Introduction to P124

Papyrus 124, designated as P124 in the Gregory-Aland numbering, is a fragmentary papyrus manuscript containing portions of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians. The surviving content includes parts of 2 Corinthians 11:1–4 and 7–9. Paleographically dated to the late 4th or early 5th century C.E., this manuscript provides a valuable early witness to the text of Paul’s correspondence with the Corinthian church. Its textual features align with the Alexandrian text-type, adding to the corpus of early, reliable New Testament textual evidence.

Physical Description and Provenance

P124 consists of only one leaf, now in a fragmentary state. The papyrus is written in a single column format, with approximately 14 lines per page—typical of codex-style manuscripts from the late 4th to early 5th century. The handwriting is a formal book hand, consistent with other manuscripts dated to this period. The extant leaf preserves partial readings of both recto and verso text.

This manuscript was published in 2008 by J. David Thomas and is currently housed in the Papyrology Rooms of the Sackler Library at Oxford University, cataloged as P. Oxy. 4845.

Recto Side of P124 (P. Oxyrhynchus 4845): 2 Corinthians 11:1–7

Paleographic and Physical Description

This is a single-column fragment written in a fairly large, somewhat informal documentary book hand, typical of late 4th to early 5th century C.E. Greek manuscripts. The text is written in uncial (capital) script, with 14 lines per page, and there is no word separation, consistent with the continuous script style (scriptio continua) used in most early biblical manuscripts. The ink is brown-black and has faded in several places, though much of the writing remains legible. Damage has occurred primarily along the edges and in the center, resulting in substantial lacunae.

A nomina sacra system is visible in abbreviated divine names, though due to the fragmentary state, not all examples are preserved fully.

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Transcription of Legible Text (2 Corinthians 11:1–4, 7–9)

The transcription below reflects lines that can be confidently read, with gaps represented by ellipses (…):

[Ο]ΦΕΛΟΝ ΑΝΕΙΧΕΣΘΕ ΜΟΥ ΜΙΚΡΟΝ ΑΦΡ[ΟΣΥΝΗΣ]
[ΑΛΛΑ] ΚΑΙ ΑΝΕΧΕΣΘΕ ΜΟΥ ΖΗΛΩ ΓΑΡ ΥΜΑΣ ΘΕΟΥ ΖΗΛΩ
[ΗΡΜΟΣΑ] ΓΑΡ ΥΜΑΣ ΕΝΙ ΑΝΔΡΙ ΠΑΡΘΕΝΟΝ ΑΓΝΗΝ
[ΠΑΡΑΣΤ]ΗΣΑΙ ΤΩ ΧΡΙΣΤΩ ΦΟΒΟΥΜΑΙ ΔΕ ΜΗ ΠΩΣ
[ΩΣ Ο Ο]ΦΙΣ ΕΞΗΠΑΤΗΣΕΝ ΕΥΑΝ ΕΝ ΤΗ ΠΑΝΟΥΡΓΙΑ

[ΕΙΣ ΑΛΛΟΝ] ΙΗΣΟΥΝ ΟΝ ΟΥΚ ΕΚΗΡΥΞΑΜΕΝ
[Η ΠΝΕΥΜΑ ΕΤΕΡΟΝ] Ο ΟΥΚ ΕΛΑΒΕΤΕ

…ΤΩΝ … ΔΩΡΕΑΝ ΤΟΝ ΘΕΟΝ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΑΜΕΝ ΥΜΙΝ
ΑΛΛΑΧΟΥΣ … ΕΠΙΒΑΡΗΚΑ ΟΤΙ ΤΗΝ ΧΡΕΙΑΝ ΜΟΥ
[ΟΥΔΕΝΑ] ΕΒΑΡΗΚΑ

Lines (selected portions):

Content Description and Notes

This portion preserves segments of Paul’s passionate defense of his apostolic ministry in 2 Corinthians 11. Specifically, these verses include:

• Paul’s ironic wish that the Corinthians would tolerate a little of his “foolishness,” which is actually his bold boasting done out of concern for their spiritual purity (v.1–2).

• His fear that, just as Eve was deceived, they might be led astray from sincere devotion to Christ (v.3).

• A sharp warning against accepting a different Jesus, spirit, or gospel than the one Paul preached (v.4).

• Paul’s clarification that preaching the gospel “free of charge” was not an insult or inferiority, and that he relied on other churches to avoid burdening the Corinthians (vv.7–9).

