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The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

Introduction to P31

Papyrus 31, designated as P31 in the Gregory-Aland numbering system, is a 7th century C.E. Greek manuscript of the New Testament. This papyrus specifically contains fragments of the Epistle to the Romans, covering Romans 12:3-8. The manuscript’s age and contents contribute valuable insights into the textual transmission of the New Testament during a period that is less represented in the papyrological record.

The manuscript is notable for its singular textual content and its physical preservation, which suggests it might have been valued for liturgical or personal use. Scholar A. S. Hunt, in his cataloging at the John Rylands Library, proposed that P31 could have functioned as a lectionary, indicating its use in Christian worship settings for reading scripture. This hypothesis aligns with the common practice of using scriptural texts in public worship during the early medieval period.

Papyrus 31 (P31): Paleographic Dating and Contextual Analysis

Papyrus 31 (P31), a Greek manuscript fragment of the New Testament, has been paleographically dated to the 7th century C.E. This dating is derived from an analysis of the script used in the manuscript, which is a critical method employed in the field of papyrology to estimate the age of handwritten documents absent explicit historical markers.

Paleographic dating involves comparing the handwriting styles, letter forms, and material characteristics of the manuscript with those of other dated texts. For P31, the script style is indicative of the later periods of Greek minuscule writing, which evolved around the middle of the 1st millennium C.E. Characteristics such as the formation of letters, ligatures, and the layout of the text contribute to placing it in this specific century.

Script Style and Comparative Analysis

The script in P31 is categorized within a style that reflects transitions seen in Greek manuscript writing around the 7th century. During this period, the scripts tended to become more rounded and connected, reflecting a shift from the more angular and disjointed letter forms of earlier centuries. This stylistic evolution can be observed in the smoothness of the connective strokes and the uniformity of the letter sizes, both of which are evident in P31.

To corroborate the dating of manuscripts like P31, paleographers also look at the context in which similar scripts were used, including geographical and cultural influences that might affect stylistic changes. Comparative analysis with securely dated manuscripts, such as those found in monastic libraries or those referenced in dated colophons, helps to refine the dating accuracy.

This meticulous approach allows scholars to place manuscripts within a historical timeline that aligns with the development of script styles across different regions and periods. It provides a framework not only for understanding the textual transmission of the New Testament but also for examining the broader historical context in which these texts were copied, preserved, and used.

Content of P31

It is a papyrus manuscript of the Epistle to the Romans, it contains only Romans 12:3-8.

Physical Features of P31

Material and Script

Papyrus 31 is a manuscript written on papyrus, featuring a portion of the New Testament, specifically Romans 12:3-8. It employs medium-sized, sloping uncial letters, a script style that was common in the production of texts from the 7th century C.E. It appears to have been copied for reading in church. The use of papyrus as a writing material was typical for the era and region, reflecting the standard practices of the time without necessarily indicating any special attention to preservation or aesthetics beyond functional necessity.

Script Characteristics

The uncial script of P31, characterized by its medium size and sloping orientation, aligns with the common textual practices of the period. This script facilitated the copying and reading of texts, particularly in communal settings such as religious gatherings, which might suggest its use in such contexts. However, the script itself does not imply exceptional craftsmanship or aesthetic considerations beyond those required to produce a legible and functional manuscript.

Condition and Preservation

The current state of P31 is fragmentary, which is typical for papyrus manuscripts that have survived to the present day. The fact that we only have fragments does not necessarily reflect how the manuscript was stored or valued but rather underscores the inherent fragility of papyrus as a material over long periods. This fragmentary condition limits our ability to make detailed assessments about the original layout or the extent of the manuscript.

The physical characteristics of P31, therefore, provide limited insights into its historical use and preservation. The script and material are consistent with those of other contemporaneous documents, suggesting standard scribal practices without extraordinary measures for preservation or display.

Textual Character of P31

Papyrus 31, known by its Gregory-Aland designation as P31, is a critical manuscript within New Testament textual criticism due to its Alexandrian text-type alignment. This classification aligns P31 with some of the most reliable textual witnesses of the New Testament, characterized by a high degree of accuracy and care in the transmission of the texts. Kurt Aland’s placement of P31 in Category II signifies that it exhibits a text with a significant degree of conformity to the standard Alexandrian type but with some variations that might reflect other textual traditions or unique scribal features.

The significance of P31’s alignment with Codex Sinaiticus in specific passages, notably in line 9 of the fragment (Romans 12:8), highlights its textual affinity with one of the most esteemed codices of the Christian biblical canon. The agreement with Codex Sinaiticus against other major manuscripts underscores the potential value of P31 in reconstructing the original text of the New Testament, as Sinaiticus is renowned for its textual quality and has often been a key comparator in critical textual analysis.

Unique Textual Variants

The presence of unique readings in P31, particularly in lines 3 and 4 of the fragment (corresponding to Romans 12:4-5), is of notable interest. These variants, which diverge from the readings of other chief manuscripts, provide a window into the scribal practices and textual environments of the period. Such variations are crucial for understanding the transmission history of the New Testament texts, as they may reflect regional textual preferences, scribal corrections, or doctrinal influences.

Analyzing these unique variants involves comparing P31’s text to that of other major manuscripts. This comparison not only aids in assessing the accuracy and orthodoxy of the transmitted text but also helps in identifying potential scribal errors or interpretative glosses that could have entered the text during its transmission.

Preservation and Current Custody

The fact that P31 is preserved and accessible at the John Rylands University Library in Manchester, cataloged as Rylands Greek Papyrus 4, provides scholars with valuable opportunities for firsthand examination and study. The preservation of this manuscript in a major academic repository ensures that it remains a viable source for ongoing research and scholarly inquiry into the New Testament’s textual history.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).