Translation of the Gospel, a sensational discovery!

Get ready to be astonished! An incredible discovery has been made, unveiling a hidden fragment of one of the oldest Gospel translations! The thrilling revelation took place within the grand halls of the Vatican Library, where a precious manuscript emerged after over 1,300 years of silent anticipation.

Yes, you read that right: we’re talking about an extraordinary fragment, a treasure trove of the Syriac translation of the Gospel of Matthew, dating all the way back to the 6th century A.D. What makes it even more fascinating is the fact that it was concealed beneath three layers of text, having been repurposed by an ancient scribe, following a practice that dates back 1,300 years.

The gripping details of this epoch-making discovery have been unveiled through a captivating publication in New Testament Studies. Researchers’ voices rise in unison to reveal the astounding truth: this translation would have originated in the distant 3rd century, only to be recopied in the 6th century. It leaves us breathless and with racing hearts.

Grigory Kessel, a renowned medievalist, is the brilliant mind behind this extraordinary find. Through passionate studies and meticulous investigations, Kessel has declared that this manuscript would date back to the first half of the 6th century, opening up an unexplored window into Christian history. And there’s more!

Dive into the exciting detail: the fragment in question pertains to none other than chapter 12 of the Gospel of Matthew. But there’s a twist! A theology authority, Justin Brierley, can’t help but comment on the fascinating and surprising use of certain terms in this version compared to the original Greek. It’s as if the very roots of faith are gleaming in a new light! . Look here at the 20 words.

But the surprise doesn’t stop there! This precious fragment has become part of a fourth translation, in a world where we had only heard of three versions. Yes, you read that right! This discovery was made possible through the magic of ultraviolet photography, which unveiled this treasure amidst the pages of the manuscript housed in the Vatican Library.

The Vatican manuscript is, in fact, only a fragment that originally belonged to a Georgian manuscript. This Georgian manuscript is entirely a palimpsest and has been produced from multiple parts of originally independent manuscripts in various languages. Analysis of the handwriting of the manuscript has led specialists to hypothesize that it was copied by a Georgian scribe, first at the monastery of S. Saba in Palestine, and later at the monastery of St. Catherine on Sinai.

The remaining part of the manuscript conserved in the monastery does not appear to contain other leaves that belonged to the same evangelical manuscript as the fragment conserved in the Vatican. Further studies could bring to light further leaves of the same Gospel manuscript.

The original folio of a Gospel manuscript was cut in two, trimmed and folded to be reused as a bifolium in the production of the Georgian manuscript. As a result of trimming, approximately half of a column was trimmed, as well as one side and bottom edge.

Thus, the original Gospel manuscript to which the Vatican fragment once belonged was significantly larger in size than both the Sinaiticus manuscript and the fragmentary Gospel manuscript.

Given that the text of the Vatican folio represents about 0.6% of the complete text of the Four Gospels, the original Gospel manuscript must have occupied about 160 folios, or sixteen notebooks.

And think about it, this extraordinary translation even predates the famous Codex Sinaiticus, unveiling an even more authentic and vibrant biblical narrative. But that’s not all: this discovery sheds new light on the translation of the terms “words” and “abundance,” opening the doors to an uncharted realm of study that’s about to captivate and illuminate curious minds. Look here at the 20 words.

This remarkable find underscores the crucial role of cutting-edge technologies in revealing the secrets of ancient manuscripts. Without the aid of ultraviolet rays, this precious fragment would have remained hidden within the folds of centuries, buried in the obscurity of the Vatican Library. A salute to the power of technological innovations and to the passion of researchers who have brought this incredible historical and spiritual treasure to light! Look here at the 20 words.