Verso of Papyrus 37
A New Testament papyrus is a copy of a portion of the New Testament made on papyrus . To date, over one hundred such papyri are known. In general, they are considered the earliest and best 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 prefix P followed by a superscript number. Before 1900, only 9 papyri manuscripts were known, and only one had been cited in a critical apparatus (P11 by Constantin von Tischendorf ). These 9 papyri were just single fragments, except for P15 , which comprised of a single whole leaf.[ 2] The discoveries of the twentieth century brought about the earliest known New Testament manuscript fragments.[ 3] Discoveries were also made of more complete manuscripts, which allowed scholars to examine the textual character of these early manuscripts.[ 4]
Not all of the manuscripts are simply New Testament texts: P59 , P60 , P63 , P80 are texts with commentaries, P2 , P3 , and P44 are lecitonaries , P50 , P55 , P78 are talismans, P42 ; P10 , P12 , P42 , P43 , P62 , P99 belong to other miscellaneous texts, such as writing scraps, glossaries, or songs.[ 5]
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 not listed.
Name
Date
Content
Institution
Ref #
City, State
Country
P1
250
Matthew 1
University of Pennsylvania
P. Oxy. 2; E 2746
Philadelphia Pennsylvania
USA
P2
550
John 12
Egyptian Museum, Florence
Inv. 7134
Florence
Italy
P3
600
Luke 7,10
Austrian National Library
Pap. G. 2323
Vienna
Austria
P4
250
Luke 1-6
National Library of France
Suppl. Gr. 1120
Paris
France
P5
250
John 1,16,20
British Library
P. Oxy. 208. 1781; Inv. 782. 2484
London
UK
P6
350
John 10,11
National and University Library of Strasbourg
Pap. copt. 379. 381. 382. 384
Strasbourg
France
P7
300(?)
Luke 4
Vladimir I Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine
Petrov 553
Kiev
Ukraine
P8
350
Acts 4-6
de:Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inv. 8683
Berlin
Germany
P9
250
1 John 4
Houghton Library, Harvard
P. Oxy. 402; Inv. 3736
Cambridge Massachusetts
USA
P10
350
Romans 1
Houghton Library, Harvard
P. Oxy. 209; Inv. 2218
Cambridge Massachusetts
USA
P11
550
1 Corinthians 1-7
Russian National Library
Gr. 258A
Saint Petersburg
Russia
P12
250
Hebrews 1
Morgan Library & Museum
Pap. Gr. 3; P. Amherst 3b
New York City
USA
P13
250
Hebrews 2-5,10-12
British Library Laurentian Library
P. Oxy. 657; Inv. 1532 v PSI 1292
London Florence
UK Italy
P14
450
1 Corinthians 1-3
Saint Catherine's Monestary
14
Sinai
Egypt
P15
250
1 Corinthians 7-8
Egyptian Museum
P. Oxy. 1008; JE 47423
Cairo
Egypt
P16
300
Philippians 3-4
Egyptian Museum
P. Oxy. 1009; JE 47424
Cairo
Egypt
P17
350
Hebrews 9
University Library
P. Oxy. 1078; Add. 5893
Cambridge
UK
P18
300
Revelation 1
British Library
P. Oxy. 1079; Tnv. 2053v
London
UK
P19
400
Matthew 10-11
Bodleian Library
P. Oxy. 1170; Gr. bibl. d. 6 (P)
Oxford
UK
P20
250
James 2-3
Princeton University Library
P. Oxy. 1171; AM 4117
Princeton New Jersey
USA
P21
400
Matthew 12
Muhlenberg College
P. Oxy. 1227; Theol. Pap. 3
Allentown Pennsylvania
USA
P22
250
John 15-16
Glasgow University Library
P. Oxy. 1228; MS 2-X.I
Glasgow
UK
P23
250
James 1
University of Illinois
P. Oxy. 1229; G. P. 1229
Urbana, Illinois
USA
P24
350
Revelation 5-6
Franklin Trask LibraryAndover Newton Theological School
