< Preservation of Scripture - Early Bible Manuscripts (pXX means papyrus number XX)
|
110/117-125/138 A.D. |
p52 (=John Rylands papyrus) |
John 18:31-33, reverse 18:37-38 |
4 verses |
|
100-150 A.D. |
p104 (=p. Oxy. 4404) |
Matthew 21:34-37,43,45(?) |
5.5 verses |
|
100-150 A.D. |
p46 (=Chester Beatty II) |
70% of Paul and Hebrews |
1,680 verses |
|
c.125 A.D. |
p87 - handwriting like p46. |
Philemon 13-15,24 (part),25b with gaps |
4 verses |
|
2nd century |
p98 (=p. IFAO Inv. 237b [+a] |
Revelation 1:13-2:1 |
9 verses |
|
100/125-150/175 A.D. |
p66(=Bodmer II) p14/15, p75 |
92% of the Gospel of John |
808.5 verses |
|
c.150-175 A.D. |
p4 + p64 + p67 |
(p4) Lk 1:58-59; 1:62-2:1,6-7; 3:8-4:2,29-32,34-35; 5:3-8; 5:30-6:16; (p64) Mt 26:7-8,10,14-15,22-23,31-33; (p67) Mt 3:9,15; 5:20-22,25-28 |
95 verses |
|
c.175 A.D. |
p90 |
John 18:36-19:7 |
12 verses |
|
177 A.D. - 97% (855/878) of the Gospel of John, 70% of Paul and Hebrews (persecution of Aurelius) |
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|
mid to late 2nd century |
p77 and p103 |
Mt 23:30-39; Mt 13:55-57; 14:3-5 |
16 verses |
|
mid to late 2nd century |
p109 (=P. Oxy. 4448) |
John 21:18-20, 23-25 |
6 verses |
|
150-200 A.D. |
p32 |
Titus 1:1-15; 2:3-8 |
21 verses |
|
c.200 A.D. |
p1 |
Matthew 1:1-9,12,14-20; 2:14? |
16.5 verses |
|
ca.200 A.D. |
p23 Urbana |
James 1:10-12, 15-18 |
7 verses |
|
late 2nd/early 3rd cent. |
p38 |
Acts 18:27-19:6, 12-16 |
13 verses |
|
late 2nd/early 3rd cent. |
p108 + uncial 0189 |
(p108) Jn 17:23-24; 18:1-5 (0189) Acts 5:3-21 |
7+18 verses |
|
200-225 A.D. |
p29 |
Acts 26:7-8, 20 |
3 verses |
|
200-225 A.D. |
p45 (= Chester Beatty I) |
Matthew 71 (7%), Mark 147 (22%), Luke 242 (21%), Jn 84 (10%), Acts 289 (29%) |
833 verses |
|
early 3rd century |
p5 |
John 1:23-31,33-40; 16:14-30, etc. |
47 verses |
|
early 3rd century |
p30 |
1 Thessalonians 4:12-13,16-17 etc., 2 Thess. |
25 verses |
|
early 3rd century |
p107 (=p. Oxy. 4446) |
John 17:1-2, 11 |
3 verses |
|
1st half of 3rd century |
p111 (p. Oxy. 4495) |
Luke 17:11-13, 22-23 |
5 verses |
|
Early to mid 3rd century |
p106 |
John 1:29-35; 40-46 |
14 verses |
|
200-250 A.D |
p39 |
John 8:14-22 |
9 verses |
|
225-250 A.D. |
p13 |
Hebrews 2:14-5:5;10:8-22,29-11:13,etc. |
110 verses |
|
3rd century |
p9 |
1 John 4:11-12, 14-17 |
9 verses |
|
3rd century |
p20 |
James 2:19-3:2; (part of 3:3); 3:4-9 |
16 verses |
|
3rd century |
p40 |
Romans 1:24-27;1:31-2:3;3:21-4:8, etc. |
36 verses |
|
c.250 A.D. |
p22 |
John 15:25-16:2; 16:21-32 |
17 verses |
|
250-6/251 A.D. Severe Persecution by the Emperor Decius across the entire Roman Empire |
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|
