A Biblical Mystery at Oxford:
'In June 2019, Michael
Holmes, who replaced Pattengale as the director of the scholars
initiative, flew to London to meet with leaders of the Egypt Exploration
Society, who remained skeptical that Obbink, whatever his other
shortcomings, might have sold Oxyrhynchus papyri.
'Over lunch at a private club, Holmes pulled out a purchase agreement
between Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. and Dirk Obbink. Co-signed by the Oxford
professor on February 4, 2013, it showed that Obbink had sold the
company not just the Mark papyrus, but also fragments of the Gospels of
Matthew, Luke, and John. In the contract, Obbink describes the
manuscripts as his personal property, vows to “ship/hand carry” them
from “Oxford Ancient,” and dates all four to a historically
unprecedented “circa 100 AD,” making each a one-of-a-kind worth
millions.
'When EES officials saw the contract, Holmes told me, “any
uncertainties they had evaporated very quickly.” They banned Obbink from
the collection.'
