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The study of New Testament textual manuscripts offers us vital insights into the transmission of the text through history. Papyrus P54, P55, P56, and P57 are four critical papyrus fragments that, while small, contribute significantly to our understanding of the early text of the New Testament, particularly within the Alexandrian text tradition. These manuscripts, despite their fragmentary nature, help illuminate the preservation and accuracy of the New Testament text over time.

Introduction to P54, P55, P56, and P57

Papyrus manuscripts are invaluable to New Testament textual studies due to their antiquity and proximity to the original autographs. While the papyri we are discussing do not contain extensive portions of the New Testament, they offer important evidence for the text of the early Christian writings. Each of these papyri is part of the broader collection categorized under the Gregory-Aland numbering system and is classified as part of the Alexandrian text-type, a significant textual tradition in New Testament criticism.

The Alexandrian text-type is highly regarded for its accuracy and closeness to the original texts. This text family is characterized by concise readings and a tendency to avoid later interpolations or expansions. For scholars dedicated to reconstructing the original New Testament text, these fragments are crucial.

Date of P54, P55, P56, and P57

Understanding the dates of these papyri is essential to grasping their role in the transmission of the New Testament text. Each papyrus is dated based on paleographic analysis, which examines the style of handwriting to determine its age.

Papyrus P54 has been dated to 350–400 C.E., making it one of the earlier witnesses to the Epistle of James. This dating places it within the 4th century, a time when the New Testament canon was becoming more established across Christian communities.

Papyrus P55 is assigned a date of the 6th or 7th century C.E., placing it within the Byzantine era, yet it still represents the Alexandrian text-type, which had long-standing influence. This shows that Alexandrian readings were preserved in certain traditions, even in later centuries.

Papyrus P56 is from the 5th or 6th century C.E. It contains a fragment of the Acts of the Apostles and belongs to a period when Christianity was spreading widely, and codices (book-form manuscripts) were becoming more prominent over scrolls.

Papyrus P57 is dated to the 4th or 5th century C.E. Like P56, it also contains portions of the Acts of the Apostles. The fact that these fragments were written so closely to the early councils of the Christian church underscores their importance as witnesses to the text of the New Testament in that formative era.

The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

Content of P54, P55, P56, and P57

The content of these papyri, though fragmentary, provides crucial evidence for the text they preserve.

Papyrus P54 contains portions of the Epistle of James, specifically James 2:16-18, 22-26, and 3:2-4. The Epistle of James is an essential part of the New Testament canon, offering ethical teachings for believers. The specific verses found in P54 deal with faith and works, making it a significant portion for understanding early Christian ethics. For example, James 2:18 states, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” The preservation of this teaching in P54 underscores the importance of ethical behavior in the early Christian communities.

Papyrus P55 contains a small portion of the Gospel of John, specifically John 1:31-33 and 1:35-38. This section is part of John’s introduction to the ministry of Jesus. In John 1:32, it records the testimony of John the Baptist: “And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.'” These early verses establish key elements of Christology, emphasizing Jesus’ divine nature and the role of the Holy Spirit in his ministry.

Papyrus P56 contains Acts 1:1, 4-5, 7, 10-11, verses that focus on the ascension of Christ and the early instructions given to the apostles. For instance, in Acts 1:8, Jesus tells his apostles, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The transmission of these early chapters of Acts is crucial for understanding the beginnings of the Christian mission.

Papyrus P57 preserves Acts 4:36–5:2, 8-10. These passages recount the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who were judged for lying to the Holy Spirit about their contributions to the church. Acts 5:4 asks the penetrating question: “Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” This section is significant because it reflects early Christian views on the seriousness of deceit and the role of communal integrity.

Physical Features of P54, P55, P56, and P57

Physically, these papyri were written on sheets made from the papyrus plant, a common material for writing in the ancient world. Papyrus was used for its availability and relative durability in dry climates, although it was prone to damage over time. These fragments are small, with only a few verses from the New Testament remaining on each one. Despite their size, they provide essential insight into the early transmission of these texts.

The handwriting on these papyri has been carefully studied by paleographers, who determine their approximate dates based on the style of the script. The quality of the handwriting can vary, suggesting that some manuscripts were produced by professional scribes, while others might have been the work of less skilled copyists.

Textual Character of P54, P55, P56, and P57

Each of these papyri is representative of the Alexandrian text-type. The Alexandrian tradition is known for its precision and tendency toward shorter, more concise readings. This text type is generally considered to be the most reliable in terms of representing the original New Testament writings, as it lacks the later expansions found in the Byzantine text-type.

Papyrus P54, as a representative of the Alexandrian text-type, supports readings found in other Alexandrian manuscripts of James, which tend to avoid additions or paraphrasing. Aland hesitantly placed it in Category III, meaning that while it contains some secondary readings, it still holds significant value for determining the original text.

Papyrus P55 also aligns with the Alexandrian text-type and has been placed in Category II by Aland, indicating it has a high degree of reliability with some possible minor deviations from the earliest form of the text. The surviving portion of John demonstrates the typical characteristics of the Alexandrian text, with concise, precise language.

Papyrus P56 and P57 both represent the Alexandrian text-type and have been placed in Category II by Aland. This indicates that while they are not free from all secondary readings, they are still highly valuable witnesses to the text. The portions of Acts found in these papyri align with other Alexandrian witnesses to this book, reinforcing the text’s integrity and accuracy over time.

The Alands’ Categories of New Testament Manuscripts

Kurt and Barbara Aland developed a categorization system to classify New Testament manuscripts based on their textual character and reliability. This system ranges from Category I, which includes manuscripts that are highly reliable and close to the original text, to Category V, which includes manuscripts with significant textual variations and later additions.

Category II, where P55, P56, and P57 are placed, refers to manuscripts that are important for establishing the original text, although they may contain some secondary readings. These manuscripts are still considered valuable witnesses to the early New Testament text, particularly when they align with other early sources.

Category III, where P54 is placed with some hesitation, refers to manuscripts that have some historical interest and may contain valuable readings but are not as reliable as those in Category I or II. Nonetheless, they can still be useful for textual critics in certain cases, especially when examining specific textual variants.

The Alexandrian Text Type

The Alexandrian text-type, to which P54, P55, P56, and P57 belong, is one of the most important text families in New Testament textual criticism. It is generally regarded as the most reliable text type, due to its early attestation and its tendency toward a concise, unembellished text. This text-type is the basis for most modern translations of the New Testament, as it is considered closest to the original autographs.

The importance of the Alexandrian text-type is underscored by the fact that many of the earliest and most important New Testament manuscripts, including Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, belong to this family. These manuscripts are known for their careful copying and transmission, which has allowed them to retain a high degree of accuracy over time.

In textual criticism, the Alexandrian text-type is often preferred over the Byzantine and Western text-types, which tend to have more significant variations and expansions. The fact that P54, P55, P56, and P57 align with the Alexandrian tradition reinforces their value as witnesses to the early New Testament text.

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).