You know, I had never actually thought to look where we were finding early gospels. It's in Roman Egypt. Wikipedia cites that fact to this book, which I may have to purchase.
Apparently last year they believe they've found the oldest gospel yet used to paper a mummy.
So. Roman Egypt, producer of such batshit material as the Greek Magical Papyri.
It was a nonstop orgy of religious syncretism and straight making shit up in Graeco-Roman Egypt.
We've based an entire religion on this?