Earliest Papyrus Witnesses
All known papyrus manuscripts of the four Gospels — ordered by manuscript date, then by Gregory-Aland registration number (which approximates discovery order within the same date). Date ranges (e.g. 125–175 CE) are paleographic estimates: scholars date each manuscript by comparing its handwriting style to other dated documents, yielding a range rather than a precise year.
65
Papyri registered
3,621
Verse citations
44
With CNTR transcription
21
Coverage stubs
Manuscript Date Timeline
Each dot is one papyrus. Size = relative verse coverage. Color = Gospel(s) covered. Hover for details; click to jump to its entry below.
MatthewMarkLukeJohnMultiple GospelsDot size ∝ verse coverage
Gospel verse totals
Matthew1,071 vv · 28 chMark678 vv · 16 chLuke1,151 vv · 24 chJohn879 vv · 21 ch
Coverage bars show one cell per chapter; filled = at least one verse of that chapter survives in the papyrus.
2nd century CE(8 papyri)
Papyrus 52(P52)Written c. 125–175 CEDisc. 1920 · Acquired 1920, John Rylands Library, Manchester; provenance unknownCNTR transcription
5 versesGo to Jn 18:31 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
1ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 185 vv
Papyrus 104(P104)Written c. 125–150 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
6 versesGo to Mt 21:34 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
1ch
mark
luke
john
Covered sections
Matthewch. 216 vv
Papyrus 4(P4)Written c. 150–200 CEDisc. 1889 · Found at Coptos, Egypt, 1889; now Bibliothèque nationale de FranceCNTR transcription
99 versesGo to Lk 1:58 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
6ch
john
Covered sections
Lukech. 1–699 vv
Papyrus 77(P77)Written c. 150–250 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
15 versesGo to Mt 13:55 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
3ch
mark
luke
john
Covered sections
Matthewch. 13–14, ch. 2315 vv
Papyrus 90(P90)Written c. 150–200 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
12 versesGo to Jn 18:36 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
2ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 18–1912 vv
Papyrus 66(P66)Written c. 175–225 CEDisc. 1952 · Dishna, Upper Egypt, c. 1952; Bodmer Papyri (Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, Geneva)CNTR transcription
836 versesGo to Jn 1:1 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
21ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 1–21836 vv
Papyrus 70(P70)Written c. 175–225 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
19 versesGo to Mt 2:13 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
5ch
mark
luke
john
Covered sections
Matthewch. 2–3, ch. 11–12, ch. 2419 vv
Papyrus 75(P75)Written c. 175–225 CEDisc. 1952 · Dishna, Upper Egypt, c. 1952; Bodmer Papyri; now Vatican Apostolic LibraryCNTR transcription
1386 versesGo to Lk 3:18 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
19ch
john
15ch
Covered sections
Lukech. 3–18, ch. 22–24760 vv
Johnch. 1–15626 vv
3rd century CE(13 papyri)
Papyrus 39(P39)Written c. 200–250 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
9 versesGo to Jn 8:14 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
1ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 89 vv
Papyrus 45(P45)Written c. 200–250 CEDisc. 1930 · Found c. 1928–30, probably Upper Egypt; Chester Beatty Library, announced 1931CNTR transcription
558 versesGo to Mt 20:24 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
4ch
mark
8ch
luke
8ch
john
6ch
Covered sections
Matthewch. 20–21, ch. 25–2661 vv
Markch. 4–9, ch. 11–12153 vv
Lukech. 6–7, ch. 9–14244 vv
Johnch. 4–5, ch. 7–8, ch. 10–11100 vv
Papyri 64+67(P64+P67)Written c. 200 CEDisc. 1901 · P64 purchased Luxor 1901 (Magdalen College, Oxford); P67 acquired separately, BarcelonaCNTR transcription
19 versesGo to Mt 3:9 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
3ch
mark
luke
john
Covered sections
Matthewch. 3, ch. 5, ch. 2619 vv
Papyrus 106(P106)Written c. 200–250 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
14 versesGo to Jn 1:29 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
1ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 114 vv
