Introduction to P128

Papyrus 128, identified as 𝔓128 in the Gregory-Aland catalog, is a small but notable Greek papyrus fragment of the Gospel of John, preserving portions of John 9:3–4 and 12:16–18. Dated paleographically to the 6th or 7th century C.E., this manuscript belongs to the later Byzantine era, when uncial script continued to be used in the transmission of New Testament texts.

Previously classified as part of 𝔓44, P128 has since been cataloged as a distinct papyrus witness due to differences in handwriting and content. Both manuscripts are housed together in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Inventory 14.1.527), New York.

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Physical Description

The extant fragments of P128 are extremely fragmentary, consisting of one larger fragment and several smaller ones. The Greek text is written in a large, bold uncial script, typical of the later Byzantine period, using scriptio continua (no spaces between words). The ink is a dark brown or black and has held up remarkably well compared to the papyrus substrate.

The image clearly shows individual, well-formed capital letters, with generous vertical spacing between lines. Despite its fragmentary nature, the letter clarity in the main fragment is unusually high for a manuscript of this age and condition.

Nomina sacra (sacred abbreviations) are present, although too little text survives to confirm the presence of all standard forms.

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Paleographic Date: 6th–7th Century C.E.

The uncial handwriting places the fragment securely within the 6th or 7th century C.E., according to standard palaeographic criteria. Characteristics supporting this dating include:

• The wide, rounded letterforms (especially theta, epsilon, and sigma).

• Uniform, upright characters with minimal ornamentation.

• The broad spacing and relatively large letter size, consistent with Byzantine-era ecclesiastical manuscripts used for reading aloud in liturgical settings.

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Textual Contents

P128 preserves portions from two separate Johannine contexts, both of which are Christologically and theologically significant.

John 9:3–4

This passage comes from the narrative of Jesus healing the man born blind:

“Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.’” (John 9:3–4, ESV)

John 9:3–4

οὐτε οἱ γ[ονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ’ ἵνα φανερω]
θῇ τὰ ἔργ[α τοῦ θ̅υ̅ ἐν αὐτῷ. ἐμὲ δεῖ ἐργά]
ζεσθαι τ[ὰ ἔργα το]υ̅ π̅ρ̅ς̅ με ἐ]
ὡς ἡμ[έρα ἐστίν· ἔ]ρχ[εται νὺξ ὅτε οὐδεὶς]
δύνατ[– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ]

The visible Greek in the main fragment appears to contain:

• The clause referring to “the works of God” (τὰ ἔργα τοῦ θεοῦ)

• Possibly ἐργαζώμεθα (“we must work”)

• Traces of τοῦ πέμψαντός με (“of the one who sent Me”)

This passage highlights Jesus’ divine commission and the urgency of His ministry, drawing attention to God’s sovereign purpose in the healing miracle.

John 12:12–13

[– – ] ἔρ[χεται ὁ ι̅ς̅ εἰς Ἰεροσόλυμα· ἔλαβον τὰ
β]αΐα [– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ]

John 12:16–18

This segment occurs immediately after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when the disciples recall the fulfillment of Scripture:

“His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him…” (John 12:16–18)

John 12:16–18

[– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ] ἓ[ν]α καὶ [ταῦ]
[τα ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ· ἐμαρτύρει] οὖν ὁ ὄχλο[ς
ὁ ὢν μετ’ αὐτοῦ] ὅτε [τὸν Λάζαρο]ν ἐφών[η]
[σεν ἐκ τοῦ μνημ]είῳ[υ, καὶ ἤγειρ]εν αὐτόν·
[ἐκ νεκρῶν· διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑπήντ]ησεν α[– – –]

Textual elements visible in the smaller fragments and possibly on the verso may include:

• Ἐμνήσθησαν (“they remembered”)

• References to Scripture being fulfilled

• Traces of the crowd testifying (μαρτυροῦντες) about Lazarus and Jesus’ raising him from the dead (vv. 17–18)

These verses reinforce Johannine themes of divine glory, fulfillment of prophecy, and belief grounded in eyewitness testimony.

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Textual Affiliation

Due to its fragmentary condition, P128’s full textual character cannot be definitively determined. However, what can be seen aligns with the Byzantine text-type, which was dominant by the 6th century. Its readings do not appear to show any clear Alexandrian or Western influence, and its script and format are consistent with Byzantine liturgical manuscripts.

Though later in date than most primary Alexandrian papyri, P128 still contributes to the broad textual witness of John’s Gospel, especially in confirming the stability of Johannine wording in later centuries.

Its earlier association with 𝔓44, which contains text from John 9:1–12 and Matthew 17:1–3, 6–7, suggests that these fragments may have belonged to a composite codex of Gospel readings—perhaps used for teaching or liturgical reading.

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Visual Analysis of the Image

The largest fragment in the image clearly displays four lines of uncial script, reading left to right with partial words. The text is written neatly, with sharp ink contrast against the faded brown papyrus fibers. Though worn and incomplete on the top and right sides, the spacing between lines remains intact.

The five smaller fragments to the right display isolated letters and partial syllables. Their consistency in script size and ink coloration supports the conclusion that they belong to the same manuscript leaf.

Letterforms such as theta (Θ), epsilon (Ε), upsilon (Υ), and sigma (Σ) are wide and rounded, typical of the 6th–7th century tradition. No punctuation or diacritical marks are present, in keeping with the conventions of the period.

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Location and Provenance

P128 is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, under Inventory Number 14.1.527. It was formerly classified together with 𝔓44, but was later separated based on distinct scribal characteristics and text boundaries.

Both manuscripts likely came from the same archaeological context, possibly Oxyrhynchus, though no definitive provenance has been recorded.

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Conclusion

Papyrus 128 (𝔓128), dated to the 6th or 7th century C.E., is a small but meaningful witness to the Gospel of John, preserving words from John 9:3–4 and 12:16–18. Though fragmentary, it demonstrates the continued use and faithful copying of Johannine material in the Byzantine period, affirming both textual consistency and Christological clarity in later manuscript tradition.

Its legible uncial script and liturgical format suggest a role in ecclesiastical reading or instruction, and its presence alongside 𝔓44 indicates its potential origin in a codex of Gospel readings. While limited in content, P128 contributes to the broader testimony of New Testament papyri, underscoring the preservation of Scripture across centuries of transmission.

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