800yr Old bible

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Written on goat skin, being held by an Ethiopian Priest (Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
That’s a wonderful find! The history major in me wants to (delicately) snatch it out of his hands and put it somewhere climate controlled for safe-keeping.
 
I think I see old stones in the back ground. Sound like this treasure is keep in a fresh stone building. In the absence of climate controlled building, maybe.
 
Its Ethiopia, Its survived 800 years , I am sure they will ensure it survives another 800. There is a story that the ark of the covenant is hidden in Ethiopia. Happy Cake day.
 
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The smile of the man in the photo is beautiful. Like he cannot believe what he is holding.
 
Does it reveal anything new at all?

What effect if any does this find have?

It looks great.
 
Carbon dating puts it at between 330-650 AD, or about 1500 years old. There is a story attached to it that a fifth century monk, Abba Grima, copied the gospels in a single day. (God kept the sun from setting until he finished.)

It has been preserved as a relic for 1500 years, preserved by the dry Ethiopian air. Conservationists will help restore it now, mostly correcting past conservation efforts but helping restore some “youth” to the aged goat skin parchments.

 
I see your 1500 yrs and raise you 1650 yrs, believed to be one of the fifty Bibles commissioned by Emperor Constantine. Codex Vaticanus written on vellum (calf skin) written in Koine Greek. The binding is new… There is no one in the picture because no one is really allowed to touch it. 😦 Although, you don’t really need to as everything in it has been scanned and is available digitally below:
https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.1209

Although I have to say, it definitely isn’t as pretty.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
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That is amazing, especially that it was not “discovered” by a foreigner and foreigners are simply offering their services for free to help preserve it. As for the whole Protestant thing, this bible represents an entirely different and early branch of Christianity. I’d submit that they are actually closer to early Christianity than the European Branches. Protestantism (especially “mainstream”) and Catholicism probably have closer theology than that of the Ethiopian Church. What’s really cool to me is that the ancient churches there are indigenous, still current culture, still in use, and not some archaeological site.
 
Can we please stop talking about the Protestant thing on this thread.

This thread is about ancient Bibles.

There are old middens, rubbish heaps in Egypt that turn up ancient Gospels and psalm books. They are believed 3rd to 6th Century and demonstrate just how fast and common Scripture was in those days.

Lee, I am not sure if there are differences. I imagine not, since it has the 4 Gospels and they were written by 100 AD, give or take a few decades. Ethiopia has some amazing treasures in their holy spaces. And some very good custodians.

What might turn up in the middens is fascinating to think about.
 
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And this is a report on what’s in Egyptian middens. Gospel fragments and psalms among other writings

Including the Gospel of Thomas, and sheet music.


The Oxford Archives have invited anyone with an internet connection to join the deciphering team. You don’t even have to be able to read Greek (or [Pahlavi, or Coptic, or Arabic, or Persian). All you have to do is visit the Ancient Lives site, look at scans, and press the letter buttons that resemble the shapes you see.

A longer read

 
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I would question the carbon dating, especially with the history that included fire. From a scientific perspective
 
The carbon dating does get a little wonky with fire, but the Ge’ez language dates correctly to that time period. Before the fourth century, Ge’ez didn’t have vowels in written script. The Bible does have vowels, thus it is post 4th century. The legend of Abba Grima fits into the time period.
 
I will pay you the language as a good indicator, having worked on carbon dating with some pretty good equipment, the pain of contamination is real. There are better methods imho .
 
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