1500 years old Bible was seized from a gang of smugglers in a Mediterranean-area operation in which it is revealed that Jesus Christ was never crucified on the cross as popularly believed.
According to this ancient version of the Bible, Jesus ascended to heaven alive, and Judas Iscariot was crucified in his place.
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve original disciples of Jesus Christ, and son of Simon Iscariot (only mentioned in John 6:71 and John 13:26).
He is known for the kiss and betrayal of Jesus to the Sanhedrin for thirty silver coins. His name is often used synonymously with betrayal or treason.
This ancient Bible was discovered in the year 2000 but kept a secret until now. It contains the Gospel of Barnabas – a disciple of Christ – and states that Jesus was not only spared his life, but was also just a prophet rather than the son of God.
Religious authorities in Tehran insist that the book is original.
The book itself is written with gold lettering, onto loosely-tied leather in Aramaic, the language spoken during era of Jesus Christ.
The text maintains a vision similar to Islam, contradicting the New Testament’s teachings of Christianity. Jesus also foresees the coming of the Prophet Muhammad, who would found Islam 600 years later.
Many biblical texts have begun to surface over time, including those of the Dead Sea and Gnostic Gospels; but this book especially, seems to worry the Vatican.
There is a theory that the modern Bible was formed out of four canonical gospels by the Catholic Church during the Council of Nicea, while the Gospel of Barnabas as well as many others were ommitted.