A Gift for An-Nadwah — Page 32
32 To my mind further evidence of the authenticity of this letter lies in the fact that it emerged from the library of a Roman Catholic who believed not only in the divinity of Christ but also of Mary. He had kept it only as an ancient relic. Because it is written in Ancient Hebraic and uses ar- chaic terms he was unaware of its actual import. This too is evidence [of the document’s authenticity]. Besides the testimony found in Peter’s letter, [we already know that] there were particular sects among the early Christians who believed that Jesus was taken off the cross in a state of un- consciousness which resembled death and brought to a sepulchre, where for three days he was nursed back to health. Afterwards he left for another land where he lived for many years. Details of these beliefs can be found in cer- tain European books. Among them are New Life of Jesus by Strauss, Modern Doubt and Christian Belief and Supernatural Religion. I have quoted excerpts from these works in Tu h fah-e-Golarhwiyyah. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian 6 th October, 1902