1,500-Year-Old Papyrus is First Document to Mention Last Supper

Amanda Casanova | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Updated: Sep 03, 2014

1,500-Year-Old Papyrus is First Document to Mention Last Supper

A 1,500-year-old papyrus may contain the earliest reference to the Last Supper. A research analyzing the document in the University of Manchester’s John Rylands Library made the discovery.

The papyrus is actually an amulet that contains words meant to protect its owner, said Dr. Mazza.

"This is an important and unexpected discovery as it's one of the first recorded documents to use magic in the Christian context and the first charm ever found to refer to the Eucharist – the Last Supper – as the manna of the Old Testament," Mazz told the Daily Mail.

The text of the papyrus reads:

"Fear you all who rule over the earth.

"Know you nations and peoples that Christ is our God.

"For he spoke and they came to being, he commanded and they were created; he put everything under our feet and delivered us from the wish of our enemies.

"Our God prepared a sacred table in the desert for the people and gave manna of the new covenant to eat, the Lord's immortal body and the blood of Christ poured for us in remission of sins."

The papyrus contains parts from Psalms 78:23-24, Matthew 26:28-30, and other Bible verses.

Publication date: September 3, 2014



1,500-Year-Old Papyrus is First Document to Mention Last Supper