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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.)

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 manuscript 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 was in this original Gospel.  Portions of chapters 6, 15 and 16 are omitted, while chapters 17-19 are extensively damaged or have pages entirely missing.

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.

 

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, containing about 15 to 25 lines per page.

== Omissions ==

== 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):

There is very little that is omitted in this early text compared with the [[Codex Vaticanus]] and [[Codex Sinaiticus]].  The omissions, listed below, raise 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 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.

:*This first ten omitted verses ({{bibleref|John|6|12-21}}) are 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.

:*Most of the remainder of this omitted passage is a repetition of {{bibleref|John|6|47-51}}

:*Most of the remainder of this omitted passage is a repetition of {{bibleref|John|6|47-51}}

*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 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.

:*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 {{bibleref|John|15|1-27}}

*John 15:1, 27 (2 verses), see {{bibleref|John|15|1-27}}

*[https://www.themorgan.org/manuscript/350269  J. Pierpont Morgan Library and Museum]

*[https://www.themorgan.org/manuscript/350269  J. Pierpont Morgan Library and Museum]

*[https://www.scribd.com/document/517412493/papyrus-66 Uploaded entire copy of Papyrus 66]

*[https://www.scribd.com/document/517412493/papyrus-66 Uploaded entire copy of Papyrus 66]

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

[[category:Bible]]

[[category:Bible]]