A New Testament papyrus is a copy of a portion of the New Testament made on papyrus. To date, over 120 such papyri are known. In general, they are considered the earliest witnesses to the original text of the New Testament.[1]
This elite status among New Testament manuscripts only began in the 20th century. The grouping was first introduced by Caspar René Gregory, who assigned papyri texts the Blackletter character followed by a superscript number. This number refers not to the age of the papyrus, but to the order in which it was registered.[2] Before 1900, only 9 papyri manuscripts were known, and only one had been cited in a critical apparatus (11 by Constantin von Tischendorf). These 9 papyri were just single fragments, except for 15, which consisted of a single whole leaf.[3] The discoveries of the twentieth century brought about the earliest known New Testament manuscript fragments.[4] Kenyon in 1912 knew 14 papyri,[5] Aland in his first edition of Kurzgefasste... in 1963 enumerated 76 papyri, in 1989 were known 96 papyri, and in 2008 124 papyri. As of 2015, a total of 131 papyri are known.
The most important papyri are 45 (the Chester-Beatty papyrus), which contains the Gospels; 46, which contains the letters of Paul; and 47, which contains the Revelation of John. All of these date from sometime in the third century.[6]
Discoveries were also made of more complete manuscripts, which allowed scholars to examine the textual character of these early manuscripts.[7]
Not all of the manuscripts are simply New Testament texts: 59, 60, 63, 80 are texts with commentaries; 2, 3, and 44 are lectionaries; 50, 55, and 78 are talismans; and 42, 10,
12, 42, 43, 62, and 99 belong to other miscellaneous texts, such as writing scraps, glossaries, or songs.[8]
Every papyrus is cited in Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece.
List of all registered New Testament papyri
- The P-numbers are the standard system of Gregory-Aland.
- Dates are estimated to the nearest 50 year increment.
- Content is given to the nearest chapter; verses are sometimes listed. Thus, many of the papyri are small fragments, not whole chapters. For instance, 52 contains 5 verses out of the 40 verses in John chapter 18.
Name | Date | Content | Institution | Ref # | City, State | Country |
1 |
250 |
Matthew 1 |
University of Pennsylvania |
P. Oxy. 2; E 2746 |
Philadelphia Pennsylvania |
United States |
2 |
550 |
John 12 |
National Archaeological Museum |
Inv. 7134 |
Florence |
Italy |
3 |
600 |
Luke 7,10 |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. G. 2323 |
Vienna |
Austria |
4 |
175-250 |
Luke 1-6 |
National Library of France |
Suppl. Gr. 1120 |
Paris |
France |
5 |
250 |
John 1,16,20 |
British Library |
P. Oxy. 208. 1781; Inv. 782. 2484 |
London |
UK |
6 |
350 |
John 10,11 |
National and University Library |
Pap. copt. 379. 381. 382. 384 |
Strasbourg |
France |
7 |
300(?) |
Luke 4 |
Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine |
Petrov 553 |
Kiev |
Ukraine |
8 |
350 |
Acts 4-6 |
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin |
Inv. 8683 |
Berlin |
Germany |
9 |
250 |
1 John 4 |
Houghton Library, Harvard |
P. Oxy. 402; Inv. 3736 |
Cambridge Massachusetts |
United States |
10 |
350 |
Romans 1 |
Houghton Library, Harvard |
P. Oxy. 209; Inv. 2218 |
Cambridge Massachusetts |
United States |
11 |
550 |
1 Corinthians 1-7 |
Russian National Library |
Gr. 258A |
Saint Petersburg |
Russia |
12 |
250 |
Hebrews 1 |
Morgan Library |
Pap. Gr. 3; P. Amherst 3b |
New York City |
United States |
13 |
250 |
Hebrews 2-5,10-12 |
British Library Laurentian Library |
P. Oxy. 657; Inv. 1532 v PSI 1292 |
London Florence |
UK Italy |
