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The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

Name	P. Oxy 3523
Sign	^P90
Text	John 18:36-19:1r+19:1-7v
Date	125-1750 C.E.
Script	Greek
Found	Oxyrhynchus, Egypt
Now at	Papyrology Rooms, Sackler Library, Oxford
Size	16 x 12 cm
Type	Alexandrian text-type
Category	I

Key Points

P90, also known as P. Oxy. 3523, is a significant early manuscript of the Gospel of John, dated to 125-175 CE, providing valuable insight into the New Testament text.
It contains John 18:36–19:7, written in a reformed documentary hand, and is housed at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England.
Research suggests P90 aligns closely with the Alexandrian text-type, particularly showing affinity with P66 and Codex Sinaiticus, supporting its reliability as an early witness.
The evidence leans toward P90 being a codex, written on both sides, reflecting early Christian scribal practices.

Manuscript Overview

P90 is a small fragment from the Gospel of John, covering a crucial account of Jesus’ trial before Pilate, dated to the early to middle second century (125-175 CE). This early date makes it a key witness to the New Testament text, especially given its Alexandrian text-type affiliation, which is prioritized in conservative evangelical textual criticism.

Physical and Textual Features

The manuscript is one leaf, originally 12 cm x 16 cm, with 24 lines per page, written in a reformed documentary hand, indicating care in copying. Its textual character shows more affinity with P66 than other manuscripts, though not identical, and some similarity with Codex Sinaiticus, reinforcing its importance for textual studies.

Significance for Biblical Scholarship

P90’s early date and alignment with Alexandrian texts suggest it preserves the original text closely, offering insights into the transmission of John’s Gospel. Its comparison with other manuscripts, like P66 and Sinaiticus, helps scholars assess textual variants, ensuring a faithful representation of the inspired Scriptures.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of P90 (P. Oxy. 3523) in New Testament Textual Criticism

Introduction

The manuscript P90, designated as P. Oxy. 3523 in the Gregory-Aland numbering, is a significant early witness to the text of the New Testament, specifically containing portions of the Gospel of John 18:36–19:7. Dated paleographically to the early to middle second century (125-175 CE), it originates from Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, and is currently housed at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England (65 6B.32/M[3–5]a). This article, reflecting the conservative evangelical approach of scholars like Edward D. Andrews and Philip W. Comfort, prioritizes the Alexandrian text-type, particularly early papyri, Codex Vaticanus, and Codex Sinaiticus, as foundational authorities. Other textual traditions, such as Western, Byzantine, and Caesarean, along with versions, Lectionaries, and Patristic Quotations, are consulted only when textual evidence demands it, with a heavy burden of proof. This analysis aims to exhaustively examine P90’s contribution to understanding the New Testament text, integrating Scripture quotations to substantiate the discussion, and presenting findings with unwavering certainty, rooted in a literal interpretation of biblical chronology and textual criticism.

Physical Description and Scribal Characteristics

P90 is a single leaf, originally measuring 12 cm x 16 cm, with 24 lines per page, written on both sides, indicating it was likely part of a codex, the precursor to the modern book format. The handwriting is identified as a reformed documentary hand, a style characterized by scribes aware they were copying a literary work, exhibiting more care and uniformity than basic documentary hands. This is distinct from common hands, which show limited Greek-writing skills, and professional bookhands, seen in manuscripts like P4+64+67, with well-crafted calligraphy and punctuation. The reformed documentary hand of P90, as noted by T. C. Skeat, the editor, shows general similarities with the Egerton Gospel and closer parallels with P. Oxy. 656 (Genesis), both dated to the second century, confirming its early date and scribal context.

The physical features, including its small size and tattered condition, suggest it was part of a larger codex, possibly used in early Christian communities for reading or study. Its preservation in Oxyrhynchus, a site known for yielding significant papyri, underscores its historical value. The manuscript’s early date, around 125-175 CE, places it within decades of the composition of John’s Gospel, traditionally dated to 90-95 CE, enhancing its reliability as a textual witness.

Textual Content and Comparison

P90 contains John 18:36–19:7, a critical passage detailing the account of Jesus before Pilate, including his declaration of kingship and the crowd’s demand for Barabbas. To substantiate, the text includes:

John 18:36-37 (UASV): “Jesus answered, ‘my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, my kingdom is not of this world.’ Then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose, I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.’”
John 19:1-3 (UASV): “Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and struck him with their hands.”

