P122, P. Oxyrhynchus 4806): A Fourth-Century Fragment of John 21:11–14, 22–24

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Introduction to Papyrus 122 and Its Significance

Papyrus 122, designated 𝔓122 in the Gregory-Aland system and cataloged as P. Oxyrhynchus 4806, is a highly fragmentary manuscript of the Gospel of John, preserving portions of John 21:11–14 and 21:22–24. Dated to approximately 300–350 C.E., it represents a later stage in the early papyrus tradition and is associated with the Alexandrian textual stream, though its precise text-type cannot be conclusively determined. While the surviving text is limited, 𝔓122 offers several textual and codicological insights, particularly relating to the closing chapter of John’s Gospel and the early Christian handling of nomina sacra, numerical notations, and scribal competency.

The fragment is noteworthy not for extensive textual content but for what it implies about the form, script, and transmission of the Gospel of John during the fourth century in Egypt, particularly in a non-professional scribal context. It also invites comparisons with Codex Washingtonianus (W) and Codex Regius (L) due to unique variant possibilities in John 21:14.

Provenance, Date, and Housing

𝔓122 was discovered in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, a key archaeological site for early Christian papyri, and published in The Oxyrhynchus Papyri Volume LXXI (2007), edited by R. Hatzilambrou, P. J. Parsons, and J. Chapa. It is housed in the Papyrology Rooms of the Sackler Library, Oxford, under shelf number P. Oxy. 4806.

The paleographic assessment places the manuscript in the early to mid-fourth century (300–350 C.E.). The writing is described by Juan Chapa as a “poor attempt at Biblical Uncial,” suggesting the scribe was inexperienced, working from a model script but lacking formal scribal training. This description, while indicative of a less refined hand, still affirms that copies of John were being produced with the intention of careful preservation—even if not by expert scribes.

Physical Description and Codex Reconstruction

Only two pieces from one leaf of the original manuscript survive. Based on spacing, letter size, and layout, the reconstructed codex is estimated to have had the following characteristics:

Writing area: approximately 10 cm x 24 cm
Lines per page: around 44 lines
Letters per line: approximately 25–27
Page format: likely one column per page
Total leaves: estimated 32 leaves = 64 pages, sufficient to contain the full Gospel of John

This codex would have been compact but relatively text-dense, designed for maximum content per page. The layout indicates utility rather than luxury, likely used in a private or communal setting where the primary concern was preservation of content rather than elegance of form.

P122 (P. Oxyrhynchus 4806) [300-350 C.E.]

Scribal Features: Nomina Sacra and Numerical Notation

Despite its brevity, 𝔓122 exhibits standard Christian scribal conventions:

Nomina Sacra: The name Ἰησοῦς (Jesus) appears in its contracted form as Ι̅Η̅Σ̅, a well-established abbreviation by this period.
Numerical notation: In John 21:11, the numeral 153 (the number of fish caught) is written in Greek numerals as ΡΝΓ (100 + 50 + 3).

The accurate use of nomina sacra and Greek numerals indicates the scribe was familiar with key conventions of Christian texts, even if the handwriting suggests inexperience. This combination affirms the communal and ecclesial function of the manuscript.

Transcription and Extant Text

The preserved fragments contain text from John 21:11–14 and 21:22–24. Though not complete, the following reconstruction shows what is readable. All extant letters are enclosed in brackets, while the surrounding context (based on the Nestle-Aland 28th Edition) is provided for orientation. No conjectural restorations are included within the brackets.

John 21:11–14
…ἀνέβη Σίμων Πέτρος καὶ εἵλκυσεν τὸ δίκτυον εἰς τὴν γῆν,
μεστὸν ἰχθύων μεγάλων [ΡΝΓ]· καὶ τοσοῦτων ὄντων οὐκ ἐσχίσθη τὸ δίκτυον.
λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· [Δεῦτε ἀριστήσατε].
οὐδεὶς ἐτόλμα τῶν μαθητῶν ἐξετάσαι αὐτόν·
[Σὺ τίς εἶ; εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ Κύριός ἐστιν.]
ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ λαμβάνει τὸν ἄρτον
καὶ δίδωσιν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τὸ ὀψάριον ὁμοίως.
[τοῦτο ἤδη τρίτον ἐφανερώθη τοῖς μαθηταῖς…]

Variant in John 21:14:
In this verse, most manuscripts read:
“τοῦτο ἤδη τρίτον ἐφανερώθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς”
(“This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples”).

However, 𝔓122 appears to omit ὁ Ἰησοῦς, reading possibly:
“τοῦτο ἤδη τρίτον ἐφανερώθη τοῖς μαθηταῖς”,
which aligns with Codex Washingtonianus (W). It is unclear if this omission is due to damage or original reading. An alternate possibility is that 𝔓122 originally read “ἐφανερώθη τοῖς μαθηταῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς”, as in Codex Regius (L).

The majority of Alexandrian witnesses, including 𝔓66, 𝔓75, ℵ, and B, contain “ἐφανερώθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς”.

John 21:22–24
λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· [ἐὰν αὐτὸν θέλω μένειν ἕως ἔρχομαι, τί πρὸς σέ;]
[σὺ ἀκολούθει μοι.]
ἐξῆλθεν οὖν οὗτος ὁ λόγος εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς
[ὅτι ὁ μαθητὴς ἐκεῖνος οὐκ ἀποθνήσκει·]
[καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι οὐκ ἀποθνήσκει, ἀλλ’· ἐὰν αὐτὸν θέλω μένειν…]
οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ μαθητὴς ὁ μαρτυρῶν περὶ τούτων
[καὶ ὁ γράψας ταῦτα· καὶ οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀληθινὴ ἡ μαρτυρία αὐτοῦ ἐστίν.]

This final segment includes the identification of the Beloved Disciple as the one bearing witness to the Gospel. While no unique variants can be confirmed in the extant letters, the presence of this closing passage supports the manuscript’s representation of the full canonical ending of John, rather than the truncated form seen in some speculative reconstructions of an earlier version of the Gospel.

Textual Character and Affinity with Codex W

Although 𝔓122 is not extensive enough to be classified under the Aland Categories, it exhibits affinities with Codex Washingtonianus (W) in John 21:14, particularly in the potential omission of the name Ἰησοῦς. This may indicate:

A scribal simplification, especially in a non-professional manuscript.
A textual tradition parallel to that preserved in W, possibly circulating in Egypt during the fourth century.
Alternatively, it may be due to manuscript damage and not an original omission.

Either way, 𝔓122 provides an important check on the textual variation in John’s final chapter and highlights the stability of the narrative structure, even amid small-scale differences.

Conclusion: The Contribution of 𝔓122 to the Fourth Gospel’s Transmission

Although highly fragmentary, 𝔓122 (P. Oxy. 4806) serves as a witness to the continued transmission and use of the Gospel of John in the early fourth century. Its content from John 21:11–14 and 21:22–24, layout, and textual features confirm that the entire Gospel, including the epilogue, was in circulation in Egypt at this time.

Its potential agreement with Codex W in John 21:14 invites further study of textual diversity within the Alexandrian region during the fourth century. The use of nomina sacra, Greek numerals, and standard codex formatting aligns with Christian scribal norms, even if executed by a less skilled scribe.

Ultimately, 𝔓122 affirms the doctrinal integrity and textual continuity of the Fourth Gospel, reinforcing confidence in the reliability of the Greek New Testament as transmitted through the centuries.

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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).