3rd century |
p27 |
Romans 8:12-22,24-27; 8:33-9:3; 9:5-9 |
30 verses |
|
3rd century |
p28 + p35 |
(p28) Jn 6:8-12, 17-22 (p35) Mt 25:12-15,20-23 |
11+8 verses |
|
3rd century |
Papyrus Antinoopolis 2.54 |
Matthew 6:10-12 (part of the Lord's prayer) |
3 verses |
|
3rd century |
p109 |
John 21:18-20, 23-25 |
6 verses |
|
3rd century |
p113 + p114 |
(p113) Romans 2:12-13,19 (p114) Heb 1:7-12 |
3+6 verses |
|
3rd century |
p115 |
Rev 2:1-3,13-15,27-29; 3:10-12; 5:8-9; 6:5-6; 8:3-8,11-13; 9:1-5,7-16,8-21; 10:1-4,8-11; 11:1-5,8-15,18-19; 12:1-5,8-10,12-17;13:1-3,6-16,18;14:1-3,5-7,10-11,14-15,18-20; 15:1,4-7 |
119 verses |
|
mid 3rd century |
p37 |
Matthew 26:19-52 |
34 verses |
|
mid 3rd century |
p49 + p65 |
Ephesians 4:16-29; 4:31-5:13 |
29 verses |
|
mid 3rd century |
p80 + p91 |
(p80) John 3:34, (p91) Acts 2:30-37; 2:46-3:2 |
1+12 verses |
|
3rd century |
p69 |
Luke 22:40, 45-48, 58-61 |
9 verses |
|
3rd century |
p70, p101 |
Matthew 2:13-16; 2:22-3:1; 11:26-27, etc. |
19 verses |
|
3rd century |
p95 (= PL II/31) |
John 5:26-29,36-38 |
7 verses |
|
before 256 A.D. |
Uncial 0212 (Dura Parch. 10) |
Diatessaron Mt 27:56-57; Mk 15:40,42; Lk 23:49-51; Jn 19:38 |
8 verses |
|
250-300 A.D. |
p47 (=Chester Beatty III) |
31% of Rev. 9:10-11:3; 11:5-16:15; 16:17-17:2 |
125 verses |
|
257-260 A.D. Persecution under the Roman Emperor Valerian |
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|
mid/late 3rd century |
p18 |
Revelation 1:4-7 |
4 verses |
|
c.260 A.D. |
p53 |
Matthew 26:29-40; Acts 9:33-38,40; 10:1 |
23 verses |
|
285-300 A.D. |
p12 |
Hebrews 1:1 |
1 verse |
|
late 3rd |
p15/16 |
(p15) 1 Corinthians 7:18-8:4 (p16) Philippians 3:10-17; 4:2-8 |
27 verses 15 verses |
|
late 3rd century |
p17 |
Hebrews 2:12-19 |
8 verses |
|
late 3rd century |
p110 (=p. Oxy. 4494) |
Matthew 10:13-15, 25-27 |
6 verses |
|
284-305 A.D. |
p50 (=p. Yale 1543) |
Acts 8:26-32; 10:26-31 |
13 verses |
|
c.300 A.D. |
p72 |
1 Peter 1:1-5:14; 2 Peter 1:1-3:18; Jude 1-25 |
191 verses |
|
ca.300 A.D. |
p24 + p78 |
(p24) Rev. 5:5-8; 6:5-8 (p78) Jude 4-5,7-8 |
8 + 4 verses |
|
ca.300 A.D. |
p92 |
Ephesians 1:11-13,19-21; 2 Thess. 1:4-5,11-12 |
10 verses |
|
ca.300 A.D. |
p102 + uncial 0162 |
(p92) Mt 4:11-12,22-25 (0162) Jn 2:11-22 |
6+12 verses |
|
ca.300 A.D. |
uncial 0171 (=p. PSI 2.124) |
Mt 10:17-23,25-32;Lk 22:44-50,52-56,61,63-64 |
30 verses |
|
ca.300 A.D. |
uncial 0220 + uncial 0232 |
Romans 4:23-5:3; 5:8-13 (0232) 2 John 1-9 |
12+9 verses |
|
303-305 A.D. Great Persecution under the Roman Emperor Diocletian |
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Verses Christians referenced before 258 A.D.
