| New Testament manuscript | |
_recto_John_21%2c_11-14.jpg) Recto, John 21:11-14 | |
| Name | P. Oxy. 4806 |
|---|---|
| Sign | 𝔓122 |
| Text | Gospel of John 21:11-14,22-24 |
| Date | 4th / 5th century |
| Script | Greek |
| Found | Oxyrhynchus, Egypt |
| Now at | Sackler Library |
| Cite | R. Hatzilambrou, P. J. Parsons, J. ChapaThe Oxyrhynchus Papyri LXXI (London: 2007), pp. 11-14. |
| Size | [4.5] x [3.3] cm (28 x 12) |
| Type | Alexandrian (?) |
| Category | - |
| Note | concurs with codexW |
Papyrus 122, also known asP.Oxy. LXXI 4806, is an early copy of theNew Testament inGreek. It is apapyrusmanuscript of theGospel of John in a fragmentary condition, only containing verses 21:11-14 and 21:22-24. It is designated by thesiglum𝔓122 in theGregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts. Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been assigned by theINTF to the 4th/5th century CE.[1] Though discovered in one of the digs in Oxyrhynchus in the 19th and early 20th century, it wasn't published until 2007.[2]
_verso_John_21%2c_22-24.jpg)
The original manuscript was likely acodex (precursor to the modernbook) made of papyrus, of which only two pieces from one leaf have survived.[2][3] The original codex is estimated to have had a writing area of around 10cm x 24cm, with 25-27 letters per line, and 44 lines on each page.[2]: 12 [3]: 192 The surviving texts of John are verses 21:11-14,22-24.[2]: 11 [3]: 192 Based on this data, the original codex is estimated to have been made of 32 leaves, giving 64 pages to contain the entire Gospel of John.[2]: 12 [3]: 192 It was written by irregular hand, which scholar Juan Chapa describes as a "poor attempt at 'Biblical Uncial', made by an inexperienced scribe."[2]: 11 [3]: 192
The manuscript employs thenomina sacra (sacred names, these being names/titles considered sacred inChristianity), with the name Ιησους (Jesus) abbreviated toΙΗΣ.[2]: 12 The number "one hundred and fifty-three" is also written by this sort of contraction inGreek numerals —ΡΝΓ.[2]: 12
Though the text sampling is small, it does appear to have a few interesting features: in John 21:14, the name Ιησους (Jesus) is possibly omitted, as also seen inCodex Washingtonianus (ἐφανερώθη τοῖς μαθηταῖς /He appeared to the disciples).[2]: 13 [3]: 193 Alternatively due to the non-extant porition, the manuscript could have agreed withCodex Regius (L) in reading the name following the words τοῖς μαθηταῖς (ἐφανερώθη τοῖς μαθηταῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς /Appeared to the disciples Jesus).[2]: 13 [3]: 193 The majority of manuscripts contain the name, usually with an article (ἐφανερώθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς /Jesus appeared to the disciples).[2]: 13 [3]: 193 The manuscript is currently housed at the Papyrology Rooms of theSackler Library (shelf number P. Oxy. 4806) atOxford.[2]: 11 [3]: 192
Extant letters in black; those in red are not extant, but likely the reading of the manuscript.
𝔓122 | Translation |
| Ανεβη ουν ΣιμωνΠετρος και ειλ | So Simon Peter went aboard and |
| κυσεν το δικτυον εις την γην μεσ | hauled the net ashore, full |
| τον ιχθυων μεγαλωνΡΝΓ και το | of large fish, a 153 of them; and |
| σουτων οντων ουκ εσχισθη το δικ | although there were so many, the net was not |
| τυον λεγει αυτοις οΙΗΣδευτεαριστη | torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have |
| σατε ουδεις δε ετολμα των μαθητων ε | breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared |
| ξετασαι αυτων Συ τιςει ειδοτες οτι | ask him, “Who are you?” They knew |
| οΚΣ εστιν ερχεταιΙΗΣ καιλαμ | it was the Lord. Jesus came and took |
| βανει τον αρτον και διδωσιναυτοις | the bread and gave it to them, |
| και το οψαριον ομοιως τουτοηδη | and so with the fish. This was now |
| τριτον εφανερωθητοις μαθηταις | the third time that He appeared to the disciples |
