The gospel of the holy twelve by Rev. G.J.R. Ouseley

The Gospel of the Holy Twelve by Rev. G.J.R. Ouseley

The Gospel of the Holy Twelve (or The Holy Twelve Gospel) is an alternative, esoteric Gospel published by Rev. Gideon Jasper Ouseley in the late 19th century, claiming to be an ancient Essene manuscript. It portrays Jesus as a vegetarian, compassionate teacher who advocates for animal rights, environmentalism, and strict non-violence, often departing from canonical narratives.

The Gospel of the Holy Twelve presents vegetarian versions of traditional teachings and events described in the canonical New Testament. The first collected volume was issued by The Order of At-One-Ment and United Templars Society—a publishing imprint which the author had established in 1881. The explanatory preface referred to an ancient source manuscript "preserved in the Monasteries of Thibet" which has never been produced or proven to exist. In subsequent editions, released during the early 1900s, the anonymous Editors revised their claim by stating that the text was "communicated" by departed mystics "in dreams and visions of the night".

The work remains unrecognized by academic Biblical scholars and has been dismissed by modern theologians and historians of the animal rights movement. In response to a campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals which claimed "Jesus was a Vegetarian", the Reverend Professor Andrew Linzey referred to The Gospel of the Holy Twelve and similar publications, stating, "try as I may, I can find no evidence for their antiquity and I deeply fear that they are works of fiction." Richard Alan Young, a Professor of New Testament Studies has similarly stated, "It appears that Ouseley created The Gospel of the Holy Twelve in support of animal welfare and vegetarianism."

Details

• Hardcover with dust jacket (Good and protected with plastic, has some light stains on the spine, not price clipped, blue cloth board with gold gilded letters on the spine)
  
• Condition: Very good, no notes/stamps 
  
• Revised UK Edition, 1956
• Publisher: Watkins London