Manuscript · papyrus codex
P52
Papyrus 52 (Rylands Library Papyrus P457)2nd century (often c. 125-175)disputed
Often called the earliest surviving New Testament manuscript. Written on both sides, so it came from a codex, which fits early Christian preference for the book form.
Datingdisputed
Dated by handwriting only. C. H. Roberts (1935) proposed the first half of the 2nd century, and popular works still cite 'c. 125'. INTF lists 125-175. Nongbri (2005; God's Library, 2018) showed that dated documentary comparanda run into the later 2nd and early 3rd century, so palaeography cannot exclude a date c. 200 or a little after. Treat it as 'probably 2nd century', not as proof of a pre-150 Gospel of John.See the pages
About the manuscript
- Contents
- JohnFragment of John 18:31-33 (recto), 37-38 (verso).
- Found
- Bought in Egypt by B. P. Grenfell in 1920; exact find-spot unknown (Fayum or Oxyrhynchus are guesses). Identified by C. H. Roberts in 1934.
- Held by
- John Rylands Library, Manchester
- Also called
- P.Ryl. Gr. 457 · Rylands Papyrus · St John Fragment