P. Oxy. 1230; OP 1230
Newton Massachusetts
USA
P25
350
Matthew 18-19
State Museums of Berlin
Inv. 16388
Berlin
Germany
P26
600
Romans 1
(Joseph S) Bridwell LibrarySouthern Methodist University
P. Oxy. 1354
Dallas, Texas
USA
P27
250
Romans 8-9
Cambridge University Library
P. Oxy. 1355; Add. 7211
Cambridge
UK
P28
250
John 6
Palestine Institute MuseumPacific School of Religion
P. Oxy. 1596; Pap. 2
Berkeley California
USA
P29
250
Acts 26
Bodleian Library
P. Oxy. 1597; Gr. bibl. g. 4 (P)
Oxford
UK
P30
250
1 Ths 4-5; 2 Ths 1
Ghent University Library
P. Oxy. 1598; Inv. 61
Ghent
Belgium
P31
650
Romans 12
John Rylands University Library
P. Ryl. 4; Gr. P. 4
Manchester
UK
P32
200
Titus 1-2
John Rylands University Library
P. Ryl. 5; G. P. 5
Manchester
UK
P33 =P58
550
Acts 7,15
Austrian National Library
Pap. G. 17973, 26133, 35831, 39783
Vienna
Austria
P34
650
1 Co 16; 2 Co 5,10-11
Austrian National Library
Pap. G. 39784
Vienna
Austria
P35
350(?)
Matthew 25
Medici Library
PSI 1
Florence
Italy
P36
550
John 3
Medici Library
PSI 3
Florence
Italy
P37
300
Matthew 26
University of Michigan
P. Mich. 137; Inv. 1570
Ann Arbor Michigan
USA
P38
300
Acts 18-19
University of Michigan
P. Mich. 138; Inv. 1571
Ann Arbor Michigan
USA
P39
250
John 8
Ambrose Swasey Library
P. Oxy. 1780; Inv. 8864
Rochester New York
USA
P40
250
Romans 1-4,6,9
Institute for PapyrologyUniversity of Heidelberg
P. Bad. 57; Inv. 45
Heidelberg
Germany
P41
750
Acts 17-22
Austrian National Library
Pap. K. 7541-48
Vienna
Austria
P42
700
Luke 1-2
Austrian National Library
Pap. K. 8706
Vienna
Austria
P43
600
Revelation 2,15-16
British Library
Inv. 2241
London
UK
P44a
600
John 10
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Inv. 14. 1. 527, 1 fol
New York City
USA
P44b
600
Matthew 17-18,25; John 9,12
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Inv. 14. 1. 527
New York City
USA
P45
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 Austrian National Library
P. Chest. B. I Pap. g. 31974
Dublin Vienna
Ireland Austria
P46
200
Ro 5-6,8-16; 1 Co ; 2 Co ;
Gal ; Eph ; Php ;
Col ; 1 Th ; Heb
Chester Beatty Library University of Michigan
P. Chest. B. II Inv. 6238
Dublin Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ireland USA
P47
250
Revelation 9-17
Chester Beatty Library
P. Chest. B. III
Dublin
Ireland
P48
250
Acts 23
Medici Library
PSI 1165
Florence
Italy
P49
250
Ephesians 4-5
Yale University Library
P. 415
New Haven Connecticut
USA
P50
400
Acts 8,10
Yale University Library
P. 1543
New Haven Connecticut
USA
P51
400
Galatians 1
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 2157
Oxford
UK
P52
150
John 18
John Rylands University Library
Gr. P. 457
Manchester
UK
P53
250
Matthew 26; Acts 9-10
University of Michigan
Inv. 6652
Ann Arbor Michigan
USA
P54
500
James 2-3
Princeton University Library
P. Princ. 15; Garrett Depots 7742
Princeton New Jersey
USA
P55
600
John 1
Austrian National Library
Pap. G. 26214
Vienna
Austria
P56
500
Acts 1
Austrian National Library
Pap. G. 19918
Vienna
Austria
P57
400
Acts 4-5
Austrian National Library
Pap. G. 26020
Vienna
Austria
P58 =P33
550
Acts 7,15
Austrian National Library
Pap. G. 17973, 26133, 35831, 39783
Vienna
Austria
P59
650
John 1-2,11-12,17-18,21
Morgan Library & Museum
P. Colt 3
New York City