This text is representative of the Alexandrian text-type, with concise phrasing and lack of scribal embellishment. While the text is too fragmentary to affirm detailed variants against Vaticanus or Sinaiticus, what is visible aligns closely with their readings, reinforcing its classification as an Alexandrian witness.

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Summary

The recto side of P124 (P. Oxy. 4845) preserves 2 Corinthians 11:1–4, with Paul’s exhortation concerning fidelity to the gospel and spiritual discernment. The script is a clear uncial hand, formatted in a single column of approximately 14 lines. Notable features include nomina sacra, consistent use of scriptio continua, and linguistic forms supporting Alexandrian textual affiliation. Despite damage, the visible Greek affirms the traditional text and provides an early 4th–5th century witness to the integrity of Paul’s message in 2 Corinthians.

Verso Side of P124 (P. Oxyrhynchus 4845): 2 Corinthians 11:7–9

This verso side of Papyrus 124 continues the text from the recto, containing parts of 2 Corinthians 11:7–9. These verses include Paul’s argument defending his decision to preach the gospel to the Corinthians without accepting financial support from them—an important testimony to his apostolic integrity and humility.

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Paleographic Features (Verso)

The verso side maintains the same script style as the recto: uncial Greek in one column, with roughly 14 lines per page. The ink is consistent in tone, but deterioration is more apparent here, particularly along the bottom and inner margins, creating large lacunae. The line rulings are still faintly visible. The handwriting remains professional and deliberate, in line with early Christian codices of the 4th and 5th centuries.

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Transcription (Partial Reconstruction from the Verso)

Though incomplete, several lines are partially reconstructable using comparative analysis from major Alexandrian manuscripts (e.g., Vaticanus, Sinaiticus):

[Η] ΗΜΑΡΤΗΣΑ ΕΜΑΥΤΟΝ ΤΑΠΕΙΝΩΝΩΝ ΙΝΑ ΥΜΕΙΣ ΥΨΩΘΗΤΕ
[ΟΤΙ] ΔΩΡΕΑΝ ΤΟΝ ΘΕΟΝ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΑΜΕΝ ΥΜΙΝ

[ΑΛΛΑ] ΤΑΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣ ΕΣΠΟΙΛΗΣΑ ΛΑΒΩΝ ΟΨΩΝΙΟΝ
[ΠΡΟΣ] ΤΗΝ ΥΜΩΝ ΔΙΑΚΟΝΙΑΝ

ΚΑΙ ΠΑΡΩΝ ΠΡΟΣ ΥΜΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΥΣΤΕΡΗΘΕΙΣ
ΟΥ ΚΑΤΕΝΑΡΚΗΣΑ ΟΥΘΕΝΙ
ΤΟ ΓΑΡ ΥΣΤΕΡΗΜΑ ΜΟΥ ΠΡΟΣΑΝΕΠΛΗΡΩΣΑΝ ΟΙ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΙ

[ΕΛΘΟΝΤΕΣ] ΑΠΟ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑΣ

ΚΑΙ ΕΝ ΠΑΝΤΙ ΑΒΑΡΗ ΚΑΙ ΕΜΑΥΤΟΝ ΕΤΗΡΗΣΑ
ΚΑΙ ΤΗΡΗΣΩ

Interpretive Commentary

These lines reinforce Paul’s ethos of ministerial self-sacrifice. He emphasizes:

• That he humbled himself by not accepting material support from the Corinthians.

• He received support from other churches, particularly from Macedonia, to ensure he did not burden the Corinthian believers.

• His refusal to exploit them reveals a key Pauline principle: gospel work must not be hindered or discredited by financial concerns or misunderstandings of motive.

The reading “δωρεάν τὸν θεὸν εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν” (“I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge”) is consistent with Alexandrian witnesses and affirms that this portion of P124 belongs to a careful tradition of transmission. There is no evidence of harmonization or gloss, strengthening its alignment with the Alexandrian textual stream.

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Summary

The verso of P124 preserves a significant portion of 2 Corinthians 11:7–9, wherein Paul defends his apostolic practice of preaching without financial burden. The scribe continues in uncial script, with roughly 14 lines per column, typical of the 4th–5th centuries. Despite heavy lacunae, the visible Greek confirms Alexandrian readings, including Paul’s statements about receiving support from Macedonia and preaching freely to the Corinthians. These textual elements reinforce the Pauline emphasis on humility and the integrity of gospel ministry, and P124 affirms the faithful transmission of these verses in the Alexandrian tradition.

