attrib-
utes it to the second century, which is
probably too early, though without
doubt the legend was formed 10y the end
Of the second century. Renan places
the actual composition in the beginning
OF the fifth century-from 405 TO 42O.
The author was probably a Hellenistic
Jew converted to Christianity. The or
iginal manuscript was most probably
Greek, though, as is the case with many
similar forgeries. the original language
Is in the preface stated to have been
Hebrew.
In the light OF the present discovery
ii is interesting 70 make a brief sum-
mary Of this ancient document
ct n IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS.
The chief priests and scibes go to Pi-
late 10 accuse Jesus Of claiming to be
the son OF God and kink, OF profaning
the SI5bath and OF Wishing to annul
the law. PLATE urges against them the
performed by Christ. He is.
however, persuaded TO summon Jesus.
The latter is respectfully brought to Pi-
late: the standards bows as he approach
es The Jews complain Of this honor be-
ing paid by the soldiers, but are made
TO see afterwa-d that the standards
themselves pay the homage. Plate is
alarmed ani wishes 10 leave the triou-
nal; his wife. Prods. also sends warn
ing to him. In his resolution he inquiries
Of Jesus what are the charges brough
against him. Among other things the
Jews urge that Jesus was born illegiti- |
g n ~ q