A recently unearthed “hidden chapter” from a text written for the Bible over fifteen hundred years ago, predating Jesus Christ by more than five hundred years, has captured the attention of religious experts across various faiths. Scholars believe this discovery could potentially revolutionize existing knowledge about the world and offer new insights into the origins of the widely followed religious text.
The newly revealed chapter is thought to contain portions of Matthew 11-12 from the New Testament, written in the ancient Syriac language. This language’s antiquity surpasses the standard Gospel text known to contemporary scholars. The ancient manuscript housing this groundbreaking find was stored in the Vatican Library for centuries. Modern technology, specifically a new UV light device, played a pivotal role in bringing this hidden text to light.
Historically, texts were often scraped from parchment to make room for new content. However, remnants of the original text, invisible to the naked eye, were detectable through scientific UV light, leading to this remarkable discovery.
Dr. Garrick Allen, a senior lecturer in New Testament studies at the University of Glasgow, is part of the scientific team at the forefront of this revelation. While acknowledging the fragmentary nature of the newly identified text, Dr. Allen emphasizes its significance, particularly in shedding light on the early translations of the Bible.
In an interview with MailOnline, Dr. Allen stated, “The Syriac translation of the Bible is important on its own as one of the earliest translations from Greek. It gives us insight into the earliest stages of the text of the Bible and the communities that produced these translations.”
The Christian community is captivated by the discovery, with individuals like author Justin Brierley expressing fascination. Brierley sees this as another testament to the rich manuscript tradition of the New Testament, highlighting the variation in wording compared to the received version. He believes that such discoveries, aided by the science of textual criticism, contribute to historians assembling an accurate picture of the original gospels.
