P116, P. Vindob. G 42417): A Sixth-Century Fragment of Hebrews 2:9–11; 3:3–6

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Introduction to Papyrus 116 and Its Context in Textual Criticism

Papyrus 116, designated 𝔓116 in the Gregory-Aland numbering system and also cataloged as P. Vindob. G 42417, is a late but noteworthy witness to the Epistle to the Hebrews, containing highly fragmentary portions of Hebrews 2:9–11 and 3:3–6. Although dated paleographically to the sixth century C.E., well beyond the era of the earliest Christian papyri, 𝔓116 contributes to the overall picture of New Testament textual transmission by confirming the continued use and copying of Hebrews into the Byzantine period.

While earlier papyri from Oxyrhynchus or other Egyptian sites (e.g., 𝔓46, 𝔓114) provide insight into the textual tradition of Hebrews in the second and third centuries, 𝔓116 demonstrates the preservation and perhaps localized textual developments of the text in a later scribal environment. Though the manuscript is too small to determine its full textual character, the surviving text still offers material for comparative analysis and paleographical study.

Provenance, Dating, and Current Location

𝔓116 is currently housed at the Austrian National Library in Vienna under the shelf number Pap. G. 42417. It is also known by its descriptive catalog title P. Vindob. G 42417. According to the Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung (INTF), the manuscript is dated to the 6th century C.E. based on script analysis. The editor of the papyrus, A. Papathomas, published a transcription and preliminary analysis in 2000 in the Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism.

The papyrus fragment measures approximately 31 by 18 cm, making it relatively large in size compared to some earlier papyri. However, it survives in a highly fragmented condition, with only a few partial lines of Hebrews 2 and 3 extant. Due to the fragmentary nature of the manuscript and the lack of a continuous context, 𝔓116 is not categorized under the standard Aland Categories for Greek New Testament manuscripts and remains uncategorized.

Paleographical Description and Physical Features

The handwriting of 𝔓116 corresponds to sixth-century uncial script, a formal book hand typical of the late antique period. This hand is distinct from the earlier documentary or biblical majuscule scripts seen in second–fourth century manuscripts. By the sixth century, Greek biblical texts were being produced in more developed book forms, often under ecclesiastical influence, with stabilized orthography and uniform letterforms.

Though very little text survives, the overall structure and style of the papyrus point toward a professional scribe, likely copying the manuscript for liturgical, ecclesiastical, or monastic use. The text was most probably part of a codex rather than a scroll, as was customary for Christian biblical literature by the fourth century onward.

The fragment’s larger dimensions (31 x 18 cm) and presumed two-column layout are consistent with sixth-century codices designed for public or communal reading. However, since no page numbers, titles, or marginal notations survive, determining the manuscript’s exact format remains speculative.

Transcription and Layout of the Fragment

Only fragments of Hebrews 2:9–11 and 3:3–6 are extant. While the text is severely damaged and no complete lines are preserved, a tentative reconstruction can be offered based on surviving characters and alignment with standard critical texts such as the Nestle-Aland 28th Edition (NA28). All restorations are placed in brackets, representing conjecture grounded in comparative manuscript analysis.

Hebrews 2:9–11
…βραχυ τι παρ’ αγγελ̣[ους ηλαττωμενον βλεπομεν ιησουν]
…δια το παθημα του θανατου [δοξη και τιμη εστεφανωμενον]
…οπως χαριτι θεου υπερ παντος [γευσηται θανατου]
…επρεπεν γαρ αυτω δι’ ον τα παντα [και δι’ ου τα παντα]
…πολλους υιους εις δοξαν αγαγοντα [τον αρχηγον της σωτηριας αυτων]
…δια παθηματων τελειωσαι

Hebrews 3:3–6
…οτι τουτου πλειονος δοξης παρα μωυσην ηξιωται [καθ’ οσον]
…πλειονα τιμην εχει του οικου [ο κατασκευασας αυτον]
…πας γαρ οικος κατασκευαζεται [υπο τινος]
…ο δε παντα κατασκευασας θεος [εστιν]
…και μωυσης μεν πιστος εν ολω τω οικω αυτου [ως θεραπων]
…χριστος δε ως υιος επι τον οικον αυτου· [ου οικος εσμεν ημεις]

Despite the limited nature of the extant text, this reconstruction allows for basic comparison with other manuscript witnesses. All preserved lines match the NA28 text, and no significant variants can be directly identified due to the fragmentary condition. However, the textual stability and orthographic consistency suggest that the exemplar used by the scribe conformed to the mainstream Greek tradition, likely with Alexandrian or Byzantine influence.

