Didymus was held in high regard far and wide and attracted students from all over the ancient Mediterranean world. They included the likes of the famous St. Jerome—the translator of the Latin Vulgate. When Didymus lectured, it is reported that stenographers would take copious notes so that his discourses on different books of the Bible could circulate far and wide. When Didymus died in about AD 398, he left behind a large body of texts that included biblical commentaries and various theological treatises.

A new convert to the Church discovered the papyrus when cleaning her attic. This section of Didymus' commentaries on the Psalms reveals much about his life's work.  It is remarkable that BYU possess such an ancient treasure.