A 2,000-year-old ancient Egyptian manuscript detailing a miracle performed by Jesus as a child has been found.
The story of the "vivification of the sparrows" when five-year-old Jesus is said to have turned clay pigeons into live birds was written on papyrus - a material that predates paper.
Researchers believe the note was part of a class exercise in a school or religious community - due to the clumsiness of the handwriting.
It is believed that it was created in 4th or 5th Century Egypt, which was a Christian society at the time and part of the Roman Empire.
The story of the "vivification of the sparrows" when five-year-old Jesus is said to have turned clay pigeons into live birds was written on papyrus - a material that predates paper
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The original story is believed to have been initially composed around the 2nd Century, as part of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas.
The most recent discovery represents the earliest known written example of this gospel, dating back to the 11th Century.
Experts say the papyrus was kept unknowingly at the Hamburg State and University Library in Hamburg, Germany.
While examining manuscripts, researchers discovered the paper and identified Jesus' name within the text.
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"It was thought to be part of an everyday document, such as a private letter or a shopping list, because the handwriting seems so clumsy," Dr Lajos Berkes, a co-researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Theology at Humboldt-Universität said.
"We first noticed the word 'Jesus' in the text. Then, by comparing it with numerous other digitised papyri, we deciphered it letter by letter and quickly realised that it could not be an everyday document."
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (IGT), written in the 2nd century, portrays Jesus' life between the ages of five and 12, and provides details about his early years.
However, it was removed from the Bible because it was thought to be inauthentic.
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (IGT), written in the 2nd century, portrays Jesus' life between the ages of five and 12, and provides details about his early years
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The papyrus fragment, measuring four by two inches, featured 13 lines from the religious story.
"The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is an apocryphal gospel recounting episodes from Jesus' childhood," Dr Macedo told the Daily Mail.
"These episodes are not told in the Bible or other well-known liturgical or theological works.
"The work has been attributed to an author named Thomas (perhaps the apostle), but its authorship is unknown."