Textual Character and Lack of Categorization

𝔓116 is officially marked as “too small to determine its textual character”, which is a standard designation by the INTF and Kurt Aland’s categorization system when a manuscript preserves insufficient text for classification. As a result, 𝔓116 has not been placed in Category I–V, unlike more complete papyri such as 𝔓46 or 𝔓75.

Even though the textual character remains officially undetermined, the fragment supports the basic structure and vocabulary of the critical text. Where visible, the alignment of words and phrases matches the Alexandrian base text found in major uncials such as Codex Vaticanus (B) and Codex Sinaiticus (ℵ). This suggests that 𝔓116 likely represents a relatively stable textual stream, although no firm conclusion can be drawn without more data.

Given its sixth-century date, 𝔓116 most likely reflects a transmission stage where the Alexandrian and Byzantine traditions were increasingly blended, especially in provincial or ecclesiastical copying centers. It does not display the expansions or paraphrastic tendencies characteristic of later Byzantine witnesses, nor does it preserve distinctive Western readings.

The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

Hebrews 2:9 – “χάριτι θεοῦ” vs. “χωρὶς θεοῦ”: Variant Not Evident in 𝔓116

One of the most debated textual variants in Hebrews 2:9 concerns the phrase “χάριτι θεοῦ” (by the grace of God) versus “χωρὶς θεοῦ” (apart from God). The majority of manuscripts, including 𝔓46, ℵ, A, B, and the Majority Text, read “χάριτι θεοῦ”, whereas Codex 1739 and a few early patristic citations support “χωρὶς θεοῦ”.

𝔓116 is too fragmentary at this point in the verse to preserve either variant clearly. The papyrus breaks off before this phrase, leaving the matter unresolved. Therefore, it cannot be used as evidence in favor of or against either reading. Nonetheless, the absence of eccentric variants in the surviving portion lends tacit support to the standard reading, though not definitively.

Historical Context and the Continued Transmission of Hebrews

The sixth century represents a period of stabilization and canon consolidation in the Greek-speaking Christian world. By this time, the Epistle to the Hebrews, once debated in terms of authorship and canonical status in certain regions, had achieved broad acceptance within the Greek canon. The presence of Hebrews in 𝔓116 reflects this normalized inclusion and affirms that scribes continued to reproduce the epistle in codices alongside the rest of the New Testament corpus.

Moreover, the manuscript serves as a testament to the durability and continued relevance of the Alexandrian textual tradition. Even when we move outside the early Alexandrian papyri of the second and third centuries, later witnesses like 𝔓116 show that the general shape of the New Testament text, especially in doctrinally dense passages like Hebrews 2 and 3, remained stable.

Modern Provenance Note

A peculiar detail associated with 𝔓116 is the claim that Martin Shkreli—a controversial pharmaceutical executive—acquired the manuscript in 2017. While the specific terms of the acquisition and the current ownership status are uncertain and not relevant to textual analysis, this anecdote illustrates the growing attention even fragmentary biblical papyri receive in both academic and private circles. Regardless of private ownership changes, 𝔓116’s scholarly publication and registration in international catalogs ensure its contribution to textual criticism remains accessible.

Conclusion: 𝔓116 as a Witness to the Enduring Text of Hebrews

Though brief and fragmentary, 𝔓116 offers insight into the sixth-century transmission of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The surviving text aligns with the critical text and reflects a period of stable copying practices during a time when the New Testament canon had already been solidified in the Greek-speaking Church. While it is officially uncategorized due to its brevity, the preserved phrases support the standard textual tradition and bear no indication of scribal embellishment or variant expansions.

𝔓116 thus remains a small but meaningful piece of the documentary evidence attesting to the reliable preservation of the New Testament through the centuries, even into the later periods of manuscript production.

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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).