Exploring LDAB: V. Earliest New Testament Manuscripts

Posted on ; Last updated on June 11, 2020
  • P52
    P52
  • P90
  • P104

The following table lists the earliest dated Greek manuscripts of all 27 books of the New Testament, sorted by the dates assigned according to Leuven Database of Ancient Books (LDAB)[1] and New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room (NTVMR) [2]. It includes all manuscripts dated to between the 2nd and 4th century by both LDAB and NTVMR.

The Gospels and the majority of Paul’s epistles are dated to before mid-3rd century. P52 and P90 (which contain verses from the Gospel of John), P104 (Matthew) are among the earliest New Testament manuscripts dated to the 2nd century; P45 is an early 3rd century papyrus containing all four canonical gospels and Acts; P46 is an early 3rd century papyrus containing eight epistles of Paul and Hebrews; Codex Sinaiticus (LDAB 3478) is a 4th century parchment, containing the Greek Old Testament, the complete New Testament, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Shepherd of Hermas.

Under “MANUSCRIPT” are identifiers and links to detailed manuscript metadata pages at NTVMR and LDAB (Trismegistos); Under “INVENTORY” are libraries and museums where the manuscripts are housed, their inventory numbers and digitized manuscript sites, if available, along with digital images at the Centre for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts[3]. The majority of the earliest New Testament manuscripts are found in Egypt. In particular, those discovered at Oxyrhynchus and currently housed at Sackler Library, Oxford are displayed at POxy Oxyrhynchus Online, which holds over 3300 papyri[4].

For quality control, I’ve compared this list, which was generated by querying LDAB and NTVMR programmatically with minimum manual curation, to a list published by a respected New Testament scholar[5], and I’m satisfied with the agreement between the two lists. Manual curation only involves mapping LDAB to NTVMR IDs when no mapping is provided by either source.

