A 1,600-year-old Greek papyrus manuscript, measuring 11 x 5 cm, has been discovered in the Hamburg State Library, believed to be the earliest surviving record of Jesus Christ's childhood.
The 13-line text narrates the "vivification of the sparrows" miracle, where the young Jesus brings clay birds to life, providing insights into early narratives about his childhood.
The manuscript predates the previously known 11th-century version of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas.
The clumsily written document, initially overlooked, sat unnoticed for decades until identified as the oldest copy of the Infancy Gospel, dating back to the 4th or 5th century.
The manuscript is considered of extraordinary interest due to its age, insights into the text's transmission, and confirmation of its Greek origin and association with Thomas' gospels.
The decoding process took two years, offering a unique perspective on Jesus' childhood and his relationship with Joseph, and adding to the diversity of Christian scripture before the formation of a fixed canon.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Greek City Times, News You Info, Trstdly, Democratic Underground, Voice of Alexandria, Pulse, Beliefnet, Technology Inquirer, The Washington Post, NPR, Fox News, Humboldt University Berlin, and UPI.