To the best of my knowledge, The Mature New Testament exists as a single type-written manuscript. The manuscript is unsigned and undated, but a reference to "the average Space Age man" in the preface indicates that it was produced in the 1960s or 70s. This version seeks to remove everything that seems incredible or unbelievable to a "Space Age Modern." The translator rejects the divinity of Christ, the virgin birth and the Resurrection of Jesus. He deletes "offending passages" and provides a "Mature New Testament" with "no christ", "no trinity" - "Just a call to faith and obedience to the One God, which is Holy Spirit."
The Preface speaks of a "Fifth Gospel" which takes passages from the four Gospels and welds them together in a loose chronological order "omitting and often substituting more agreeable theological ideas." However, this "Fifth Gospel" is not present in this manuscript and it is not clear that it was ever part of the document.
Some idea of the flavor can be gathered from the first few verses of Acts.
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he died. And while they looked steadfastly toward the city where he was crucified, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up unto the city? after this prophet which is taken from you shall come others.
For more sample verses from the Mature New Testament, click here.
Anyone with information on this version is encouraged to add to this page or contact the site administrator.
Title: Mature New Testament
Date: ?
Publisher: manuscript
Contents: Acts-Revelation
Images: Table of Contents, Sample page.