14 |
450 |
1 Corinthians 1-3 |
Saint Catherine's Monastery |
14 |
Sinai |
Egypt |
15 |
250 |
1 Corinthians 7-8 |
Egyptian Museum |
P. Oxy. 1008; JE 47423 |
Cairo |
Egypt |
16 |
300 |
Philippians 3-4 |
Egyptian Museum |
P. Oxy. 1009; JE 47424 |
Cairo |
Egypt |
17 |
350 |
Hebrews 9 |
Cambridge University Library |
P. Oxy. 1078; Add. 5893 |
Cambridge |
UK |
18 |
300 |
Revelation 1 † |
British Library |
P. Oxy. 1079; Inv. 2053v |
London |
UK |
19 |
400 |
Matthew 10-11 † |
Bodleian Library |
P. Oxy. 1170; Gr. bibl. d. 6 (P) |
Oxford |
UK |
20 |
250 |
James 2-3 † |
Princeton University Library |
P. Oxy. 1171; AM 4117 |
Princeton New Jersey |
United States |
21 |
200 |
Matthew 12 † |
Muhlenberg College |
P. Oxy. 1227; Theol. Pap. 3 |
Allentown Pennsylvania |
United States |
22 |
250 |
John 15-16 † |
Glasgow University Library |
P. Oxy. 1228; MS 2-X.I |
Glasgow |
UK |
23 |
250 |
James 1 † |
University of Illinois |
P. Oxy. 1229; G. P. 1229 |
Urbana, Illinois |
United States |
24 |
350 |
Revelation 5-6 † |
Franklin Trask Library Andover Newton Theological School |
P. Oxy. 1230; OP 1230 |
Newton Massachusetts |
United States |
25 |
350 |
Matthew 18-19 † |
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin |
Inv. 16388 |
Berlin |
Germany |
26 |
600 |
Romans 1 † |
(Joseph S) Bridwell Library Southern Methodist University |
P. Oxy. 1354 |
Dallas, Texas |
United States |
27 |
250 |
Romans 8-9 † |
Cambridge University Library |
P. Oxy. 1355; Add. 7211 |
Cambridge |
UK |
28 |
250 |
John 6 † |
Palestine Institute Museum Pacific School of Religion |
P. Oxy. 1596; Pap. 2 |
Berkeley California |
United States |
29 |
250 |
Acts 26 † |
Bodleian Library |
P. Oxy. 1597; Gr. bibl. g. 4 (P) |
Oxford |
UK |
30 |
250 |
1 Ths 4-5; 2 Ths 1 |
Ghent University Library |
P. Oxy. 1598; Inv. 61 |
Ghent |
Belgium |
31 |
650 |
Romans 12 † |
John Rylands University Library |
P. Ryl. 4; Gr. P. 4 |
Manchester |
UK |
32 |
200 |
Titus 1:11-15; 2:3-8 † |
John Rylands University Library |
P. Ryl. 5; G. P. 5 |
Manchester |
UK |
33=58 |
550 |
Acts 7 † |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. G. 17973, 26133, 35831, 39783 |
Vienna |
Austria |
34 |
650 |
1 Co 16; 2 Co 5,10-11 |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. G. 39784 |
Vienna |
Austria |
35 |
350(?) |
Matthew 25 |
Laurentian Library |
PSI 1 |
Florence |
Italy |
36 |
550 |
John 3 |
Laurentian Library |
PSI 3 |
Florence |
Italy |
37 |
300 |
Matthew 26 |
University of Michigan |
P. Mich. 137; Inv. 1570 |
Ann Arbor Michigan |
United States |
38 |
300 |
Acts 18-19 |
University of Michigan |
P. Mich. 138; Inv. 1571 |
Ann Arbor Michigan |
United States |
39 |
250 |
John 8 |
Green Collection |
P. Oxy. 1780; Inv. 8864 |
Oklahoma City Oklahoma |
United States |
40 |
250 |
Romans 1-4,6,9 |
Institute for Papyrology University of Heidelberg |
P. Bad. 57; Inv. 45 |
Heidelberg |
Germany |
41 |
750 |
Acts 17-22 |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. K. 7541-48 |
Vienna |
Austria |
42 |
700 |
Luke 1-2 |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. K. 8706 |
Vienna |
Austria |
43 |
600 |
Revelation 2,15-16 |
British Library |
Inv. 2241 |
London |
UK |
44 |
600 |
Matthew 17-18,25 |
Metropolitan Museum of Art |
Inv. 14. 1. 527, 1 fol |
New York City |
United States |
45 |
250 |
Mt 20-21, 25-26; Mk 4-9,11-12;
Lk 6-7,9-14; Jn 4-5,10-11; Acts 4-17 |
Chester Beatty Library Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
BP I Pap. g. 31974 |
Dublin Vienna |
Ireland Austria |
46 |
200 |
Ro 5-6,8-16; 1 Co; 2 Co;
Gal; Eph; Php;
Col; 1 Th; Heb |
Chester Beatty Library University of Michigan |
BP II Inv. 6238 |
Dublin Ann Arbor, Michigan |
Ireland United States |
