Customer Reviews

The Archko Volume: Documents That Claim Proof to the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Reviewer: Roger Pearse from Ipswich, Suffolk United Kingdom
In the 19th century there was a flood of genuine discoveries of ancient manuscripts containing hitherto unknown works from antiquity. This seems to have stimulated the production of numbers of bogus documents, targetted at various communities. The common motive was to get money: the intended victims of the hoaxes could be determined by the language used.
Most of these documents have vanished into history, with their target groups - 'Jesus in Tibet' enthusiasts and the like. The Archko volume is one that has not. It was first published in 1884 under the title "The Archaeological and the Historical Writings of the Sanhedrin and Talmuds of the Jews..." and repackaged, reedited and revised as "The Archko Volume" (2nd Edition) during the life of W.D.Mahan, its author (I have both a 1884 and a 1905 edition - Mahan died in 1906).

After some difficulty I procured a first edition. One document -'Eli and the Story of the Magi' has been omitted altogether from subsequent editions, without any mention of why. There is, of course, a good reason for this. Apparently the text is copied verbatim from the novel "Ben Hur" (publ. 1880). The rest of the material has been rearranged, although there is no mention of this in the preface. All copies with the title 'Archko volume' are versions of the second edition - the first does not have the preface in the same place.

I investigated the 'translators' McIntosh and Twyman, and found that they are not listed as the authors of any other volume in the US Library of Congress catalogue. There is no evidence that they ever existed.

The shelfmark given for the material by "Valleus Paterculus", as a Vatican Library shelfmark, is wrong, as this institution classifies its manuscripts by collection, not by author. Since I am interested in other Vatican MSS, I can vouch for this myself. In fact no manuscripts of any work by Velleius Paterculus exist anywhere in the world, as the sole MS of his real history was lost during the 17th century. Since he died in AD30, it naturally does not mention Christ.

A general discussion of some of these hoaxes is available:GOODSPEED, Edgar J., Strange New Gospels, Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1931), v+110pp. (There is a copy on the internet). It isn't very scholarly, and some of the judgements seem biased - New Testament Scholars enjoy a low reputation among Christians, and with good reason - but I have checked a number of the facts given and they seem to be correct. The rest must be left to the judgement of the reader.

The purpose of the hoax is plain - to make money from Christians living in rural areas of the US. As far as I know, it has not circulated elsewhere. It certainly was not targetted at unbelievers, or scholars, or even persons living outside the US, none of whom were at all likely to be taken in.

So what should Christians think? I was reminded of some wise words by the ancient Christian writer, Tertullian: "Manifold are the ways in which the devil has sought to undermine the truth. He is now trying to crush it, by pretending to defend it" (Adversus Praxean 1, 1). Spiritually this is a snare - inviting Christians to put their trust in something false, in the hope of convincing them, when the fraud is revealed, that the bible too is false. Commercially it is circulated for money, since its fraudulent nature has been known for over a century. If something seems too good to be true - it is. So is this.

Christianity is filled with writings that purport to be eyewitness accounts of Jesus' life. Many are forgeries, i.e., they are based on real traditions, but the writers put fake names on them to give them greater authority. The orthodox gospel of Matthew is one such example. Apocryphal writings of this kind have been surfacing for centuries with their "discoverers" often claiming to find them under extraordinary circumstances. The Archko Volume is one such work. The first edition revealed direct plagiarism from the novel Ben Hur, and this certainly cast doubt on everything else in the book. But there is still a mystery about it. Did the authors McIntosh and Twyman make up everything, or if they had created a collection of forgeries, were their writings still based on other documents? If so, what documents? Some Archko writings are intriguing; for example, people interested in UFOs will find remarkable passages here, and this in a book that was published in the late 1800's long before popular UFO awareness. The Archko Volume also contains my favorite apocryphal writing: "Gamaliel's interview with Joseph and Mary and others concerning Jesus" which presents us with an amusing account of Jesus as a lazy young man born of an ugly disagreeable father and a chubby mother who despaired that her son would amount to anything. Hardly the makings of a savior! Alas, New Testament scholars are right to reject the Archko documents since no trace of them have ever been found anywhere else, and the Ben Hur connection was an embarrassment, to say the least. Still, I give this book three stars for its fun value and for the little bit of mystery that it still provides.

The Archko Volume was introduced to me during a Bible study when a portion of the book was read to offer an extra-biblical perspective on the crazed mob that chanted, "Crucify Him!"

It was a qualified reading, with the pastor warning that the Archko Volume was of questionable veracity. However, it gave an insight into the mob mentality which, I might add, could apply to the present day.

Fascinated, I looked for The Archko Volume for months before I finally obtained the hardcover copy. Seeking more insights, I read it from cover to cover.

