The discovery of the nearly 1,500-year-old Bible chapter is a significant archaeological breakthrough. Researchers used ultraviolet (UV) photography to uncover this hidden chapter, which was buried under three layers of text in an ancient manuscript kept at the Vatican. This chapter is believed to be one of the earliest translations of the Gospels and offers a new interpretation of Matthew chapter 12 in the New Testament.
The fragment is thought to be the only known remaining piece of a fourth manuscript that attests to the old Syriac version of the Bible. This version highlights differences in translations, such as the original Greek version of Matthew 12:1, which reads: “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and his disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat,” compared to the Syriac translation, which says: “…began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them”.
The discovery sheds light on the early phases of copying, preserving, and spreading the written text of the Gospels across generations. It also demonstrates the importance of modern digital technologies in uncovering and understanding ancient texts.
Archaeology Breakthrough: 1,500-Year-Old Lost Bible Chapter Discovered
