P114, P. Oxy. 4498: A Paleographic and Textual Analysis of Hebrews 1:7–12 from an Early Christian Codex

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Introduction to Papyrus 114 and Its Relevance in New Testament Textual Studies

Papyrus 114 (designated 𝔓114 in the Gregory-Aland system) is a small but notable witness to the Epistle to the Hebrews, specifically preserving portions of Hebrews 1:7–12. Although highly fragmentary, 𝔓114 offers evidence for the early circulation and textual transmission of Hebrews within Egypt, particularly in the region of Oxyrhynchus. Dated between 225–275 C.E., this manuscript provides an early attestation to the Alexandrian textual tradition’s stability and allows for limited textual analysis in conjunction with other early witnesses such as 𝔓46 and Codex Vaticanus (B).

While the textual character is officially deemed too small to determine, the inclusion or omission of particular phrases—especially in Hebrews 1:9 and 1:12—permits a comparative analysis that positions 𝔓114 within the broader framework of textual criticism. The early Reformed Documentary script and codex format add additional insight into the scribal and literary practices of early Christians in Egypt.

This article examines 𝔓114 in terms of its paleography, physical features, transcription, and textual variants, with an emphasis on the external evidence supporting the early and reliable Alexandrian textual tradition.

Physical Characteristics and Provenance

𝔓114 is one of the Oxyrhynchus papyri, a vast collection of literary and documentary texts recovered from the ancient rubbish heaps of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, a major center for Christian manuscript transmission in the early centuries. The manuscript is dated paleographically to the middle third of the third century C.E.—specifically 225–275 C.E. This dating is based on comparison with other documentary papyri such as P. Oxy. 23 and P. Oxy. 2700, both firmly located in the third century.

The original dimensions of the manuscript were approximately 15 cm by 25 cm, with a layout of 27 lines per page. The script is Reformed Documentary, a style characterized by deliberate, legible handwriting that served both literary and documentary purposes. This script was common in Christian manuscripts of the third century, reflecting a transitional stage between documentary hands and professional biblical uncials.

Only one side of the leaf contains writing (the recto), with the verso either left blank or intended for a title page, suggesting this fragment came from the beginning of a codex, not a scroll. This is significant, as early Christian communities consistently adopted the codex format for scriptural texts, distinguishing their literature from other Greco-Roman texts predominantly preserved on scrolls.

Transcription and Layout of the Fragment

The preserved portion of 𝔓114 covers Hebrews 1:7–12, a theologically rich segment of the epistle that emphasizes the superiority of the Son over the angels. The following is a reconstruction of the visible text. Brackets indicate reconstructed portions based on extant readings from other manuscripts.

7
[τοὺς λειτουργοὺς] αὐ[τοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα·]
8
[πρὸς δὲ τὸν υἱὸν· ὁ θρόνος] σο̣υ ὁ θεὸς [εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς εὐθύτητος ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας σου.]
9
[ἠγάπησας δικαιοσύνην] καὶ ἐμ[ίσησας ἀνομίαν· διὰ τοῦτο ἔχρισέν σε ὁ θεός] σου ὁ θεός [ἔλαιον ἀγαλλιάσεως παρὰ τοὺς μετόχους σου.]
10
[καὶ σὺ καταρχὰς, κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σου εἰσὶν οἱ οὐρανοί·]
11
[αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις· καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται,]
12
[καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἐλίξεις αὐτοὺς, ὡς ἱμάτιον καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται· σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτός εἰ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν.]

This section confirms that 𝔓114 preserves the sequence and content of the standard Alexandrian form of Hebrews 1:7–12. The presence of unique readings in verses 1:9 and 1:12 allow for deeper comparative textual analysis, despite the overall fragmentary condition.

Paleographic Features: Reformed Documentary Script and Codex Format

𝔓114 exhibits the Reformed Documentary hand, a style found frequently in third-century Oxyrhynchus manuscripts. This hand reflects a level of scribal training appropriate for biblical and literary texts, distinct from the informal cursive hands of lower-grade documents. The clear and deliberate writing in 𝔓114, including the accurate formation of nomina sacra (e.g., θ̅ς̅ for θεός), shows the scribe’s attention to both readability and sacred conventions.

