WASHINGTON – A new exhibit at the Museum of the Bible, featuring the oldest-known complete copies of Jonah and 1 Peter, offers a rare glimpse into early Christianity.

The Crosby–Schøyen Codex is a collection of Christian texts dating back 1,800 years. It includes parts of the books of Jonah and 1 Peter, as well as 2 Maccabees, a book found in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles. Ancient sermons from Melito of Sardis and other prayers are also included in the Codex.

The Museum of the Bible has seven of the Codex's roughly 50 pages, written in the ancient Coptic language. Dr. Bobby Duke, Chief Curatorial Officer at the Museum of the Bible, says it's unclear who compiled the Codex but we do know it came from some of the earliest Christians.

"This dates back about 250 A.D. and that's incredible

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