USA
P60
650
John 16-19
Morgan Library & Museum
P. Colt 4
New York City
USA
P61
700
Ro 16; 1 Co 1,5; Php 3; Col 1,4;
1 Th 1; Tit 3; Phm
Pierpont Morgan Library
P. Colt 5
New York City
USA
P62
350
Matthew 11
Oslo University Library
Inv. 1661
Oslo
Norway
P63
500
John 3-4
State Museums of Berlin
Inv. 11914
Berlin
Germany
P64 =P67
200
Matthew 3,5,26
Magdalen College Foundation of St. Luke the Evangelist
Gr. 18 Inv. I
Oxford Barcelona
UK Spain
P65
250
1 Thessalonians 1-2
Girolamo Vitelli Papyrological Institute
PSI 1373
Florence
Italy
P66
200
John
Bodmer library
P. Bodmer II
Cologny , Geneva
Switzerland
P67 =P64
200
Matthew 3,5,26
Magdalen College Foundation of St. Luke the Evangelist
Gr. 18 Inv. I
Oxford Barcelona
UK Spain
P68
650(?)
1 Corinthians 4-5
Russian National Library
Gr. 258B
Saint Petersburg
Russia
P69
250
Luke 22
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 2383
Oxford
UK
P70
250
Matthew 2-3,11-12,24
Ashmolean Museum Girolamo Vitelli Papyrological Institute
P. Oxy. 2384 CNR 419, 420
Oxford Florence
UK Italy
P71
350
Matthew 19
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 2385
Oxford
UK
P72
300
1 Peter ; 2 Peter ; Jude
Bodmer library
P. Bodmer VII, VIII
Cologny , Geneva
Switzerland
P73
650
Matthew 25-26
Bodmer library
P. Bodmer L
Cologny , Geneva
Switzerland
P74
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
P75
250
Luke 3-18,22-24; John 1-15
Bodmer library
P. Bodmer XIV, XV
Cologny , Geneva
Switzerland
P76
550
John 4
Austrian National Library
Pap. G. 36102
Vienna
Austria
P77
200
Matthew 23
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 2683
Oxford
UK
P78
300
Jude
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 2684
Oxford
UK
P79
650
Hebrews 10
State Museums of Berlin
Inv. 6774
Berlin
Germany
P80
250
John 3
Foundation of St. Luke the Evangelist
Inv. 83
Barcelona
Spain
P81
350
1 Peter 2-3
Professor Sergio Daris, University of Trieste
Inv. 20
Trieste
Italy
P82
400
Luke 7
National and University Library of Strasbourg
Gr. 2677
Strasbourg
France
P83
550
Matthew 20,23-24
Catholic University of Leuven Library
P. A. M. Kh. Mird 16, 29
Leuven
Belgium
P84
550
Mark 2,6; John 5,17
Catholic University of Leuven Library
P. A. M. Kh. Mird 4, 11
Leuven
Belgium
P85
400
Revelation 9-10
National and University Library of Strasbourg
Gr. 1028
Strasbourg
France
P86
350
Matthew 5
Institut für Altertumskunde University of Cologne
Theol. 5516
Cologne
Germany
P87
250
Philemon
Institut für Altertumskunde University of Cologne
Theol. 12
Cologne
Germany
P88
350
Mark 2
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
Inv. 69.24
Milan
Italy
P89
350
Hebrews 6
Medici Library
PL III/292
Florence
Italy
P90
150
John 18-19
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 3523; 65 6 B. 32/M (3-5)a
Oxford
UK
P91
250
Acts 2-3
Macquarie University
inv. 360
Sydney
Australia
P92
300
Ephesians 1; 2 Thessalonians 1
Egyptian Museum
PNarmuthis 69.39a/229a
Cairo
Egypt
P93
450
John 13
Girolamo Vitelli Papyrological Institute
PSI 108
Florence
Italy
P94
500
Romans 6
Egyptian Museum
P. Cair. 10730
Cairo
Egypt
P95
250
John 5
Medici Library
PL II/31
Florence
Italy
P96
550
Matthew 3
Austrian National Library
Pap. K 7244
Vienna
Austria
P97
600
Luke 14
Chester Beatty Library
p. Chester B. XVII
Dublin
Ireland
P98
150(?)
