Infancy Gospel of Thomas 6:1–6

¹ A teacher named Zacchaeus (was) standing (there), hearing Jesus saying these things to his father Joseph, and he was very amazed. (IGT) ² And he said to Joseph, “Come, give him (to me), brother, so that he may be taught letters, and so that he may know all knowledge, and learn to love those his own age, and honor old age and respect elders, so that he may acquire a yearning for children, teaching them in return.” (IGT) ³ But Joseph said to the teacher, “And who can control this child and teach him? Don’t think of him as a small person, brother.” But the teacher said, “Give him to me, brother, and don’t let him concern you.” (IGT) ⁴ And the child Jesus looked at them and said to the teacher this speech: “Being a teacher comes naturally to you, but you’re a stranger to the name with which you’re named, because I’m outside of you and I’m within you on account of the nobility of my birth in the flesh. But you, a lawyer, don’t know the law.” And he said to Joseph, “When you were born, I existed, standing beside you so that as a father you may be taught a teaching by me which no one else knows or can teach. And you will bear the name of salvation.” (IGT) ⁵ And the Jews cried out and said to him, “Oh new and incredible wonder! The child is perhaps five years old, and oh, what words he says! We’ve never known such words. No one – neither a lawyer nor a Pharisee – has spoken like this child.” (IGT) ⁶ The child answered them and said, “Why are you amazed? Or rather, why don’t you believe the things I’ve said to you? The truth is that I, who was created before this world, know accurately when you were born, and your fathers, and their fathers.” (IGT)