The emotional reaction to The Archko Volume is easy: many of us yearn to hear of more first-hand experiences of Jesus Christ - Whom we love and follow - by people who saw Him and heard Him when He was manifested on the earth. We want more descriptions and perspectives about Jesus and the events surrounding his presence from those who were there in those days. We want to accept the things that generally follow our expectations, especially when they do not appear to contradict the Word of G-d.

This book does all that. Could things have happened this way? Sure. There are even hints at unbelievers redeemed, even villains in high places, and because we know our hearts are also black it gives us hope and encouragement for ourselves and others.

Therefore, to the extent of an individual's depth of knowledge and belief in the Bible, The Archko Volume can fill a desire to hear more, and open the eyes.

Open the eyes? Yes. Almighty G-d can use anything (anything!) to touch our hearts and lead us to Him. The pure of heart will see G-d, even in this book.

There is a spiritual response to all things. If you allow them to do so, the writings in The Archko Volume could strengthen your citizenship in the Kingdom of G-d and increase the capacity to bear the burdens of being a Believer in an unbelieving world. Even non-Christian governments could see how a Citizen of Heaven benefits the general citizenry - may they be encouraged to leave us in peace - and if true Christian practises breed a peaceful kingdom, then let hearts be won, one by one.

Idealistic? Yes. But we who are Believers know the end of the story. There will come a time when we are called upon to die in the name of Jesus Christ. And if we are gird with the Truth and can be encouraged by the things in this book, then read it and be encouraged. Here's the caveat: Only the Word of G-d is incorruptible; let all else be proved against it.

Could The Archko Volume stand up to critical scholarship? Maybe not. With unlimited resources, I'd commission the best tutors and personally look into everything from the Vatican to the Sophia library to see for myself what is there: the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts? G-d always manages to lead me; to surprise and delight me. Even in the stories of The Archko Volume.

I heard this book hyped on TV and ordered it on Amazon,
where it was cheaper. I was a little disappointed. It's
deep and in depth and most people probably wouldn'[t stick
with it to dig out the truths. It's not for the average
"under-educated" person (no offense to anyone) Let's
just say, it's difficult to keep reading- for me.

This is one of the best reports during the days that Jesus lived. The author is very thorough with his research which took many years to complete.

The Archko Volume is a pious fraud by a Rev. Mahan of Missouri. It purports to be a translation of ancient writings about the historical Jesus, but none of it is authentic. The Vatican source he lists never existed, the translators he lists are fictitious.

There are folks who get hold of this and think it provides evidence about Jesus, but it was denounced as a fraud when it came out and the author was kicked out of his church for writing it.

A detailed debunking is found in Goodspeed's book "Modern Apocrypha." It's out of print, but can be found. The shame is that the Archko Volume is not out of print too.

This work is considered a forgery. See APOCRYPHAL NEW TESTAMENT by M.R. James and STRANGE NEW GOSPELS by E.J. Goodpseed.

This book changed my life. Not like the Bible has, of course, but it was excellent to see the intensity of author to prove that his work was validated in writing this book. He acquires actual proof and deliberates on each point in the detail you need, even if you have a mind for truth.

Letters from Pilate, Herod and Jesus' parents. Accounts of the soldiers at the tomb, and how they were shaken. The high priest Caiaphas sees Jesus after his resurrection, and converts to Christianity!

Rivoting! And not because the author wanted to sell this...as it was written over 115 years ago, long before people could profit from publishing rubbish!

Some people claim the Archko Volume to be a forgery. My opinion is why would it be? Nothing in it either detracts or adds to christianity. In fact--it amplifies the humanity & godhead of Jesus at the same time. In the Archko Volume there is a written investigative report saying the night Jesus was born there was a loud ruckus of angels declaring the saviour accompanied by light shows and singing in the skies--so much so all Bethlehem was aware. So, why would anyone think the Sanhedrim would not send an investigator (Jonathan) to look into these. This awesome birth of Jesus thus documented, why would anyone think the same Sanhedrim wouldn't send an investigator to interview Mary & Joseph when Jesus was 26? I'd of been very suspect if they didn't. Perhaps those that think this is a forgery do not like the fact that the Senhedrim's agent Gamaliel reported Joseph is selfish, tall and ugly; or that Mary is fair to see and seems to be a naturally good woman. Perhaps some people think this is a forgery because Pilate appears in extreme awe of Jesus, almost a believer, in his reports to Rome. Or, that what Caiaphas wrote after and about the resurrection may have some wondering if he too resigned and later died a Christian. Can I or anyone say 100% that these are real? No - but only for the same reasons I cannot say that any copy of our Declaration of Independence in existence is real. Do I believe they are real? Yes!

It's the best book that ever could been written in life history. We talking about our Lord and Savior. The Life of Jesus his life that was pure and holy. I just can't say enough about the book I pray I get the chance to read all the original writings of Jesus life.