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The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

Papyrus 42, designated as P42 in the Gregory-Aland numbering, is a small fragment of the New Testament. This manuscript contains six verses from the Gospel of Luke and dates to the 6th or 7th century C.E. The Greek text of P42 is representative of the Alexandrian text-type, although it also includes some Byzantine readings. Kurt Aland, a prominent textual critic, placed this manuscript in Category II, indicating that it has a high degree of reliability but also contains some textual variations.

The specific verses contained in P42 are from the Gospel of Luke, which is one of the Synoptic Gospels. The Alexandrian text-type, to which P42 primarily belongs, is known for its textual accuracy and is often considered closer to the original autographs of the New Testament. This text-type is highly valued in conservative evangelical scholarship for its fidelity to the original writings. The inclusion of some Byzantine readings in P42 adds another layer of textual history, showing the manuscript’s use and transmission in different Christian communities.

The Gospel of Luke, where these verses are found, is a detailed account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke, a physician and companion of the Apostle Paul, wrote this Gospel to provide an orderly and accurate account of Jesus’ life (Luke 1:1-4). The verses in P42 can contribute to our understanding of the textual transmission of Luke’s Gospel and offer insights into somewhat early Christian scribal practices.

One of the somewhat significant aspects of P42 is its representation of the Alexandrian text-type. This text-type is characterized by its concise and often more original readings compared to the Byzantine text-type, which tends to have more expansions and harmonizations. For example, in Luke 24:12, the Alexandrian text reads, “But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.” This concise reading is typical of the Alexandrian text-type and is supported by other early manuscripts such as Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus.

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).