The use of nomina sacra in abbreviated form (e.g., θ̅ς̅ for θεός, υ̅ς̅ for υἱός) further confirms the Christian nature of the document and conforms to scribal practices observed across other early New Testament papyri. These abbreviations served not only as reverential markers but also as spatial conservations in manuscripts of limited column width.

Textual Variants and Their Significance

Although the fragment is limited in scope, it contains two variants of significant interest: one in Hebrews 1:9 and another in Hebrews 1:12. Each helps situate 𝔓114 within the textual stream and contributes to our understanding of the manuscript tradition of Hebrews.

Hebrews 1:9 — Order of “God, your God”

The standard Alexandrian reading, as preserved in 𝔓46, Codex Vaticanus (B), and Codex Sinaiticus (ℵ), reads:

“ὁ θεός, ὁ θεός σου”
(God, your God)

However, 𝔓114 supports an alternate word order:

“σου ὁ θεός, ὁ θεός”
(your God, God)

While this variation is extremely subtle and has no doctrinal significance, it shows that even in the earliest centuries, minor syntactical shifts were present in some manuscripts. The dominant reading among Alexandrian witnesses retains the standard order, and 𝔓114’s unique ordering is possibly a scribal rearrangement or a variant preserved in a now-lost exemplar. The variant is not widespread, and the external evidence strongly favors the traditional Alexandrian reading.

Hebrews 1:12 — Inclusion of “ὡς ἱμάτιον” (like a garment)

This phrase appears twice in the extended comparison made by the author of Hebrews regarding the transience of creation versus the eternality of the Son:

“καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται…”
“ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἐλίξεις αὐτοὺς, ὡς ἱμάτιον…”

𝔓114 includes the second occurrence of “ὡς ἱμάτιον”, aligning it with early and reliable Alexandrian witnesses, including:

𝔓46
Codex Vaticanus (B)
Codex Sinaiticus (ℵ)
Codex Alexandrinus (A)
minuscule 1739
Old Latin (vgmss)

In contrast, later manuscripts from the Byzantine tradition (e.g., D1, Ψ, 33, K, L, P) omit the second “ὡς ἱμάτιον.” These omissions are characteristic of scribal tendencies in later manuscripts to reduce repetition, likely under the influence of stylistic harmonization or an economy of writing. The inclusion in 𝔓114 affirms the early and full reading, contributing further support to the Alexandrian textual form as original.

The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

Textual Character and Text-Type Alignment

While officially designated as too small to determine its textual character, 𝔓114’s readings—especially in verse 12—demonstrate close alignment with the Alexandrian tradition, particularly with papyri like 𝔓46 and uncials like ℵ, A, B. This supports the principle that even small fragments, when they preserve distinctive readings, can yield significant conclusions about textual affiliation.

The documentary method of textual criticism, which places primary weight on external manuscript evidence, allows 𝔓114 to contribute meaningfully to the reconstruction of the original text, despite its brevity. The presence of nomina sacra, use of codex format, early date, and alignment with Alexandrian witnesses all reinforce the integrity of the early Christian textual tradition in Egypt.

Conclusion: The Enduring Significance of 𝔓114 in Hebrews’ Textual Transmission

Though fragmentary, Papyrus 114 (𝔓114) remains a noteworthy witness to the early textual transmission of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Its mid-third century date, codex format, reformed documentary script, and its alignment with Alexandrian readings in Hebrews 1:12 underscore its value. Moreover, the inclusion of “ὡς ἱμάτιον” where many later manuscripts omit it, strengthens the case for the Alexandrian reading as original.

This manuscript illustrates that even small fragments, when placed within the broader context of manuscript evidence, can provide confirmation of the early church’s careful preservation of the New Testament text. 𝔓114 contributes to the growing body of papyrological evidence supporting the documentary approach, which relies on the consistent testimony of the earliest and most reliable manuscripts.

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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).