Historical Discovery – Ancient Papyrus Reveals Writings About Jesus’ Childhood
An ancient Egyptian papyrus with the name “Jesus” written in Greek letters has been discovered in a university library in Germany and is believed to be the oldest surviving copy of a writing detailing the childhood of Jesus Christ. Researchers from Humboldt University in Berlin and the University of Liège in Belgium have identified the fragment as the oldest surviving copy of the Gospel of the Infancy of Thomas, an apocryphal gospel of Gnostic origin.
Before this discovery, the oldest version of this gospel came from an 11th-century codex. This fragment, dating from the 4th to the 5th century, offers new insights into the transmission of the text. In addition, it confirms that the Infancy Gospel according to Thomas was originally written in Greek.
Measuring 11 by 5 centimeters and containing only 13 lines, this ancient text evokes episodes from the childhood of Jesus, including controversial miracles. It is not included in the Bible because of questions about its origin and theology. Scholars believe that this fragment may have been a writing exercise in a school or monastery, given the text’s clumsy handwriting.
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is a fascinating document that, although considered heretical by many, continues to offer insights into early, non-canonized Christian writings.
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