[Beowulf9]

I wish they would find something actually written down in the days Jesus was living.

[muawiyah]

There were things written down then. However, due to the nature of the recording material those things had to be recopied at irregular intervals.

That's why folks will refer to the "oldest copy" and from that try to infer what the original date of of the original copy might have been. Sometimes the "original" was an oral tradition. The Bible itself gives several clues about "oral traditions". First, all of them made use of the Memory Palace method of memorization. Secondly, they all recommended using an Ark or a Garden as a structural reference. History can be structured in the mind using a genealogy ~ e.g. the generations of the Patriarchs, or the reigns of French Kings.

Fewer errors than are popularly imagined entered into the ancient texts. The Jews, as just one example, had groups dedicated to transcribing and reviewing transcriptions so that no mistakes were made.

[PIF]

I wish they would find something actually written down in the days Jesus was living.

—

If some did find something written from Jesus’ day about Him or quotes from Him, you can be sure that find would be in the Vatican Archives quick-like, never to see the light of day again. Especially if what was written in anyway contradicted Christian cannon.

While everyone insists that “The Gospel of Thomas” is later, it is the most middle eastern sounding piece I've ever read. In case you haven't read it, the writing consists solely of dialogues between Jesus and His Disciples.