Publius Lentulus—a springboard

A diamond glows and sparkles with beauty and brilliance, bringing out a multitude of colors, as the light is reflected through the many facets cut in the stone. Outshining the brightest diamond is Mary Baker Eddy’s remarkable discovery of Christian Science, the Science that Christ Jesus taught and practiced—the Science that is made crystal clear through the countless facets that Mrs. Eddy fashioned to unfold its message in her textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

For example, she writes in both prose and poetry; she refers to historical incidents and persons; she clarifies deep spiritual truths through the use of familiar illustrations such as a court case and an actor’s dedication; she penetrates deeply into spiritual facts and then clarifies them with narrations, comparisons, and analogies; and she raises suppositions and then answers them. These are all ways that help to clearly impart and explain the revelation of divine Science, the law of Spirit that she discovered.

In one place in Science and Health (p. 29), she briefly refers to a letter by Publius Lentulus, a letter that surfaced in Italy supposedly dating from the first century a.d. during the reign of Tiberius Caesar and addressed to the Roman senate. At that time there had been increasing reports coming to Rome about the activity of a man called Jesus from the town of Nazareth. The reports claimed that he was stirring up the people and causing many to follow him. Now, Roman tradition was built on the elevation of Caesar as a vicegerent—or official deputy—of God. So it was natural for the authorities to want to hear more about this “Jewish upstart” who claimed allegiance to one all-powerful, supreme God!

This letter that was supposedly written by Publius Lentulus, a Roman official, touched only briefly on Jesus’ works, and was primarily a description of Jesus’ physical appearance. The letter was considered genuine at the time of its discovery and for several centuries after, but later there was reason to doubt its authenticity. 

Publius Lentulus has been given many titles, some of which are Governor, President, and Procurator of Judea. In his book Modern Apocrypha, Edgar J. Goodspeed points out that the Roman governors of Palestine are well known, but that Publius Lentulus is not one of them. In the Latin classics, 43 persons were called Publius Lentulus, but not one of them was ever mentioned as having been a Roman official in Jerusalem during Jesus’ lifetime. However, it’s worth noting that in a manuscript, Deeds of the Divine Augustus, which is a record of the life and accomplishments of the first Roman emperor, a Publius Lentulus is listed as being elected as a Roman Consul. But since the work of a consul didn’t take place outside of Rome, it’s unlikely that he could have seen Jesus. Because of this, and other investigations, the letter to the Roman senate has been deemed apocryphal and has even been called an “obvious forgery.”

The new birth can begin at any time with anyone.

Interestingly enough, Mrs. Eddy refers to the Lentulus letter as “a tradition”—or as unverifiable history. And the part she references has nothing to do with his personal description of Jesus. Instead, she quotes one of the more overlooked sentences in the letter, where he refers to the report of Jesus’ origin. In Science and Health next to the marginal heading, “The Fatherhood of God,” she writes, “There is a tradition that Publius Lentulus wrote to the authorities at Rome: ‘The disciples of Jesus believe him the Son of God’ ” (p. 29). She then adds, “Those instructed in Christian Science have reached the glorious perception that God is the only author of man.” She goes on, “The Virgin-mother conceived this idea of God, and gave to her ideal the name of Jesus—that is, Joshua, or Saviour.”

It can be seen here that this brief account of the supposed Lentulus letter serves as a helpful springboard to launch into an explanation of the most momentous, sacred, pure expression of the human and divine coincidence that has ever appeared—the birth of Christ Jesus.

Mrs. Eddy indicates that the Virgin Mary’s perception of God’s Fatherhood, and her reception of man’s spiritual sonship, led to the conception of the coincidence of divinity with humanity—that is, the divine Principle, Love, and its divine idea, man, expressed in, as, and through, Christ Jesus. That human conception was nurtured, protected, and cherished as the baby Jesus by Mary; but Jesus’ spiritual nature, the Christ, the beloved offspring of the one Father-Mother God, was and is unchangeable and eternal. This coincidence of the human and the divine, evidenced by Christ Jesus, was declared by him for all mankind to know: “I came forth from the Father,” he said, “and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father” (John 16:28).

Mrs. Eddy’s discovery of the Science of Being and its relevance to mankind tears away the veil of a supposed separation between God and man. It shows that while there would never be another virgin birth, Jesus’ virgin origin is an illustration of the true—the spiritual—origin of all of us. It scientifically shows that Jesus’ works were not exclusive to himself, but were a promise for all mankind—as each individual purifies and spiritualizes his or her own conception of the origin of man. 

The nature of God and His manifestation dawned on Mrs. Eddy’s perceptive and receptive thought. It unfolded the conception of the wholeness of the Godhead as divine Life, Truth, and Love. It illumined her consciousness and revealed God as one Father-Mother; the Son of God as Christ, the manifestation of God; the Holy Ghost as divine Science, the operative law of God, that maintains the forever unity of Father-Mother and Son. This Holy Ghost, spiritual law, is the divine energy that brings about what has been called “the new birth” (see “The New Birth,” Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, pp. 15–20). 

This new birth that reveals and proves the spiritual sonship of every man, woman, and child comes with the recognition of one’s spiritual identity and individuality. It also comes with the destruction of error with its foibles, selfishness, and materiality. The new birth can begin at any time with anyone, and once begun it continues to open the doors of consciousness for God’s angel messages to transform one’s life.

The tradition of the Lentulus letter reminds us of the actuality of our Master’s works and mission. The Holy Ghost testifies to the timeless unfoldment of those works and mission as operative here and everywhere, now and forever.