47 |
250 |
Revelation 9-17 |
Chester Beatty Library |
BP III |
Dublin |
Ireland |
48 |
250 |
Acts 23 |
Laurentian Library |
PSI 1165 |
Florence |
Italy |
49 |
250 |
Ephesians 4-5 |
Yale University Library |
P. 415 |
New Haven Connecticut |
United States |
50 |
300 |
Acts 8,10 |
Yale University Library |
P. 1543 |
New Haven Connecticut |
United States |
51 |
400 |
Galatians 1 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 2157 |
Oxford |
UK |
52 |
125 |
John 18:31-33; 18:37-38 |
John Rylands University Library |
Gr. P. 457 |
Manchester |
UK |
53 |
250 |
Matthew 26; Acts 9-10 |
University of Michigan |
Inv. 6652 |
Ann Arbor Michigan |
United States |
54 |
500 |
James 2-3 |
Princeton University Library |
P. Princ. 15; Garrett Depots 7742 |
Princeton New Jersey |
United States |
55 |
600 |
John 1 |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. G. 26214 |
Vienna |
Austria |
56 |
500 |
Acts 1 |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. G. 19918 |
Vienna |
Austria |
57 |
400 |
Acts 4-5 |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. G. 26020 |
Vienna |
Austria |
58=33 |
550 |
Acts 15 † |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. G. 17973, 26133, 35831, 39783 |
Vienna |
Austria |
59 |
650 |
John 1-2,11-12,17-18,21 |
Morgan Library |
P. Colt 3 |
New York City |
United States |
60 |
650 |
John 16-19 |
Morgan Library |
P. Colt 4 |
New York City |
United States |
61 |
700 |
Ro 16; 1 Co 1,5; Php 3; Col 1,4;
1 Th 1; Tit 3; Phm |
Morgan Library |
P. Colt 5 |
New York City |
United States |
62 |
350 |
Matthew 11 |
Oslo University Library |
Inv. 1661 |
Oslo |
Norway |
63 |
500 |
John 3-4 |
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin |
Inv. 11914 |
Berlin |
Germany |
64+67 |
200 |
Matthew 3, 5, 26 |
Magdalen College Fundación Sant Lluc Evangelista |
Gr. 18 Inv. I |
Oxford Barcelona |
UK Spain |
65 |
250 |
1 Thessalonians 1-2 |
Girolamo Vitelli Papyrological Institute |
PSI 1373 |
Florence |
Italy |
66 |
200 |
John |
Bodmer library |
P. Bodmer II |
Cologny, Geneva |
Switzerland |
68 |
650(?) |
1 Corinthians 4-5 |
Russian National Library |
Gr. 258B |
Saint Petersburg |
Russia |
69 |
250 |
Luke 22 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 2383 |
Oxford |
UK |
70 |
250 |
Matthew 2-3, 11-12, 24 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 2384 |
Oxford |
UK |
71 |
350 |
Matthew 19 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 2385 |
Oxford |
UK |
72 |
300 |
1 Peter; 2 Peter; Jude |
Bodmer library |
P. Bodmer VII, VIII |
Cologny, Geneva |
Switzerland |
73 |
650 |
Matthew 25-26 |
Bodmer library |
P. Bodmer L |
Cologny, Geneva |
Switzerland |
74 |
650 |
Acts; James; 1 Pe 1-3; 2 Pe 2-3;
1 Jo; 2 Jo; 3 Jo |
Bodmer library |
P. Bodmer XVII |
Cologny, Geneva |
Switzerland |
75 |
175-225 |
Luke 3-18,22-24; John 1-15 |
Vatican Apostolic Library |
P. Bodmer XIV, XV |
Vatican City |
Vatican City |
76 |
550 |
John 4 |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. G. 36102 |
Vienna |
Austria |
77 |
200 |
Matthew 23 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 2683 and 4405 |
Oxford |
UK |
78 |
300 |
Jude |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 2684 |
Oxford |
UK |
79 |
650 |
Hebrews 10 |
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin |
Inv. 6774 |
Berlin |
Germany |
80 |
250 |
John 3 |
Fundación Sant Lluc Evangelista |
Inv. 83 |
Barcelona |
Spain |
81 |
350 |
1 Peter 2-3 |
Professor Sergio Daris, University of Trieste |
Inv. 20 |
Trieste |
Italy |
82 |
400 |
Luke 7 |
National and University Library |
Gr. 2677 |
Strasbourg |
France |
83 |
550 |
Matthew 20, 23-24 |
Catholic University of Leuven Library |
P. A. M. Kh. Mird 16, 29 |