The transcription of P90, as provided, shows:

[Recto] Starting with John 18:36: “βασ]ι̣λ̣ε̣ία η εμ̣[η οι υπηρεtai οι εμoi ηγ]ω̣ν̣ι̣ζ̣ο̣ντο α̣[ν ινα μη παραδοθω τ̣oiς ιου̣[δ]α̣ι̣oịṣ [νυν δε η βασιλεια η εμη ου̣κ̣ [ε]σ̣τ̣ιν̣ [εντευθεν” and continuing through to John 19:1.
[Verso] Continuing with John 19:2-7, including “αστiγωσeν 2κai oi στ]ρaτiωτai π̣[λε ξaντeς στeφaνo]v εξ ακaνθω̣[v επeθηκaν αυ]τoυ τh [κe]φaλh κa iματiov πoρφυρ]oυv περιεβa λoν αυτoν” and ending with “7απeκρiθησaν oi iouδ]αi oi ημ̣εiς̣ νoμoν εχoμeν κa]i κaτa τoν.”

Comparing P90 with the Greek-English New Testament Interlinear (GENTI), reveals its alignment with the Alexandrian text-type. For instance, John 18:36 in P90 includes “η βασιλεια η εμη ουκ εσ[τ]ιν εν[τ]ευθεν,” which corresponds closely to the GENTI reading “η βασιλεια η εμη ουκ εσ τ ιν εκ του κοσμου τουτου,” supporting the notion that P90’s text is consistent with early Alexandrian witnesses. Its affinity with P66, another early papyrus of John, and some similarity with Codex Sinaiticus (א), as noted by Kurt Aland, places it in Category I of his classification, indicating high textual value.

Textual Significance and Variants

P90’s textual character, while closely aligned with P66, does not concur entirely, suggesting minor variations that require careful analysis. For example, in John 18:37, P90’s reading “σu λεγεiς οτi βασ̣ịλ̣ε̣υ̣s εiμi εγω” matches the GENTI “σὺ λέγεσ, ὅτ ι βασλ εὺς είμ ι,” indicating no significant deviation. However, the fragmentary nature of P90, with lacunae, limits full comparison, but where legible, it supports the Alexandrian text’s reliability. This alignment is crucial, as conservative evangelical scholarship prioritizes early papyri like P90 over later traditions, such as Byzantine, unless evidence demands otherwise, with a heavy burden of proof.

The manuscript’s early date, within 35-85 years of John’s composition, underscores its proximity to the autograph, reinforcing confidence in its textual fidelity. Its comparison with other manuscripts, like P. Oxy. 656 (Genesis), dated to the second century by H. I. Bell and T. C. Skeat, further confirms its scribal context, showing decorated rounded hands typical of the period.

Scribal Skills and Manuscript Production

The quality of P90’s copying reflects the scribe’s skill, classified as a reformed documentary hand, indicating awareness of copying a literary text. This is distinct from common hands, which show limited skills, and documentary hands, used for business records with non-uniform lettering. Professional bookhands, seen in P4+64+67, exhibit advanced calligraphy, but P90’s hand, while careful, suggests a scribe trained for literary works, aligning with early Christian efforts to preserve Scripture. This care is evident in the uniform lettering and 24 lines per page, facilitating readability and preservation.

Historical and Theological Implications

P90’s text, covering Jesus’ trial and crucifixion account, is theologically significant, affirming his divine kingship and fulfillment of prophecy. For instance, John 19:7 (ESV): “The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of God,’” highlights the legal and religious context, preserved in P90’s text. Its early date supports the historical reliability of these accounts, dated to 30 CE for the crucifixion, aligning with literal Bible chronology.

Conclusion

P90 (P. Oxy. 3523) is a vital early witness to the Gospel of John, dated 125-175 CE, aligning with the Alexandrian text-type and showing affinity with P66 and Codex Sinaiticus. Its reformed documentary hand and textual fidelity underscore its role in conservative evangelical textual criticism, providing a reliable basis for understanding the New Testament text. This analysis, rooted in unwavering certainty, affirms P90’s contribution to preserving the inspired Word, ensuring fidelity to the original autographs.

Table: Comparison of P90 with Other Manuscripts

Manuscript	Date (CE)	Content	Text-Type	Key Features
P90	125-175	John 18:36–19:7	Alexandrian	Reformed documentary hand, codex format, Category I
P66	c. 200	Most of John	Alexandrian	Close affinity with P90, early papyrus
Codex Sinaiticus (א)	c. 330-360	Entire NT	Alexandrian	Some affinity with P90, major uncial

Key

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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).