'''Papyrus 52''' is the earliest extant manuscript of the [[New Testament]], dating from the early AD 100s. It contains portions of verses from the [[Gospel of John]].
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'''Papyrus 52''' is the earliest extant manuscript of the [[New Testament]], dating from the early AD 100s. It is from [[codex]], which means it is from a book form rather than from a scroll. It contains portions of verses from the [[Gospel of John]], and is an exhibit at the John Rylands University Library located in Manchester, [[U.K.]]<ref>https://biblearchaeologyreport.com/2019/02/15/the-earliest-new-testament-manuscripts/</ref>
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Its precise date is debated. Some estimate it to be as old as AD 100, while others put its date at AD 125.
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Its enormous significance is to confirm the earlier authenticity of later, more complete manuscripts that match its style and content.
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There is a rival claim, not widely accepted, that some fragments of the [[Gospel of Matthew]] date from the 1st century itself, and thus predate even Papyrus 52.<ref>https://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/libraries-and-archives/illuminating-magdalen/news/magdalen-papyrus/</ref>