If You Believed Moses, You Would Believe Me | P. Köln VI 255 Egerton Gospel Papyrus Replica

Own a replica of one of the earliest surviving witnesses to an ancient, noncanonical account of the words and deeds of Jesus.

Remarkably, Moses plays an important role on both sides of this tiny fragment: Jesus declares that Moses wrote about him on one side, while on the other he commands the healed man to observe the purification offering prescribed by Moses.

This handcrafted replica is based on P. Köln VI 255 (Inv. 608), a remarkable 2nd-century Greek papyrus fragment preserved in the Papyrus Collection of the University of Cologne. Measuring only about 2.17 × 1.18 in., the original is a tiny but important piece of early Christian manuscript history.

On one side, Jesus confronts unbelief and declares:
“If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for that one wrote about me to your fathers.”
The saying bears a striking parallel to John 5:46, where Jesus likewise tells his hearers that Moses wrote about him. The similarity is especially significant to scholars studying the relationship between the Egerton Gospel and traditions preserved in the canonical Gospels.

The opposite side preserves the conclusion of an account in which Jesus heals a man with leprosy and tells him:
“Go show yourself to the priests, and make the offering for your cleansing as Moses commanded, and sin no more.”
The episode closely parallels the healing of the leper found in Matthew 8:1–4, Mark 1:40–45, and Luke 5:12–16, while retaining distinctive wording of its own.

P. Köln VI 255 was identified as belonging to the same ancient manuscript as Papyrus Egerton 2, fragments of which are preserved at the British Library. Together, these fragments comprise what is commonly known as the Egerton Gospel, contains traditions with striking similarities to the canonical Gospels alongside distinctive language and material. 

The Egerton Gospel is among the earliest surviving manuscript witnesses to a noncanonical account of Jesus and, as scholar Lorne R. Zelyck notes, one of the oldest surviving manuscripts of early Christian literature.

Despite the original Cologne fragment measuring little more than two inches, the words preserved on its two sides offer a fascinating glimpse into the transmission of traditions about Jesus during Christianity's early centuries.

Our replica is carefully handcrafted  on genuine Egyptian papyrus.
Displayed in acrylic standing frame (4" x 6") 
Ships in a black gift/presentation box

Customers have used these replicas for:
Sermon props
Bible studies
Classroom lessons
Seminary education
Personal collections
Church displays
Museum exhibits
Office or bookshelf displays

Each Sacred Text Replica begins with careful research and close study of the surviving ancient manuscript. The manuscript image is reproduced on premium Egyptian papyrus, reflecting the material of the original.

The printed image is only the beginning of the process. Each replica is then individually finished by hand. The papyrus fibers are carefully cut and worked to recreate the irregular edges, lacunae, holes, and other signs of deterioration visible in the surviving manuscript. Because this finishing is performed individually rather than by automated cutting, subtle variations occur naturally, making each completed replica unique.

Modern Replica Only: This item is a modern replica, created for artistic and educational purposes. It is not an ancient artifact.

Image Source: Institut für Altertumskunde an der Universität zu Köln, Papyrussammlung — CC BY 4.0