Revelation 1
French Institute of Oriental Archeology
P. IFAO inv. 237b
Cairo
Egypt
P99
400
Glossary, words and phrases from:
Ro , 2 Co , Gal and Eph .
Chester Beatty Library
P. Chester B. Ac. 1499, fol 11-14
Dublin
Ireland
P100
300
James 3-5
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4449
Oxford
UK
P101
250
Matthew 3-4
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4401
Oxford
UK
P102
300
Matthew 4
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4402
Oxford
UK
P103
200
Matthew 13-14
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4403
Oxford
UK
P104
150
Matthew 21?
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4404
Oxford
UK
P105
500
Matthew 27-28
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4406
Oxford
UK
P106
250
John 1
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4445
Oxford
UK
P107
250
John 17
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4446
Oxford
UK
P108
250
John 17/18
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4447
Oxford
UK
P109
250
John 21
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4448
Oxford
UK
P110
300
James 3/4
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4449
Oxford
UK
P111
250
Luke 17
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4495
Oxford
UK
P112
450
Acts 26-27
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4496
Oxford
UK
P113
250
Romans 2
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4497
Oxford
UK
P114
250
Hebrews 1
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4498
Oxford
UK
P115
300
Revelation 2-3,5-6,8-15
Ashmolean Museum
P. Oxy. 4499
Oxford
UK
P116
600
Hebrews 2-3
Austrian National Library
P. Vindob. G 42417
Vienna
Austria
P117
400
2 Corinthians 7
State Museum
Inv. 1002
Hamburg
Germany
P118
250
Romans 15-16
Institut für Altertumskunde University of Cologne
Inv. 10311
Cologne
Germany
Distribution based on content
Distribution of (Early) Papyri Witness for each New Testament book
NT Book
#
NT Book
#
Matthew
23 (11)
1 Timothy
0
Mark
3 (1)
2 Timothy
0
Luke
10 (6)
Titus
2 (1)
John
26 (15)
Philemon
2 (1)
Acts
14 (7)
Hebrews
8 (4)
Romans
10 (5)
James
6 (4)
1 Corinthians
7 (2)
1 Peter
3 (1)
2 Corinthians
3 (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: The numbers in parentheses refer to the number of "early" manuscripts, meaning 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.[ 6]
See also
Notes
^ Nestle-Aland 1996
^ Aland 1996, pp. 83-84, 87
^ P52 , P90 , P98 , and P104 all dating to the 2nd century
^ P66 , P72 , and P75 of the Bodmer Papyri are notable in this regard. In fact, the preservation level of P66 surprised scholars because the first 26 leaves were basically fully intact, and even the stitching of the binding remained.
^ Aland 1996, p. 85
^ Aland 1996, p. 85
References
Aland, Kurt (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. ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. ISBN 0-8028-4098-1. ;
Nestle-Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece . 27th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Druck: 1996, p. 57-63, 684-689
Seid, Timothy. "A Table of Greek Manuscripts" . Interpreting Ancient Manuscripts. Retrieved June 22, 2007.
Waltz, Robert. "New Testament Manuscripts: Papyri". A Site Inspired By: The Encyclopedia of New Testament Textual Criticism. Retrieved on June 22, 2007.
Willker, Wieland. "Complete List of Greek NT Papyri" Last Update: September 06, 2006. Retrieved June 22, 2007.
External links