[[Image:Papyrus 37 - verso.jpg|thumb|right|[[Verso]] of [[Papyrus 37]]]]
[[Image:Papyrus 37 - verso.jpg|thumb|right|[[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 and twenty such papyri are known. In general, they are considered the earliest and best witnesses to the original text of the New Testament.<ref>Nestle-Aland 1996</ref>
A '''New Testament papyrus''' is a copy of a portion of the [[New Testament]] made on [[papyrus]]. To date, over one hundred and twenty such papyri are known. In general, they are considered the earliest and best witnesses to the original text of the [[New Testament]] by many biblical scholars.<sup>[1]</sup> Textus Receptus supporters would argue that although the papyri are old manuscripts, if you look at the sometimes older church fathers quotations of the bible, the many versions in other languages, also the support of 99% of other Greek manuscripts thoughout history. you will see that the ''majority'' of witnesses and the most ''geographically diverse" support the [[Textus Receptus]], and thus should be preferred - not a small group from Egypt.
This elite status among [[Biblical manuscript#New Testament manuscripts|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 [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]] followed by a superscript number. Before [[1900 AD|1900]], only 9 papyri manuscripts were known, and only one had been cited in a [[critical apparatus]] ([[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 11|11]]</sup>
by [[Constantin von Tischendorf]]). These 9 papyri were just single fragments, except for [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 15|15]]</sup>, which consisted of a single whole leaf.<sup>[2]</sup> The discoveries of the twentieth century brought about the earliest known New Testament manuscript fragments.<sup>[3]</sup> [[Frederic G. Kenyon|Kenyon]] in [[1912 AD|1912]] knew 14 papyri,<sup>[4]</sup> [[Kurt Aland|Aland]] in his first edition of ''Kurzgefasste...'' in [[1963 AD|1963]] - enumerated 76 papyri, in [[1989 AD|1989]] - were known 96 papyri, and in [[2008 AD|2008]] - 124 papyri.
This elite status among [[Biblical manuscript#New Testament manuscripts|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 [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]] followed by a superscript number. Before 1900, only 9 papyri manuscripts were known, and only one had been cited in a [[critical apparatus]] ([[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 11|11]]</sup>
Discoveries were also made of more complete manuscripts, which allowed scholars to examine the textual character of these early manuscripts.<sup>[5]</sup>
by [[Constantin von Tischendorf]]). These 9 papyri were just single fragments, except for <math>\mathfrak{P}</math><sup>15</sup>, which consisted of a single whole leaf.<sup>[]</sup> The discoveries of the twentieth century brought about the earliest known New Testament manuscript fragments.<ref>[[Papyrus 52|'''<math>\mathfrak{P}</math><sup>52</sup>''']], [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 90|90]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 98|98]]</sup>, and [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 104|104]]</sup> all dating to the 2nd century</ref> [[Frederic G. Kenyon|Kenyon]] in 1912 knew 14 papyri,<sup>[]</sup> Aland in his first edition of ''Kurzgefasste...'' in 1963 - enumerated 76 papyri, in 1989 - were known 96 papyri, and in 2008 - 124 papyri.
Discoveries were also made of more complete manuscripts, which allowed scholars to examine the textual character of these early manuscripts.<sup>[]</sup>
Not all of the manuscripts are simply New Testament texts: [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 59|59]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 60|60]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 63|63]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 80|80]]</sup> are texts with commentaries, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 2|2]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 3|3]]</sup>, and [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 44|44]]</sup> are [[lectionary|lectionaries]], [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 50|50]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 55|55]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 78|78]]</sup> are talismans, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 42|42]]</sup>; [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 10|10]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 12|12]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 43|43]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 62|62]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 99|99]]</sup> belong to other miscellaneous texts, such as writing scraps, glossaries, or songs.<sup>[6]</sup>
Not all of the manuscripts are simply New Testament texts: [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 59|59]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 60|60]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 63|63]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 80|80]]</sup> are texts with commentaries, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 2|2]]</sup>, <math>\mathfrak{P}</math>³, and [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 44|44]]</sup> are [[lectionary|lectionaries]], <math>\mathfrak{P}</math><sup>50</sup>, <math>\mathfrak{P}</math><sup>55</sup>, <math>\mathfrak{P}</math><sup>78</sup> are talismans, <math>\mathfrak{P}</math><sup>42</sup>; <math>\mathfrak{P}</math><sup>10</sup>, <math>\mathfrak{P}</math><sup>12</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 43|43]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 62|62]]</sup>, [[Image:C3945eee4633c095c5059f9a67aca5f7.png]]<sup>[[papyrus 99|99]]</sup> belong to other miscellaneous texts, such as writing scraps, glossaries, or songs.<sup>[]</sup>
Every papyrus is cited in [[Nestle-Aland]] [[Novum Testamentum Graece]].
Every papyrus is cited in Nestle-Aland [[Novum Testamentum Graece]].
A New Testament papyrus is a copy of a portion of the New Testament made on papyrus. To date, over one hundred and twenty such papyri are known. In general, they are considered the earliest and best witnesses to the original text of the New Testament by many biblical scholars.[1] Textus Receptus supporters would argue that although the papyri are old manuscripts, if you look at the sometimes older church fathers quotations of the bible, the many versions in other languages, also the support of 99% of other Greek manuscripts thoughout history. you will see that the majority of witnesses and the most geographically diverse" support the Textus Receptus, and thus should be preferred - not a small group from Egypt.
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. 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.[2] The discoveries of the twentieth century brought about the earliest known New Testament manuscript fragments.[3]Kenyon in 1912 knew 14 papyri,[4]Aland in his first edition of Kurzgefasste... in 1963 - enumerated 76 papyri, in 1989 - were known 96 papyri, and in 2008 - 124 papyri.
Discoveries were also made of more complete manuscripts, which allowed scholars to examine the textual character of these early manuscripts.[5]
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, 78 are talismans, 42; 10, 12, 43, 62, 99 belong to other miscellaneous texts, such as writing scraps, glossaries, or songs.[6]
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. Thus, many of the papyri are small fragments, not whole chapters. For instance, 𝔓52 contains 8 verses out of the 40 verses in John chapter 18.
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
1
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.<ref>NOT Aland 1996, p. 85</ref>
Waltz, Robert. "New Testament Manuscripts: Papyri".A Site Inspired By: The Encyclopedia of New Testament Textual Criticism. Retrieved on June 22, 2007.
followed by a superscript number. Before 1900, only 9 papyri manuscripts were known, and only one had been cited in a critical apparatus (