Textual Contents of P124

The extant verses preserved in P124 are:

2 Corinthians 11:1–4
Paul begins by expressing a pastoral concern for the Corinthian believers. He uses intense and rhetorical language, warning them against being led astray by a “different Jesus,” “a different spirit,” or “a different gospel.” The text reflects Paul’s distress over the Corinthians’ vulnerability to false apostles who distort the genuine gospel he preached.

2 Corinthians 11:7–9
Paul addresses accusations that he demeaned himself by preaching the gospel free of charge. He emphasizes that he humbled himself to exalt them and accepted support from other churches so as not to burden the Corinthians. This passage underscores Paul’s integrity in ministry and his refusal to exploit the believers.

Textual Character and Alexandrian Affiliation

Though the fragmentary condition limits extensive textual analysis, the surviving portions of P124 exhibit hallmarks of the Alexandrian text-type. These features include conciseness, lack of paraphrastic expansion, and lexical precision. The manuscript’s affinity with Alexandrian witnesses enhances its significance for New Testament textual criticism.

The Alexandrian text-type is widely recognized for its antiquity and accuracy. The textual reliability of Alexandrian manuscripts such as Codex Vaticanus (B) and Codex Sinaiticus (א) is well established. In this context, P124 provides corroborative support for this tradition, reinforcing its value as an early textual witness.

Importance of the Verses in Context

2 Corinthians 11:1–4 is foundational in understanding Paul’s concern with doctrinal purity. His warning against receiving “another Jesus… a different spirit… a different gospel” (v. 4) has enduring theological implications. These words highlight the early church’s need to discern spiritual truth and preserve apostolic teaching. The presence of this warning in an early Alexandrian manuscript reinforces its originality and importance.

2 Corinthians 11:7–9 reflects the Apostle’s commitment to the Corinthians and his refusal to accept financial support from them. Paul’s practice of self-support through tentmaking (cf. Acts 18:3) and his appeal to other churches for funding (v. 8) demonstrate his missionary strategy and his desire to prevent any accusation of greed or manipulation.

P124’s inclusion of these verses affirms their early textual attestation and supports their authenticity, as consistent with the early transmission of Paul’s letters.

Scribal Features

As typical of Alexandrian papyri, P124 employs nomina sacra, though the damaged state of the manuscript obscures many complete words. Nevertheless, the surviving Greek orthography adheres closely to the established scribal norms of the period. The lines are written with care, and while the fragment lacks complete pericopes, the preserved words are consistent with other Alexandrian witnesses.

The columnar structure and lineation (14 lines per page) mirror those of other early New Testament codices. This uniformity supports the manuscript’s dating and its place within the broader Alexandrian scribal tradition.

Textual Witness and Reconstruction

Because P124 preserves only partial words and phrases from each verse, the full reconstruction depends on comparison with complete manuscripts such as Vaticanus and Sinaiticus. Nevertheless, what survives is sufficiently concordant with the Alexandrian readings in these manuscripts to confirm its textual alignment.

For example, the phrase “another Jesus, whom we did not preach” (2 Cor. 11:4) and “a different spirit, which you did not receive” both exhibit expected Alexandrian word order and vocabulary. Likewise, the fragment in verse 9 that reads along the lines of “when I was present with you and was in need…” matches the reading in Codex Vaticanus, supporting the Alexandrian textual lineage.

Historical Context of the Manuscript

The 4th–5th century was a critical era for the textual stabilization of the New Testament. Following Constantine’s legalization of Christianity in 313 C.E., there was increased demand for accurate copies of Scripture. By the end of the 4th century, major codices like Vaticanus and Sinaiticus had already been produced, reflecting a mature and careful transmission process. P124 stands within this milieu, not as a major codex, but as part of the wider documentary evidence for the fidelity of the New Testament text during this period.

Moreover, the integrity of the Pauline corpus—especially Second Corinthians—was already well established. There is no evidence of textual corruption or doctrinal interpolation in these verses in P124, reinforcing the stability and early standardization of the text.

Conclusion

Papyrus 124, though fragmentary, is an important witness to the text of 2 Corinthians 11:1–4 and 7–9. Its paleographical dating to the 4th or 5th century C.E., alignment with the Alexandrian text-type, and preservation of critical Pauline content underscore its value for New Testament textual criticism. The manuscript offers evidence of early Christian concern for doctrinal fidelity and scribal accuracy, supporting the overall trustworthiness of the New Testament text as handed down through faithful transmission.

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