The earliest copy in existence is part of a [[papyrus]] codex in Greek of the Letters of Saint Paul, dating from around A.D. 200. The codex, referred to as ''P46'' was discovered in 1931, and provided a text at least a century older than the [[Vatican]] and Sinaitic codices, the oldest authorities on which the text had previously rested.<ref>[http://www.lib.umich.edu/pap/exhibits/papyri_james/1_2.html ''From Papyri to King James: The Transmission of the English Bible''] University of Michigan. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref> The epistle can be dated with some certainty by its content: the use of "''Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith''" (Heb 13:7) is consistent with a period shortly after the [[Passion]]. | The earliest copy in existence is part of a [[papyrus]] codex in Greek of the Letters of Saint Paul, dating from around A.D. 200. The codex, referred to as ''P46'' was discovered in 1931, and provided a text at least a century older than the [[Vatican]] and Sinaitic codices, the oldest authorities on which the text had previously rested.<ref>[http://www.lib.umich.edu/pap/exhibits/papyri_james/1_2.html ''From Papyri to King James: The Transmission of the English Bible''] University of Michigan. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref> The epistle can be dated with some certainty by its content: the use of "''Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith''" (Heb 13:7) is consistent with a period shortly after the [[Passion]]. |