Papyrus 1(P1)Written c. 250 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated winter 1896–97, Oxyrhynchus; Grenfell & Hunt, second day of digCNTR transcription
19 versesGo to Mt 1:1 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
1ch
mark
luke
john
Covered sections
Matthewch. 119 vv
Papyrus 5(P5)Written c. 250–300 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
47 versesGo to Jn 1:23 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
3ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 1, ch. 16, ch. 2047 vv
Papyrus 22(P22)Written c. 250–300 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
17 versesGo to Jn 15:25 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
2ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 15–1617 vv
Papyrus 28(P28)Written c. 250–300 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
11 versesGo to Jn 6:8 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
1ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 611 vv
Papyrus 37(P37)Written c. 250–300 CEDisc. unknown · No secure excavation record; University of Michigan, acquired c. 1920sCNTR transcription
34 versesGo to Mt 26:19 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
1ch
mark
luke
john
Covered sections
Matthewch. 2634 vv
Papyrus 53(P53)Written c. 250 CEDisc. unknown · No secure excavation record; University of MichiganCNTR transcription
12 versesGo to Mt 26:29 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
1ch
mark
luke
john
Covered sections
Matthewch. 2612 vv
Papyrus 95(P95)Written c. 250–300 CEDisc. unknown · No secure excavation record; Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, FlorenceCNTR transcription
7 versesGo to Jn 5:26 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
1ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 57 vv
Papyrus 119(P119)Written c. 250–350 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
15 versesGo to Jn 1:21 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
1ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 115 vv
Papyrus 120(P120)Written c. 250–350 CEDisc. 1896 · Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt)CNTR transcription
13 versesGo to Jn 1:25 →
Chapter coverage
matthew
mark
luke
john
1ch
Covered sections
Johnch. 113 vv
Full Index— chronological order, discovery order as tie-breaker
| # | Papyrus (siglum) | Written (paleographic est.) | Discovery / acquisition / recognition | Mt | Mk | Lk | Jn | Total | Source | Jump to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papyrus 52(P52) | c. 125–175 CE | 1920· Acquired 1920, John Rylands Library, Manchester; provenance unknown | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | CNTR | Jn 18:31 |
| 2 | Papyrus 104(P104) | c. 125–150 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 6 | — | — | — | 6 | CNTR | Mt 21:34 |
| 3 | Papyrus 4(P4) | c. 150–200 CE | 1889· Found at Coptos, Egypt, 1889; now Bibliothèque nationale de France | — | — | 99 | — | 99 | CNTR | Lk 1:58 |
| 4 | Papyrus 77(P77) | c. 150–250 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 15 | — | — | — | 15 | CNTR | Mt 13:55 |
| 5 | Papyrus 90(P90) | c. 150–200 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | CNTR | Jn 18:36 |
| 6 | Papyrus 66(P66) | c. 175–225 CE | 1952· Dishna, Upper Egypt, c. 1952; Bodmer Papyri (Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, Geneva) | — | — | — | 836 | 836 | CNTR | Jn 1:1 |
| 7 | Papyrus 70(P70) | c. 175–225 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 19 | — | — | — | 19 | CNTR | Mt 2:13 |
| 8 | Papyrus 75(P75) | c. 175–225 CE | 1952· Dishna, Upper Egypt, c. 1952; Bodmer Papyri; now Vatican Apostolic Library | — | — | 760 | 626 | 1386 | CNTR | Lk 3:18 |
| 9 | Papyrus 39(P39) | c. 200–250 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 9 | 9 | CNTR | Jn 8:14 |
| 10 | Papyrus 45(P45) | c. 200–250 CE | 1930· Found c. 1928–30, probably Upper Egypt; Chester Beatty Library, announced 1931 | 61 | 153 | 244 | 100 | 558 | CNTR | Mt 20:24 |
| 11 | Papyri 64+67(P64+P67) | c. 200 CE | 1901· P64 purchased Luxor 1901 (Magdalen College, Oxford); P67 acquired separately, Barcelona | 19 | — | — | — | 19 | CNTR | Mt 3:9 |