Leuven |
Belgium |
84 |
550 |
Mark 2,6; John 5,17 |
Catholic University of Leuven Library |
P. A. M. Kh. Mird 4, 11 |
Leuven |
Belgium |
85 |
400 |
Revelation 9-10 |
National and University Library |
Gr. 1028 |
Strasbourg |
France |
86 |
350 |
Matthew 5 |
Institut für Altertumskunde University of Cologne |
Theol. 5516 |
Cologne |
Germany |
87 |
250 |
Philemon |
Institut für Altertumskunde University of Cologne |
Theol. 12 |
Cologne |
Germany |
88 |
350 |
Mark 2 |
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart |
Inv. 69.24 |
Milan |
Italy |
89 |
350 |
Hebrews 6 |
Laurentian Library |
PL III/292 |
Florence |
Italy |
90 |
150 |
John 18:36-19:1; 19:1-7 † |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 3523; 65 6 B. 32/M (3-5)a |
Oxford |
UK |
91 |
250 |
Acts 2:30-37; 2:46-3:2 |
Università degli Studi di Milano Macquarie University |
P. Mil. Vofl. Inv. 1224 P. Macquarie inv. 360 |
Milan Sydney |
Italy Australia |
92 |
300 |
Ephesians 1; 2 Thessalonians 1 |
Egyptian Museum |
PNarmuthis 69.39a/229a |
Cairo |
Egypt |
93 |
450 |
John 13 † |
Girolamo Vitelli Papyrological Institute |
PSI 108 |
Florence |
Italy |
94 |
500 |
Romans 6 |
Egyptian Museum |
P. Cair. 10730 |
Cairo |
Egypt |
95 |
250 |
John 5 |
Laurentian Library |
PL II/31 |
Florence |
Italy |
96 |
550 |
Matthew 3 |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
Pap. K 7244 |
Vienna |
Austria |
97 |
600 |
Luke 14 |
Chester Beatty Library |
BP XVII |
Dublin |
Ireland |
98 |
150(?) |
Revelation 1 |
Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale |
P. IFAO inv. 237b |
Cairo |
Egypt |
99 |
400 |
Glossary, words and phrases from:
Ro, 2 Co, Gal and Eph |
Chester Beatty Library |
BP XXI (Ac. 1499), fol 11-14 |
Dublin |
Ireland |
100 |
300 |
James 3-5 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4449 |
Oxford |
UK |
101 |
250 |
Matthew 3-4 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4401 |
Oxford |
UK |
102 |
300 |
Matthew 4 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4402 |
Oxford |
UK |
103 |
200 |
Matthew 13-14 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4403 |
Oxford |
UK |
104 |
150 |
Matthew 21:34-37; 21:43,45? |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4404 |
Oxford |
UK |
105 |
500 |
Matthew 27-28 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4406 |
Oxford |
UK |
106 |
250 |
John 1 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4445 |
Oxford |
UK |
107 |
250 |
John 17 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4446 |
Oxford |
UK |
108 |
250 |
John 17/18 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4447 |
Oxford |
UK |
109 |
250 |
John 21 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4448 |
Oxford |
UK |
110 |
300 |
Matthew 10:13-15,25-27 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4494 |
Oxford |
UK |
111 |
250 |
Luke 17 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4495 |
Oxford |
UK |
112 |
450 |
Acts 26-27 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4496 |
Oxford |
UK |
113 |
250 |
Romans 2 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4497 |
Oxford |
UK |
114 |
250 |
Hebrews 1 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4498 |
Oxford |
UK |
115 |
300 |
Revelation 2-3,5-6,8-15 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4499 |
Oxford |
UK |
116 |
600 |
Hebrews 2-3 |
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
P. Vindob. G 42417 |
Vienna |
Austria |
117 |
400 |
2 Corinthians 7 |
University of Hamburg |
Inv. 1002 |
Hamburg |
Germany |
118 |
250 |
Romans 15-16 |
Institut für Altertumskunde University of Cologne |
Inv. 10311 |
Cologne |
Germany |
119 |
250 |
