Unknown Gospel: Essential Insights into Egerton Papyrus 2

Fragment 1, verso

1 to the lawyers […all] the wrongdoers […] and not me […] how does he do it? [Then he turned] to [the] rulers of the people and made this statement: Search [the] scriptures; [you think] you have life in them. They [testify] about me. Don’t [think] I’ve come to accuse [you] before my Father. [The one who accuses] you is Moses, in whom [you] hope. But they [said,] We know [well] God [spoke] to Moses, but you — we don’t know [where you’re from.] Jesus [told them] in reply, Now [you] stand accused because [you don’t believe those who’ve been approved] by him; because if [you believed Moses,] you’d believe [me, for] he [wrote] about me to your ancestors […].

Fragment 1, recto

1 stones together [so they could stone him.] And the [rulers] laid their [hands] on him [so that] they might seize him and [deliver him] to the crowd. But they [could] not seize him, because the hour of his arrest [had] not yet [come.] So the Lord escaped [from their hands] and withdrew from [them.] And look, someone with leprosy approached [him] and said, Teacher Jesus, while I was [traveling] with [others] who had [leprosy] and eating at the inn [with them,] I [contracted leprosy] myself. But if [you want to,] you can cure me. Now the Lord [told him, I want to:] be cured. [And immediately] the leprosy left him. Then Jesus [told] him, [Go] and show [yourself] to the [priests] and offer [what Moses ordered for] your cure, and don’t sin anymore […].

Fragment 2, recto

1 to him, examining him to test him: Teacher Jesus, we know that you’ve come [from God,] because the things you do [testify] above and beyond all the prophets. [So tell] us: is it right [to give] kings what belongs to them? [Should we pay] them, or [not?] But since Jesus knew what [they] were thinking, [he scolded them] and asked [them,] Why do you pay me lip service as a Teacher but [don’t do] what [I say? Isaiah] accurately prophesied [about] you when he said: [These people honor] me with their [lips,] [but] their [heart] is [far] from [me.] [They worship me pointlessly,] [… rules …]

Fragment 2, verso

1 enclosed in the [place …] being subjected uncertainly […] its weight unweighed […] but [while] they were puzzled [as] to [his] strange question, Jesus walked and stood [on the] bank of the Jordan [river.] And reaching out with [his] right hand […] and he sowed [on] the […] and then […] water […] the […] and […] he produced […] fruit […].