Ancient Egyptian Cup May Contain Earliest Christ Reference

A ceramic bowl known as the “Jesus Cup,” discovered off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt, may contain the earliest known reference to Jesus Christ outside Christian scripture. Unearthed in 2008 by French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio and his team, the bowl bears a Greek inscription translated as “Through Christ the chanter” or “Through Christ the magician,” dating back to the first century AD, the era of Jesus’s crucifixion. Scholars suggest the inscription could indicate that Jesus’s reputation as a healer and miracle worker had spread to Alexandria, a cosmopolitan hub where paganism, Judaism, and early Christianity intersected. The bowl resembles vessels used in ancient Egyptian fortune-telling rituals, leading to the theory that invoking Christ’s name lent authority to soothsaying practices. However, the interpretation is debated, with some scholars proposing alternative readings of the inscription that relate to other cults or meanings. Despite differing views, the artifact provides compelling evidence of early recognition of Jesus’s influence beyond Judea within decades of his ministry.