The information on this webpage has been largely superceded by my pages:
Collected responses to Peter Cartson Thiede
7Q5: Is it 'Mark' and does it matter?
I will update this page fully in due course.
Several Christian apologetic web sites (including this one) claim to give details of fragments of New Testament writings, purportedly dating from the first and second centuries CE. Their aim, of course, is to provide legitimacy for their belief that Christian teaches have been unchanged since the time of Christ.
Since this issue came up repeatedly in discussions on the Evidence.info weblog, I took some time to investigate the matter.
The apologetic claims rest on work done by Spanish papyrologist José O'Callaghan in 1972, and subsequent studies by Carsten Peter Thiede. They form the basis of the evidence presented in Josh McDowell's work "The evidence demands a verdict", and Theide's (with Matthew D'Ancona) "Eyewitness to Jesus...".
However, as my page "7Q5: Is it 'Mark' and does it matter?" shows, their identifications of papyrus fragments with New Testament works has been thoroughly discredited.
As a further exercise, I have provided details of the relevant verses of the KJV translations of the books the fragments are allegedly from. (It is important to note, however, that most of the fragments are so small that identification has been impossible). The translations show that even if the fragments are as O'Callaghan and Thiede claim, they do not mention the central tenants of Christianity, including the virgin birth, the crucifixion and resurrection.
Quentin David Jones has provided a detailed examination of the development of the Gospel writings in his " History of the Gospels". This shows the evolution of Christianity over time; and that the version of the New Testament we have today dates from the fifth century CE.
It is evident that a great many "central" Christian teachings about Christ - including the virgin birth, the resurrection, and the crucifixion - were not part of early Christian teaching, and were in fact later, a-historical, additions to Christianity.
Disclaimer: The fragment details and dates given are from McDowell, Josh, "EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT", Vol. I (San Bernardino, CA: Here's Life, 1972), and/or Thiede, Carsten P. and Matthew D'Ancona, "EYEWITNESS TO JESUS: Amazing New Manuscript Evidence About the Origins of the Gospels" (New York: Doubleday, 1996) 206 pp. and have not been compared with other sources except as expressly stated. The identity of most fragments is disputed. The KJV translations given are not necessarily accurate.
Josh McDowell's work has been criticised by the Christian apologetic website Tektonics; by the Secular Web; and elsewhere.
Many of D'Ancona's assertions have been rejected as inaccurate by Professor J.K.Elliott, Professor of New Testament Textual Criticism at the University of Leeds.
See also (a) this posting to soc.religion.christian of 19 Aug 2001, quoting Vermes' "Dead Sea Scrolls In English" (1998) as rejecting O'Callaghan & Thiede's work on fragments 7Q5, 7Q6, 7Q7, 7Q8, 7Q10 and 7Q15; and (b) another post, of 9 April 1994 in sci.archaeology, quoting Metzger's "The Text of the New Testament" (1992) which rejects O'Callaghan's work on fragments 7Q9, 7Q6 and 7q15.
Alleged First Century Fragments
"Magdalen Papyrus (P64) Matthew 26:7-8, 10, 14-15, 22-23 and 31. Before 66 A.D."
Note: This fragment is generally dated to c. 200 CE.
26:7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
26:8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
26:10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
26:22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
26:23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
"Dead Sea Scroll MSS 7Q5 Mark 6:52-53 Before 68 A.D. (perhaps as early as 50 A.D.)"
Note: See my page "7Q5: Is it 'Mark' and does it matter?" for a detailed discussion of this fragment.
6:52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
6:53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
"Dead Sea Scroll MSS 7Q4 1 Timothy 3:16-4:3 Before 68 A.D."
Note: A recent study by Gordon Fee suggest that this fragment is a Jewish Greek document unrelated to the New Testament
3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
"Barcelona Papyrus (P67) Matthew 3:9, 15; Matthew 5:20-22, 25-28 Before 66 A.D."
Note: The early dating of this fragment has been strongly rejected by most scholars, who date it to c. 200 CE.
3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
5:21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
"Paris Papyrus (P4) Luke 3:23, 5:36 "not much later" than 66 A.D."
Note: The accepted date for this fragment is c. 200 CE.
3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
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Alleged Second Century Fragments
The following early New Testament fragments either do not mention the crucifixion, or date from 100 CE or later.
"Pauline Codex (P46) Paul's Epistles (??) 85 A.D."
Note the earliest accepted date for this fragment is c. 200 CE.
Bodmer Papyrus (II) (Johannine Codex P66) Gospel of John, "near complete" 125 A.D. 71
P32 ? 175 A.D. 71
P45 ? 150 A.D. 71
P77 ? 150 A.D. 71
P87 ? 125 A.D. 71
P90 ? 150 A.D. 71
John Rylands Greek 457 (P52) John 18:31-33, 37-38 100-125 A.D. 115, 126, 138 8
Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 2683 (P77) Matthew 23:30-39 150 A.D. 126
P. Oxyrhynchus 2 (P1) Matthew 1:1-9, 12, 14-20 "not much later" than P4 (ca. 100 A.D.?) 126 9
P. Oxyrhynchus 3523 (P90) John 18:36-19:7 ca. 125-150 A.D.? 127
"John Rylands Greek 457 (P52) John 18:31-33, 37-38 100-125 A.D."
Note: The accepted date for this fragment is c. 125 CE
18:31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
18:32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
"Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 2683 (P77) Matthew 23:30-39 150 A.D."
23:30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
23:32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord
"P. Oxyrhynchus 2 (P1) Matthew 1:1-9, 12, 14-20 "not much later" than P4 (ca. 100 A.D.?)"
Note: The accepted date for this fragment is c. 200 CE
1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
1:3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
1:4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
1:6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
1:7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
1:8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
1:9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
1:12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
1:14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
1:15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
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