| 12 | Papyrus 106(P106) | c. 200–250 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 14 | 14 | CNTR | Jn 1:29 |
| 13 | Papyrus 1(P1) | c. 250 CE | 1896· Excavated winter 1896–97, Oxyrhynchus; Grenfell & Hunt, second day of dig | 19 | — | — | — | 19 | CNTR | Mt 1:1 |
| 14 | Papyrus 5(P5) | c. 250–300 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 47 | 47 | CNTR | Jn 1:23 |
| 15 | Papyrus 22(P22) | c. 250–300 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 17 | 17 | CNTR | Jn 15:25 |
| 16 | Papyrus 28(P28) | c. 250–300 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 11 | 11 | CNTR | Jn 6:8 |
| 17 | Papyrus 37(P37) | c. 250–300 CE | No secure excavation record; University of Michigan, acquired c. 1920s | 34 | — | — | — | 34 | CNTR | Mt 26:19 |
| 18 | Papyrus 53(P53) | c. 250 CE | No secure excavation record; University of Michigan | 12 | — | — | — | 12 | CNTR | Mt 26:29 |
| 19 | Papyrus 95(P95) | c. 250–300 CE | No secure excavation record; Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | CNTR | Jn 5:26 |
| 20 | Papyrus 119(P119) | c. 250–350 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 15 | 15 | CNTR | Jn 1:21 |
| 21 | Papyrus 120(P120) | c. 250–350 CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 13 | 13 | CNTR | Jn 1:25 |
| 22 | Papyrus 2(P2) | c. 6th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | stub | Jn 12:12 |
| 23 | Papyrus 3(P3) | c. 6th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna | — | — | 15 | — | 15 | stub | Lk 7:36 |
| 24 | Papyrus 6(P6) | c. 4th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Strasbourg University Library, acquired c. 1899 | — | — | — | 24 | 24 | CNTR | Jn 10:1 |
| 25 | Papyrus 7(P7) | c. 4th c. CE | No secure excavation record; provenance unknown | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | stub | Lk 4:1 |
| 26 | Papyrus 19(P19) | c. 4th–5th c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 16 | — | — | — | 16 | CNTR | Mt 10:32 |
| 27 | Papyrus 21(P21) | c. 4th–5th c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 5 | — | — | — | 5 | CNTR | Mt 12:24 |
| 28 | Papyrus 25(P25) | c. 4th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Staatliche Museen zu Berlin | 11 | — | — | — | 11 | CNTR | Mt 18:32 |
| 29 | Papyrus 35(P35) | c. 4th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence | 8 | — | — | — | 8 | CNTR | Mt 25:12 |
| 30 | Papyrus 36(P36) | c. 3rd–4th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence | — | — | — | 9 | 9 | stub | Jn 3:14 |
| 31 | Papyrus 42(P42) | c. 7th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna | — | — | 6 | — | 6 | stub | Lk 1:54 |
| 32 | Papyrus 44(P44) | c. 5th–6th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York | 12 | — | — | 7 | 19 | stub | Mt 17:1 |
| 33 | Papyrus 55(P55) | c. 6th–7th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | stub | Jn 1:31 |
| 34 | Papyrus 59(P59) | c. 7th c. CE | 1936· Nessana, Palestine; Colt Archaeological Expedition 1936–37 | — | — | — | 43 | 43 | stub | Jn 1:26 |
| 35 | Papyrus 60(P60) | c. 7th c. CE | 1936· Nessana, Palestine; Colt Archaeological Expedition 1936–37 | — | — | — | 78 | 78 | stub | Jn 16:29 |
| 36 | Papyrus 63(P63) | c. 4th–5th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Berlin collection | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | stub | Jn 3:14 |
| 37 | Papyrus 69(P69) | c. 3rd c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | 13 | — | 13 | CNTR | Lk 22:40 |
| 38 | Papyrus 71(P71) | c. 4th c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 4 | — | — | — | 4 | CNTR | Mt 19:10 |
| 39 | Papyrus 73(P73) | c. 7th c. CE | 1952· Dishna, Upper Egypt, c. 1952; Bodmer Papyri (Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, Geneva) | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | stub | Mt 25:43 |
| 40 | Papyrus 76(P76) | c. 6th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | stub | Jn 4:9 |
| 41 | Papyrus 80(P80) | c. 3rd c. CE | No secure excavation record; Fundació Sant Lluc Evangelista, Barcelona | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | stub | Jn 3:34 |
