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The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

Misconception: “The manuscript is the oldest written record of Jesus’ childhood.”

The claim that the newly deciphered manuscript is the “oldest written record of Jesus’ childhood” is incorrect. While the manuscript, written on papyrus in the 4th or 5th century, is indeed old, it is not the earliest record of Jesus’ childhood. Several earlier manuscripts and texts contain references to Jesus’ childhood, including:

P66 (Papyrus 66): Dating from approximately 125-150 C.E., this papyrus contains substantial portions of the Gospel of John, including references to Jesus’ early life.
P75 (Papyrus 75): Dating from around 175-225 C.E., this manuscript includes large sections of the Gospels of Luke and John.
Codex Vaticanus (B): Dating from 330-350 C.E., this is one of the oldest and most complete manuscripts of the Greek Bible, including the New Testament.
Codex Sinaiticus: Dating from 330-360 C.E., this manuscript contains the complete New Testament and parts of the Old Testament.

The canonical Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide accounts of Jesus’ birth and childhood, predating the Infancy Gospel of Thomas (IGT). Therefore, the newly deciphered manuscript of the IGT, although significant, is not the earliest written record of Jesus’ childhood.

Misconception: “The Infancy Gospel of Thomas as the earliest account.”

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (IGT) is a collection of apocryphal stories about Jesus’ childhood, believed to have been written in the 2nd century. While the newly deciphered manuscript may be the earliest surviving copy of the IGT, it does not surpass the canonical Gospels in age or authority. The IGT is known for its fantastical and sometimes controversial accounts, such as Jesus performing miracles as a child, including the vivification of sparrows mentioned in the article.

Misconception: “Significance of the manuscript.”

While the discovery of the papyrus fragment is significant for understanding the transmission and variations of apocryphal texts, it does not fundamentally alter our understanding of early Christian writings or the canonical accounts of Jesus’ childhood. The canonical Gospels are widely regarded as the authoritative sources for Jesus’ life, including his childhood.

Examination of the Uploaded Image

The uploaded image shows a fragment of the papyrus manuscript mentioned in the article. The fragment contains Greek text and appears to be from late antique Egypt, as stated. The fragment’s physical characteristics, such as its handwriting and material, align with other manuscripts from this period.

Detailed Analysis of the Article’s Claims

Claim: “Extraordinary interest for research.”

While the manuscript fragment is indeed of interest for research, particularly in the study of apocryphal literature, its significance should not be overstated in terms of altering our understanding of early Christian texts. It is one piece among many that contributes to the broader picture of how early Christians wrote about and understood Jesus’ life.

Claim: “The oldest known Greek version of the text.”

The newly deciphered fragment may be the oldest surviving Greek version of the IGT, but it does not predate earlier manuscript traditions of the canonical Gospels. The canonical texts were widely circulated and recognized long before the 4th or 5th centuries.

Conclusion by Berkes and Macedo

The experts’ conclusions about the manuscript’s use as a writing exercise are plausible, given the context of monastic and educational practices in late antique Egypt. However, this does not necessarily elevate the manuscript’s status beyond its role as an example of early Christian apocryphal literature.

Conclusion

In summary, while the newly deciphered manuscript fragment of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas is a valuable find for the study of apocryphal Christian writings, it is not the oldest written record of Jesus’ childhood. Earlier manuscripts of the canonical Gospels, such as P66, P75, Codex Vaticanus, and Codex Sinaiticus, provide older and more authoritative accounts of Jesus’ early life. The claims made in the article need to be contextualized within the broader landscape of New Testament textual studies.

The Apocryphal “Gospels” Outside the New Testament

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).