John 1 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4803 |
Oxford |
UK |
120 |
350 |
John 1 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4804 |
Oxford |
UK |
121 |
250 |
John 19 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4805 |
Oxford |
UK |
122 |
400 |
John 21 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4806 |
Oxford |
UK |
123 |
350 |
1 Corinthians 14-15 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4844 |
Oxford |
UK |
124 |
550 |
2 Corinthians 11 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4845 |
Oxford |
UK |
125 |
300 |
1 Peter 1:23-2:5; 2:7-12 |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4934 |
Oxford |
UK |
126 |
350 |
Hebrews 13:12-13.19-20 |
Girolamo Vitelli Papyrological Institute |
PSI inv. 1479 |
Florence |
Italy |
127 |
450 |
Acts 10-17 † |
Sackler Library |
P. Oxy. 4968 |
Oxford |
UK |
128 |
600 |
John 9-10,12[9] |
Metropolitan Museum of Art |
Inv 14.1.527 |
New York City |
USA |
129 |
250 |
1 Corinthians 7:36-39; 8:10-9:3; 9:14-17; 9:27-10:6[9] |
Green Collection |
|
|
USA |
130 |
300 |
Hebrews 9:9-12, 19-23[9] |
Green Collection |
|
|
USA |
131 |
250 |
Romans 9:18-21,22-10:3[9] |
Green Collection |
|
|
USA |
134 |
3rd cent. |
John 1:49-2:1 |
Unknown |
Willoughby Papyrus |
|
USA |
Distribution based on content
Distribution of Papyri Witness for each New Testament book
NT Book |
Total |
Early |
NT Book |
Total |
Early |
Matthew | 23 | 11 |
1 Timothy | 0 | 0 |
Mark | 3 | 2 |
2 Timothy | 0 | 0 |
Luke | 10 | 6 |
Titus | 2 | 1 |
John | 30 | 19 |
Philemon | 2 | 1 |
Acts | 14 | 7 |
Hebrews | 8 | 4 |
Romans | 10 | 5 |
James | 6 | 4 |
1 Corinthians | 8 | 3 |
1 Peter | 3 | 1 |
2 Corinthians | 4 | 2 |
2 Peter | 2 | 1 |
Galatians | 2 | 1 |
1 John | 2 | 1 |
Ephesians | 3 | 3 |
2 John | 1 | 0 |
Philippians | 3 | 2 |
3 John | 1 | 0 |
Colossians | 2 | 1 |
Jude | 3 | 2 |
1 Thessalonians | 4 | 3 |
Revelation | 7 | 4 |
2 Thessalonians | 2 | 2 |
|
Note: "Early" manuscripts are manuscripts from the fourth century or earlier. Roughly half of the papyri are "early". Some manuscripts contain content from more than one New Testament book, so the numbers above do not directly correspond to the total number of manuscripts.[10]
See also
- Lists
- Other articles
Notes
- ↑ Nestle-Aland 1996
- ↑ Law 2012, p. 95
- ↑ Aland 1996, pp. 83-84, 87
- ↑ '52, 90, 98, and 104 all dating to the 2nd century
- ↑ Kenyon, F. G., Handbook to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament, London2, 1912, p. 129.
- ↑ Law 2012, p. 95
- ↑ 66, 72, and 75 of the Bodmer Papyri are notable in this regard. In fact, the preservation level of 66 surprised scholars because the first 26 leaves were basically fully intact, and even the stitching of the binding remained.
- ↑ Aland 1996, p. 85
- 1 2 3 4 New NT Papyrus Manuscripts - Peter M. Head, June 3, 2015.
- ↑ NOT Aland 1996, p. 85
References
- Aland, Kurt; Barbara Aland (1995). The Text of The New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism. Translated by Erroll F. Rhodes (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN 0-8028-4098-1.
- K. Aland, M. Welte, B. Köster, K. Junack, Kurzgefasste Liste der griechischen Handschriften des Neues Testaments, (Berlin, New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1994), p. 3-17. ISBN 3-11-011986-2
- "Continuation of the Manuscript List" INTF, University of Münster. Retrieved February 4, 2010
- Nestle-Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 27th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Druck: 1996, p. 57-63, 684-689
- Law, David R. The Historical-Critical Method: A Guide for the Perplexed, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012.
External links