LOS ANGELES — Actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson has sparked debate after claiming that the Ethiopian Bible contains a resurrection account so detailed it could “change everything” people believe about Easter morning.

Gibson, known for directing The Passion of the Christ, reportedly referenced ancient texts preserved by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which maintains one of the oldest and most expansive biblical canons in Christianity.

What Is the Ethiopian Bible?

The Ethiopian Orthodox canon includes books not found in most Protestant or Catholic Bibles, such as 1 Enoch and Jubilees. Some manuscripts date back centuries and are written in Ge’ez, an ancient liturgical language.

Biblical scholars note that while the Ethiopian canon contains additional writings and variations in textual tradition, the core resurrection narratives of Jesus — found in the Gospels — remain largely consistent across Christian traditions.

There is currently no widely recognized academic consensus that the Ethiopian Bible presents a fundamentally different or more detailed canonical resurrection account than other ancient Christian manuscripts.

Scholarly Caution

Religious historians caution against overstating claims about “hidden” or “suppressed” resurrection narratives.

“The Ethiopian biblical tradition is rich and historically significant,” one scholar of early Christianity said. “But extraordinary claims about radically different resurrection accounts require strong textual evidence.”

Experts emphasize that differences among ancient manuscripts often involve language, emphasis or inclusion of additional non-canonical texts rather than entirely new narratives that overturn established theology.

Public Reaction

Gibson’s remarks have circulated widely on social media, where discussions about early Christian texts often intersect with viral claims about lost scriptures and alternative histories.

As of now, no formal academic publication has substantiated the assertion that the Ethiopian Bible contains a resurrection description that fundamentally alters mainstream Christian understanding of Easter.

The debate highlights enduring fascination with ancient manuscripts — and how celebrity commentary can amplify theological discussions well beyond scholarly circles.