Please Support the Bible Translation Work of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

$5.00

New Testament Textual Studies: An Examination of Papyrus 49 and Papyrus 65

Introduction to Papyrus 49 (P49)

Papyrus 49 (Gregory-Aland numbering), designated as P49, is an important early manuscript of the New Testament. This papyrus contains fragments of the Epistle to the Ephesians and is an essential witness to the text, particularly from the early-mid 3rd century C.E. P49 is significant due to its close textual relationship with the Codex Sinaiticus [330-360 C.E.] and Codex Vaticanus [300-330 C.E.], making it an essential document for understanding the transmission and preservation of the New Testament text.

Description and Physical Characteristics

The original leaf of P49 measured approximately 18 centimeters in height and 25 centimeters in width. However, the surviving fragment is slightly smaller, currently measuring 20.3 by 13.3 centimeters. The top of the leaf is damaged, resulting in the loss of six lines of text. The lower and outer margins are about 3 centimeters, while the upper and inner margins have been lost.

P49 is written in a single column per page, with an average of 29 lines per column and about 38 letters per line. The text lacks breathings (spiritus asper and spiritus lenis) and accents, with the double point (:) serving as the sole punctuation mark. The letters are slightly inclined to the right, reflecting the influence of cursive handwriting, and the manuscript was penned by a professional scribe. Notably, the nomina sacra are written in an abbreviated manner.

The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

Textual Characteristics and Variants

P49 is a representative of the Alexandrian text-type, which is known for its high degree of accuracy and reliability. Kurt Aland classified it as “at least Normal text” and placed it in Category I, indicating its significant textual value. Bruce M. Metzger also identified it as an Alexandrian text. According to Philip Comfort and David Barrett, P49 shows strong agreement with Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus in 14 out of 16 textual variants.

Notable Textual Variants

In Ephesians 4:23, P49 presents the rare reading “εν τω πνευματι” (in spirit), as opposed to the more common “τω πνευματι” (spirit). This reading is supported by Codex Vaticanus, minuscule 33, 1175, 1739, 1881, and several other manuscripts.

In Ephesians 4:28, P49 has the unique reading “ταις χερσιν το αγαθον” (the good with hands), supported by P46, the second corrector of Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, and Old Latin a and vgst. Other manuscripts present variations of this phrase.

In Ephesians 5:4, P49 reads “και” (and), supported by P46, the first corrector of Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, and several Byzantine manuscripts, among others. The alternative reading “η” (or) is found in Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus, Codex Bezae, and other manuscripts.

In Ephesians 5:5, P49 has the reading “ο εστιν” (who is), supported by P46, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, and several other manuscripts. The variant “ος εστιν” (who is) is supported by Codex Alexandrinus [400-440 C.E.] and Codex Bezae. [400-450 C.E.].

In Ephesians 5:9, P49 reads “φωτος” (light), supported by Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus, Codex Vaticanus, and others. The reading “πνευματος” (spirit) is found in P46 and the majority of Byzantine manuscripts.

Historical Context and Provenance

The handwriting of P49 displays many features characteristic of the third century. Comfort dated the manuscript to the mid-3rd century, and the Institute for New Testament Textual Research (INTF) assigned it to the same period based on palaeographic grounds. Although it was likely written in Egypt, its exact locality remains unknown.

P49 was purchased in Cairo for Yale University in February 1931. Its provenance prior to its acquisition in Cairo is not documented. Currently, it is housed at the Yale University Library (P. Yale 415) in New Haven.

The text of P49 was first published by William Hatch and Bradford Welles in 1958. Kurt Aland later catalogued it in the list of New Testament papyri under the number 49. Susan Stephens provided a new and complete transcription in 1985, followed by another reconstruction by Comfort and Barrett in 1999.

Relationship with Papyrus 65 (P65)

Papyrus 65, also known as P65, is another significant manuscript of the New Testament. Designated as P65 in the Gregory-Aland numbering, it contains fragments of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians, specifically verses 1:3–2:1 and 2:6-13. Like P49, it has been assigned to the early-mid 3rd century C.E. on palaeographic grounds.

Papyrus 65 (P65)

Description and Physical Characteristics

P65, known as PSI XIV 1373, is a papyrus manuscript of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians. The surviving fragments cover verses 1:3–2:1 and 2:6-13. This manuscript shares several physical characteristics with P49, including its measurements and the number of lines per page. P65 measures 18 by 25 centimeters, with an average of 42 letters per line, creating a 2.5-centimeter margin. This is slightly more than the average 38 letters per line found in P49, which has a 3-centimeter margin.

Textual Characteristics and Variants

P65 is also a representative of the Alexandrian text-type. Although the text of the manuscript is brief, Aland placed it in Category I, indicating its textual significance. Metzger and the Alands consider it to likely be a “strict text,” though the brevity of the text makes this determination less certain.

Historical Context and Provenance

P65 is housed at the Papyrological Institute of Florence in the National Archaeological Museum (Florence) under the designation PSI 1373. Its provenance, like that of P49, remains largely undocumented.

Common Identity of P49 and P65

The remarkable similarities between P49 and P65 suggest that they were produced by the same scribe. This conclusion was first noted by Vittorio Bartoletti and later confirmed by Bradford Welles, Philip Comfort, and David Barrett, among other palaeographers. Both manuscripts exhibit an idiosyncratic formation of certain letters, such as the tilted lambda, tilted sigma, double-curved and extended iota, and long-tailed upsilon. Welles remarked that “there is not a single case of difference in the letter shapes in the two papyri.” Both manuscripts also feature the nomina sacra written with an overbar extending to the right, covering the width of one letter.

Evidence for a Common Codex

The shared features between P49 and P65 extend beyond the scribe’s handwriting. Both manuscripts have identical measurements and the same number of lines per page. The only notable difference is the number of letters per line: P49 averages 38 letters per line, while P65 averages 42 letters per line. This discrepancy can be explained by considering the scribe’s realization that space needed to be used more efficiently as the end of the codex approached. This pattern of lengthening lines is also observed in other manuscripts, such as P75.

Significance of P49 and P65

P49 and P65 are among the earliest manuscripts to display a Pauline codex. Other early examples include P13, P15/P16, P30, P46, and P92. These manuscripts are crucial for understanding the textual history and transmission of the Pauline epistles. The consistency in handwriting and physical characteristics between P49 and P65 supports the notion that they were part of the same codex, providing valuable insights into the scribe’s work and the production of New Testament manuscripts in the early centuries.

Conclusion

While P49 and P65 are treated as separate entities in the INTF’s list of New Testament papyri, their common identity is well-established among scholars. The textual and physical evidence supports the conclusion that these manuscripts were produced by the same scribe and were likely part of the same codex. This connection enhances our understanding of the early transmission and preservation of the New Testament text, particularly within the Alexandrian text-type tradition. The detailed examination of P49 and P65 underscores the meticulous work of the scribes and the enduring significance of these papyri in New Testament textual studies.

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).