Latter-day Saint Life

Rare New Testament Papyrus Put on eBay for $99

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You could have bought an ancient religious text online for less than $100.

That text was an ancient Greek papyrus fragment of the Gospel of John (likely John 1:50-51), and was listed on eBay with an opening bid of $99, according to The New York Times.

The papyrus — called the “Willoughby Papyrus” since it belonged to Harold Willoughby, a University of Chicago professor, according to the eBay listing — didn’t stay there for long. Dr. Geoffrey Smith, who researches Christianity at the University of Texas, contacted the seller and asked if he could research the fragment, The Times reported.

“I thought, 'This can’t be allowed to sell on eBay,'” Smith told The Times. “It will just disappear into a private collection.”

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2,000-year-old page of New Testament manuscript is discovered for sale on eBay for just $99

Lead image from Deseret News.
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