Talmud Jmmanuel

Talmud Jmmanuel (TJ) is a purported ancient text that is described by its promoters as the source text (often termed as the Logia, or the Q document) of the Gospel of Matthew. Critics charge that the document is a hoax and it is not taken seriously by any serious Bible scholars [1].

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Jmmanuel from Talmud Jmmanuel (courtesy of E. Meier & C. Frehner)

Truth Claim

The publishers (Steelmark LLC) of the Talmud Jmmanuel claim the document was first translated from old Aramaic into German by Isa Rashid and edited by UFO enthusiast and purported contactee Billy Meier, its co-discoverer, then translated into English by B. L. Greene and J. H. Ziegler. The publishers also make the extraordinary claim that the document "could indicate an extraterrestrial origin for the New Testament."

Hoax Claim

According to the Swedish Lutheran-Episcopal priest Åke Eldberg: "This book is the work of 'Billy' Eduard Albert Meier who was born in Bülach, Switzerland in 1937. His obvious Biblical hoax has all the usual characteristics: no (original Aramaic) manuscript is available, the text only exists in modern translations, the 'find story' is unlikely, and it contains anachronisms and obvious 'prophecies after the event'." [2]

In turn, Eldberg's claims have been attacked by James Deardorff, a Research Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Oregon. Deardorff argues that Eldberg ignores some 300 comparisons between the TJ and the Gospel of Matthew which, Deardorff claims, favor the authenticity of the TJ and not that of the Gospel.

Publications

There have been several books written about the TJ and its history. The 4th edition has been published in 2007 by Steelmark Publishing.

External links

• Talmud Jmmanuel Book
• Talmud Jmmanuel Website by James Deardorff
• Steelmark Books (English Billy Meier Publisher)
• Talmud Jmmanuel Hoax page by Åke Eldberg