| 42 | Papyrus 82(P82) | c. 4th–5th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Strasbourg University Library | — | — | 5 | — | 5 | CNTR | Lk 7:32 |
| 43 | Papyrus 83(P83) | c. 3rd–4th c. CE | 1952· Khirbet Mird, Palestine; excavated 1952–53 | 8 | — | — | — | 8 | stub | Mt 20:23 |
| 44 | Papyrus 84(P84) | c. 5th–6th c. CE | 1952· Khirbet Mird, Palestine; excavated 1952–53 | — | 15 | — | 4 | 19 | stub | Mk 2:2 |
| 45 | Papyrus 86(P86) | c. 4th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna | 8 | — | — | — | 8 | CNTR | Mt 5:13 |
| 46 | Papyrus 88(P88) | c. 4th c. CE | No secure excavation record; Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan | — | 26 | — | — | 26 | CNTR | Mk 2:1 |
| 47 | Papyrus 93(P93) | c. 3rd c. CE | No secure excavation record; provenance unknown | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | stub | Jn 13:15 |
| 48 | Papyrus 96(P96) | c. 3rd–4th c. CE | No secure excavation record; provenance unknown | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | stub | Mt 3:10 |
| 49 | Papyrus 97(P97) | c. 5th–6th c. CE | No secure excavation record; provenance unknown | — | — | 8 | — | 8 | stub | Lk 14:7 |
| 50 | Papyrus 101(P101) | c. 3rd c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 8 | — | — | — | 8 | CNTR | Mt 3:10 |
| 51 | Papyrus 102(P102) | c. 3rd–4th c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 4 | — | — | — | 4 | CNTR | Mt 4:11 |
| 52 | Papyrus 103(P103) | c. 2nd–3rd c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 5 | — | — | — | 5 | stub | Mt 13:55 |
| 53 | Papyrus 105(P105) | c. 4th c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 7 | — | — | — | 7 | stub | Mt 27:62 |
| 54 | Papyrus 107(P107) | c. 3rd c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | CNTR | Jn 17:1 |
| 55 | Papyrus 108(P108) | c. 3rd c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | CNTR | Jn 17:22 |
| 56 | Papyrus 109(P109) | c. 3rd c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | CNTR | Jn 21:18 |
| 57 | Papyrus 110(P110) | c. 4th c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | 5 | — | — | — | 5 | CNTR | Mt 10:13 |
| 58 | Papyrus 111(P111) | c. 3rd c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | 5 | — | 5 | CNTR | Lk 17:11 |
| 59 | Papyrus 121(P121) | c. 3rd c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | CNTR | Jn 19:17 |
| 60 | Papyrus 122(P122) | c. 4th–5th c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | CNTR | Jn 21:11 |
| 61 | Papyrus 128(P128) | c. 3rd–4th c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | stub | Jn 9:3 |
| 62 | Papyrus 134(P134) | c. 2nd–3rd c. CE | No secure excavation record; provenance uncertain | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | CNTR | Jn 1:49 |
| 63 | Papyrus 137(P137) | c. 3rd c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | 6 | — | — | 6 | CNTR | Mk 1:7 |
| 64 | Papyrus 138(P138) | c. 3rd–4th c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | 11 | — | 11 | CNTR | Lk 13:13 |
| 65 | Papyrus 141(P141) | c. 4th–5th c. CE | 1896· Excavated 1896–1907, Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell & Hunt) | — | — | 22 | — | 22 | CNTR | Lk 2:32 |
Methodology & Sources
Papyri are ordered primarily by manuscript date (earliest scholarly estimate), then by Gregory-Aland siglum number — the international registration system maintained by the Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung (INTF, Münster). Siglum numbers were assigned roughly in discovery and registration order, so within papyri sharing the same date estimate this serves as a proxy for discovery chronology.
Transcriptions marked CNTR are sourced from the Center for New Testament Restoration (CNTR) Class 1 transcriptions (CC BY-SA 4.0). Each word in the Earliest Papyrus column is drawn directly from the CNTR text, stripped of editorial markup (scribal corrections x{wrong}{right}, per-letter uncertainty markers ^%, nomina sacra prefixes ~=).
Papyri marked coverage stub are registered from verse ranges documented in the scholarly literature but have no CNTR transcription in this database. Their alignment cells are marked extant (the papyrus is known to cover that verse) but the displayed text falls back to the TAGNT Greek form.