NT BOOK MANUSCRIPT DATE LDAB
(NTVMR)		 INVENTORY
Matt 150 – 199
(100 – 199)
Matt 150 – 299
(200 – 225)
  • Montserrat, Abadia de Montserrat, P. Monts.Roca inv. no. 1
  • Oxford, Magdalen College, Gr. 17
  • CSNTM
Matt 175 – 225
(300 – 325)
  • Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Preußischer Kulturbesitz, P. 11863
  • Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, PSI II 124 + PSI I 2
  • CSNTM
Matt 200 – 250
(100 – 299)
Matt 200 – 250
(100 – 299)
Matt 200 – 250
(200 – 299)
Matt 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Matt 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Matt 250 – 299
(200 – 399)
  • Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan Library, Inv. Nr. 1570
  • CSNTM
Matt 300 – 350
(200 – 299)
  • Florence, Istituto Papirologico, PSI inv. 3407
  • Oxford, Sackler Library, P. Oxy. 2384
  • CSNTM
Matt 300 – 350
(300 – 499)
  • Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Preußischer Kulturbesitz, P. 9961
Matt 300 – 399
(200 – 399)
Matt 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
  • Köln, Institut für Altertumskunde, Inv. Nr. 5516
  • CSNTM
Matt 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
Matt 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
Matt 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
  • Athens, National Historical Museum, 12227
Matt 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
Matt 300 – 499
(300 – 399)
  • Oxford, Sackler Library, P. Ant. 11
  • CSNTM
Matt 350 – 399
(200 – 299)
  • Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan Library, Inv. Nr. 6652
  • CSNTM
Matt 350 – 399
(300 – 399)
Mark 175 – 225
(100 – 299)
  • Oxford, Sackler Library, P.Oxy. 5345 / 104/14(b)
  • EES
Mark 200 – 250
(200 – 299)
Mark 275 – 350
(200 – 399)
Mark 350 – 399
(300 – 399)
  • Milan, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, P. Med. Inv. Nr. 69.24
  • CSNTM
Mark 350 – 450
(300 – 499)
Luke 150 – 299
(200 – 299)
Luke 175 – 225
(300 – 325)
  • Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Preußischer Kulturbesitz, P. 11863
  • Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, PSI II 124 + PSI I 2
  • CSNTM
Luke 200 – 250
(200 – 299)
Luke 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Luke 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Luke 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
  • Oxford, Sackler Library, P.Oxy. 5346 / 101/219(b)
  • EES
Luke 275 – 325
(200 – 225)
Luke 300 – 399
(300 – 499)
  • Strasbourg, Bibliothèque nationale universitaire, P. Gr. 2677
  • CSNTM
Luke 300 – 499
(300 – 499)
  • Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Preußischer Kulturbesitz, P. 9808
Luke 350 – 450
(300 – 499)
  • Wien, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Pap. G. 39778
  • CSNTM
John 125 – 175
(125 – 175)
John 150 – 199
(100 – 199)
John 200 – 250
(200 – 225)
  • Cologny/Genf, Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, P. Bodmer II
  • Dublin, Chester Beatty Library, CBL BP XIX
  • Köln, Institut für Altertumskunde, Inv. Nr. 4274/4298
  • Fondation Martin Bodmer
  • CSNTM
John 200 – 250
(200 – 299)
John 200 – 250
(200 – 299)
  • Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, PL II 31
  • CSNTM
John 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
  • London, British Library, Inv. Nr. 782+Inv. Nr. 2484
  • CSNTM
John 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
John 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
John 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
John 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
John 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
John 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
John 250 – 299
(200 – 299)
John 250 – 299
(200 – 299)
  • Washington D.C., Museum of the Bible, MOTB.PAP.000116
  • CSNTM
John 250 – 350
(200 – 299)
  • Los Angeles, CA, Collection of Gifford Combs, Pap.2
  • CSNTM
John 275 – 325
(200 – 225)
John 300 – 399
(200 – 399)
John 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
John 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
  • Besitzer unbekannt, Zuletzt: Sothebys, Zuletzt: London, Sotheby’s
John 350 – 450
(300 – 499)
Acts 200 – 250
(200 – 299)
Acts 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Acts 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Acts 250 – 350
(300 – 325)
  • Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan Library, Inv. Nr. 1571
  • CSNTM
Acts 275 – 399
(200 – 399)
  • Birmingham, University of Birmingham Cadbury Research Library, P.Harr. inv. 486
Acts 300 – 350
(300 – 399)
  • Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Preußischer Kulturbesitz, P. 8683
  • CSNTM
Acts 300 – 399
(200 – 399)
  • Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Preußischer Kulturbesitz, P. 11765
  • CSNTM
Acts 313 – 399
(300 – 499)
Acts 325 – 375
(200 – 299)
Acts 350 – 399
(200 – 299)
  • Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan Library, Inv. Nr. 6652
  • CSNTM
Acts 350 – 450
(300 – 499)
Rom 200 – 250
(200 – 225)
Rom 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
  • Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, Ms. Add. 7211
  • CSNTM
Rom 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Rom 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Rom 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
Rom 350 – 399
(200 – 299)
Rom 375 – 425
(200 – 299)
  • Köln, Institut für Altertumskunde, Inv. Nr. 10311
  • CSNTM
1Cor 200 – 250
(200 – 225)
1Cor 300 – 350
(300 – 399)
1Cor 300 – 399
(200 – 299)
  • Cairo, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, JE 47423
  • CSNTM
1Cor 300 – 499
(300 – 499)
  • Amsterdam, University Library, GX 200
1Cor 350 – 450
(300 – 399)
2Cor 200 – 250
(200 – 225)
2Cor 300 – 399
(300 – 499)
  • Hamburg, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek, P. Hamb. Inv. NS 1002
  • CSNTM
2Cor 350 – 499
(300 – 499)
  • Oslo, University of Oslo Library, P. 1644
  • Oslo/London, The Schøyen Collection, MS 244/4
Gal 200 – 250
(200 – 225)
Eph 200 – 250
(200 – 225)
Eph 250 – 350
(200 – 399)
  • Cairo, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, P. Narmuthis inv. 69.39a+69.229a
  • CSNTM
Eph 250 – 350
(275 – 299)
Eph 300 – 450
(300 – 399)
  • Besitzer unbekannt, Zuletzt: Italy, (zeitweilig: Florenz, Bibl. Medicea Laur., PSI 1306)
  • PSI
Eph 350 – 450
(200 – 399)
Phil 200 – 250
(200 – 225)
Phil 300 – 399
(200 – 399)
  • Cairo, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, JE 47424
  • CSNTM
Col 200 – 250
(200 – 225)
Col 300 – 499
(300 – 499)
  • London, University College, Petrie Museum, UC 32070
1Thess 175 – 225
(200 – 299)
1Thess 200 – 250
(200 – 225)
1Thess 250 – 350
(200 – 299)
  • Florence, Istituto Papirologico, PSI inv. 2491
  • CSNTM
2Thess 175 – 225
(200 – 299)
2Thess 250 – 350
(200 – 399)
  • Cairo, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, P. Narmuthis inv. 69.39a+69.229a
  • CSNTM
1Tim 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Titus 200 – 299
(200 – 225)
Phlm 200 – 250
(200 – 299)
Phlm 325 – 399
(300 – 399)
  • Oxford, Sackler Library, P.Oxy. 5347 / 83/66(b)
Heb 200 – 250
(200 – 225)
Heb 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Heb 250 – 350
(200 – 399)
  • Cairo, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, PSI 1292
  • London, British Library, Inv. Nr. 1532v
  • CSNTM
Heb 264 – 325
(275 – 299)
Heb 300 – 350
(300 – 399)
  • Florence, Istituto Papirologico, PSI inv. 1497
  • PSI
  • CSNTM
Heb 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
  • Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, Ms. Add. 5893
  • CSNTM
Heb 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
  • Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, PFlor. 292 (PLaur. IV 142)
  • CSNTM
Heb 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
Jas 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
  • Princeton, NJ, Princeton University Libraries, AM 4117
  • CSNTM
Jas 200 – 299
(200 – 399)
Jas 250 – 299
(200 – 225)
1Pet 275 – 325
(200 – 399)
1Pet 310 – 350
(200 – 399)
  • Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, P. Bodmer VIII
  • Cologny/Genf, Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, P. Bodmer VII
  • CSNTM
1Pet 350 – 399
(300 – 399)
  • Trieste, S. Daris, Nr. 20
  • CSNTM
1Pet 350 – 399
(300 – 399)
2Pet 310 – 350
(200 – 399)
  • Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, P. Bodmer VIII
  • Cologny/Genf, Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, P. Bodmer VII
  • CSNTM
1John 275 – 325
(200 – 299)
Jude 310 – 350
(200 – 399)
  • Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, P. Bodmer VIII
  • Cologny/Genf, Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, P. Bodmer VII
  • CSNTM
Jude 375 – 475
(200 – 399)
Rev 200 – 250
(150 – 250)
  • Cairo, French Institute for Eastern Archaeology, P. IFAO inv. 237b
  • CSNTM
Rev 200 – 299
(200 – 299)
Rev 200 – 299
(200 – 399)
Rev 250 – 350
(200 – 399)
Rev 250 – 350
(300 – 399)
Rev 300 – 399
(300 – 399)
  • Princeton, NJ, Princeton Theological Seminary, Pap. 5 (P. Oxy. 1080)
Rev 350 – 399
(300 – 399)
  • New Haven, CT, Yale Divinity Library, RG 305 (Box 1, Folder 13) P. Oxy. 1230
  • CSNTM
Rev 350 – 399
(300 – 399)
Rev 375 – 425
(300 – 499)
  • Strasbourg, Bibliothèque nationale universitaire, P. Gr. 1028
  • CSNTM
325 – 375
(300 – 399)
325 – 399
(300 – 399)

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