[BenLurkin]

This can't be allowed to sell on eBay,"Smith told The Times. It will just disappear into a private collection."

It was already part of a private collection. If you want to give it to a library, shell out what it is worth (don't stiff the seller just because they didn't know to ask for more) and donate it yourself.

[Pollster1]

Possible 1800 year-old Greek papyrus?
Possible John 1:50-51?
Possible GGG ping?

Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

[minnesota_bound]

Here is the collector

[Robert DeLong]

Click on picture for article

Dr. Smith declined to identify the seller. But in the text of the listing copied on Dr. Jones's blog, the seller said the papyrus had been in the private collection of Harold R. Willoughby, a professor of early Christianity at the University of Chicago who died in 1962.

The seller, who identified himself in the listing as a relative of Mr. Willoughby, told Mr. Smith that he had found the papyrus only recently, after opening a suitcase of Mr. Willoughby's possessions that he had acquired in 1990 and stashed in his attic.

[NYer]

As researchers continue work on the newly found papyrus, it's important to remember that New Testament artifacts like this are extremely rare, according to Christian Today. In fact, there are only about 130 total registered manuscripts from throughout world history, Christian Today reported.

Catholic ping!