Difference between revisions of "Papyrus 66"
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There is very little that is omitted in this early text compared with the [[Codex Vaticanus]] and [[Codex Sinaiticus]]. The omissions, listed below, raise a potential issues for further investigation as to their authenticity as found in later manuscripts (the longest omissions are in bold below): | There is very little that is omitted in this early text compared with the [[Codex Vaticanus]] and [[Codex Sinaiticus]]. The omissions, listed below, raise a potential issues for further investigation as to their authenticity as found in later manuscripts (the longest omissions are in bold below): | ||
*'''John 6:12-35a''' (23.5 verses), see {{bibleref|John|6|12-35}} | *'''John 6:12-35a''' (23.5 verses), see {{bibleref|John|6|12-35}} | ||
| − | :*This first | + | :*This first ten omitted verses ({{bibleref|John|6|12-21}}) is a copy, sometimes verbatim, from {{bibleref|Mark|6|43-52}}, but [[John]] did not have access to the [[Gospel of Mark]] (and vice-versa). Thus the omission of these ten verses from this earliest manuscript and their close similarity to ten verses in the Gospel of Mark strongly suggest that these verses were inserted later into the [[Gospel of John]] by a scribe copying from the Gospel of Mark. |
*John 14:27-28, 31 (3 verses), see {{bibleref|John|14|27-28}} | *John 14:27-28, 31 (3 verses), see {{bibleref|John|14|27-28}} | ||
:*These two verses (27-28) appear to be off-key in several ways. The do not say "peace be with you," but rather "my peace I give to you"; these verses criticize the [[Apostles]] for not rejoicing that [[Jesus]] is leaving them; and these verses state that "for the Father is greater than I [Jesus]" when they are one and the same under the [[Trinity]]. | :*These two verses (27-28) appear to be off-key in several ways. The do not say "peace be with you," but rather "my peace I give to you"; these verses criticize the [[Apostles]] for not rejoicing that [[Jesus]] is leaving them; and these verses state that "for the Father is greater than I [Jesus]" when they are one and the same under the [[Trinity]]. | ||
Revision as of 00:26, January 18, 2024
Papyrus 66, 𝔓66, is the earliest near-complete copy of the Gospel of John, estimated to date from A.D. 100-200 by multiple biblical experts. Papyrus 66 is a remarkable independent corroboration, found far away in Egypt, which corroborates more than 95% of the authenticity and integrity of the Gospel of John as found in the Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus. (The even older Papyrus 52 is merely a fragment of a few verses.)
This manuscript reportedly includes John 1:1–6:11, John 6:35b–14:26 and 29–30, John 15:2–26, John 16:2–4 and 6–7, John 16:10–20:20, 22–23, and 25-31, and John 21:1-9, 12 and 17. The Adulteress story is not there, and most of the John ending of Chapter 21 is lacking, which is highly suggestive that neither were in this original Gospel.
This Papyrus consists of 39 folios. That totals 78 leaves, which is 156 pages. The leaf size is 14.2 by 16.2 cm apiece, containining about 15 to 25 lines per page.
Omissions
There is very little that is omitted in this early text compared with the Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus. The omissions, listed below, raise a potential issues for further investigation as to their authenticity as found in later manuscripts (the longest omissions are in bold below):
- John 6:12-35a (23.5 verses), see John 6:12-35
- This first ten omitted verses (John 6:12-21 ) is a copy, sometimes verbatim, from Mark 6:43-52 , but John did not have access to the Gospel of Mark (and vice-versa). Thus the omission of these ten verses from this earliest manuscript and their close similarity to ten verses in the Gospel of Mark strongly suggest that these verses were inserted later into the Gospel of John by a scribe copying from the Gospel of Mark.
- John 14:27-28, 31 (3 verses), see John 14:27-28
- These two verses (27-28) appear to be off-key in several ways. The do not say "peace be with you," but rather "my peace I give to you"; these verses criticize the Apostles for not rejoicing that Jesus is leaving them; and these verses state that "for the Father is greater than I [Jesus]" when they are one and the same under the Trinity.
- verse 31 seems off-key as well: "but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. ..." The Passion is not understood as being primarily intended to prove that Jesus loved the Father.
- John 15:1, 27 (2 verses), see John 15:1-27
- John 16:1, 5, 8-9 (3 verses), see John 16:1-9
- John 20:21, 24 (2 verses), see 20 21-24
- John 21, of which is omitted: John 21:10-11, 13-16, 18-25, see John 21:10-25
Aside from the disputable John 21, only 33.5 verses out of a total of 854 verses in this very early Egyptian manuscript are not in the Gospel of John chapters 1-20. Less than 5% of later manuscripts is missing in this very early manuscript discovered hundreds of miles away in Egypt. This is a remarkable independent confirmation of the authenticity and preserved integrity of the Gospel of John.
Date Estimates
A superb online analysis of this manuscript provides the following dates by biblical experts:[1]
- 100-150 Herbert Hunger
- 100-150 Philip W. Comfort
- 175-225 Bruce M. Metzger
- 175-225 Daniel B. Wallace
- 200 Victor Martin
- 200-225 Kurt and Barbara Aland
- 200-250 Eric G. Turner
Discovery
This ancient manuscript was discovered in Egypt, in 1952, near Dishna at Pabau.
The Cologny-Geneva, Switzerland: Bibliotheca Bodmerians, maintains this manuscript today.