“An 1,800-year-old silver amulet discovered in a burial in Germany,” writes the reporter, “is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps, according to a new study.” The amulet dates to sometime between 230 to 270 AD, and was discovered in a grave near Frankfurt, the east of the Rhine river.
“What makes this particular example remarkable is that it is written entirely in Latin and exclusively invokes Jesus Christ and the Christian god,” Rassalle said, which is unusual because most amulets “also appeal to angels, demons, or other supernatural entities.”
The wafer-thin silver foil inscribed with writing took years of careful preservation and CT scanning to reveal the writing. The translation of the Latin text reads, with question marks indicating uncertainties:
In the name?) of Saint Titus. Holy, holy, holy! In the name of JesusChrist, Son of God! The Lord of the world resists with [strengths?] all attacks(?)/setbacks(?). The God(?) grants entry to well-being. May this means of salvation(?) protect the man who surrenders himself to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, since before Jesus Christ every knee bows: those in heaven, those on earth and those under the earth, and every tongue confesses (Jesus Christ).
“What makes this particular example remarkable is that it is written entirely in Latin and exclusively invokes Jesus Christ and the Christian god,” Rassalle said, which is unusual because most amulets “also appeal to angels, demons, or other supernatural entities.”
The wafer-thin silver foil inscribed with writing took years of careful preservation and CT scanning to reveal the writing. The translation of the Latin text reads, with question marks indicating uncertainties:
Implications
---The writer appears to reference the Epistle of Paul to Titus and the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians.
---The writer appears to reference the Epistle of Paul to Titus and the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians.
---It does not ask for any kind of magical protection, which fits the Christian view that rejects divination and sorcery.
---Instead, the text presents the gospel of Jesus Christ as the Son of God before whom all people will bow, as stated in Philippians 2:10-11 (That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.).
---The mention of Jesus as “Lord of the world” also points to His role as Creator (All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3).
---And the Trisagion (“Holy, holy, holy”) indicates familiarity with either Isaiah 6:3 (And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.) or Revelation 4:8 (And the four beasts had each of them six wings about Him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.) with its Trinitarian overtones.
*By implication, the wearer may have had access to translations of these portions of Scripture in his native language, and had been instructed in Christian doctrine at this early date. The date of the artifact, therefore, could be years or decades later than the arrival of the gospel in the Frankfurt area."
CEH
