Source: mcclatchydc.com

Curator Lee Glazer, of the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, is photographed Nov. 21, 2013, in the Peacock Room where two rare Bibles are on display through February 20, 2014. TISH WELLS — MCT

WASHINGTON — The Freer Gallery of Art is showing off two rare Bibles from its archives through Feb. 16, 2014.

The Bibles, written in Greek and bought by art collector Charles L. Freer in the early 1900s, date from the 3rd and 4th centuries. They are seldom on display because of their fragility and sensitivity to light.

In this detailed view, Saint Mark and Saint Luke; right cover of Washington Manuscript II: The Four Gospels (Codex Washingtonensis) Egypt, Byzantine period, 7th c. Encaustic painting on wooden panel sits on display at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., Nov. 25, 2013 through Feb. 16, 2014. (MCT) HANDOUT — MCT

One Bible, now known as the “Washington Codex,” contains additional material, a logion, attached to the Gospel of Mark.

The “Freer logion” is attributed to Jesus, and, according to a museum translation, says while “‘other terrible things draw near,’ Satan’s power on earth is ended.” This logion has not been found in any other known version.

The discovery of this additional phrase caused much excitement and controversy among historians and ministers in… continue reading at mcclatchydc.com