New Sayings of Jesus Found in Egypt
A new “find” has been made in that graveyard of ancient documents, Egypt; and this time it includes some new “sayings” of our Lord, at least they are called such, because each one is prefaced by the term, “Jesus saith.” They seem to be, so far as anything we have yet learned, merely some one’s memory statement in general terms of what Jesus taught. These papyri were found at El Hibeh, 100 miles south of Cairo, by Dr. Bernard P. Grenfell. It is supposed that these sayings are a part of the traditional Gospel of St. Thomas. They will be tested by the authentic Gospels. The date of these documents is about A. D. 137. A Latin text of the epistle to the Hebrews is said to be in the collection, and an epitome of Livy’s six last books. Among these papyri is one containing a contract whereby a slave boy was to be taught shorthand for 120 drachma ($24), 40 drachma down, 40 on satisfactory evidence of progress, and 40 on attaining proficiency. Very modern in its putting; or rather, we are ancient.