|
Writer |
Mt |
Mk |
Lk |
Jn |
Ac |
Paul |
other NT |
|
95/96 A.D. Persecution of Roman Emperor Domitian |
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|
Clement R. |
7 |
2 |
1/2 |
0 |
' |
4 |
9' |
|
Ignatius |
3 1/2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 1/2 |
1 |
|
Didache |
13 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
' |
|
Diognetus |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3' |
0 |
|
E. Barnabas |
3 1/2 |
1/2 |
1 1/2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
2 Clement |
3-5 |
0 |
0-2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1/2 |
|
Polycarp |
9 1/2 |
1/2 |
7 |
0 |
2 1/2 |
22 1/2 |
14 |
|
Didache |
17 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Justin Martyr |
57 |
2 |
32 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hermas |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1/2 |
0 |
2 |
|
177 A.D. Persecution of Marcus Aurelius |
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|
Athenagoras |
5 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Christians of Vienna/Lyons |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1/2 |
1 |
1/2 |
|
Theophilus |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1/2 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
Melito of S. |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Muratorian |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Irenaeus |
223 |
18 |
130 |
109 |
88 |
291 |
82 1/2 |
|
202 A.D. Persecution of Septimus Severus |
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|
Tertullian |
65+ |
hundreds |
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|
Clement A. |
181 |
3 |
116 |
77 |
38 |
623 |
178 |
|
Hippolytus |
95 |
24 |
66 |
80 |
1 |
130 |
53 |
|
Theodotus |
8 1/2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 1/2 |
0 |
|
J. Africanus |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Origen |
hundreds |
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|
250 A.D. - Severe Empire-wide Decian Persecution |
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|
Novatian |
4 |
0 |
1 |
57 |
0 |
37 |
1 |
|
2 Treatises |
15 |
2' |
7 1/2 |
17 |
23 |
8 |
12 1/2 |
|
Cyprian |
209 |
20 |
101 |
110 |
59 |
689 |
166 |
|
Cornelius |
1/2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Moyses |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Firmilian |
1 |
1/2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
4 1/2 |
1 |
|
7th Carthage |
4 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
257-260 A.D. - Valerian persecutes Christians |
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Tatian, A Gnostic Non-Christian (died 172 A.D.)
Tatian, a pupil of Justin Martyr, later was a leader of the Encratite Gnostics. He wrote a harmony of the Gospels called The Diatessaron, or "the Four".
|
Quotes 79% of gospel verses in the Diatessaron |
Mt |
Mk |
Lk |
Jn |
Other |
|
819 76% |
402 59% |
919 79% |
855 97% |
0 |
Jewish Non-Christians
Jewish Talmuds refer to Jesus in a number of places. See Evidence That Demands a Verdict volume 1 p.85-87 for quotes from the Babylonian Talmud, Tol'doth Yeshu, Barailu, The Amoa 'Ulla', Yeb. IV 3, and Baraita. See also Tractate Sanhedrin.
Josephus wrote 93/94 A.D., wrote about Jesus and His half-brother James. While the Latin version has some later additions, the Arabic edition still shows Josephus had a positive view of Jesus and James.
Roman Non-Christians
Lucian of Samosata, 2nd century satirist, wrote about Christ, "...the man who was crucified in Palestine because he introduced this new cult into the world....Furthermore, their first lawgiver persuaded them that they were all brothers one of another after they have transgressed once for all by denying the Greek gods and by worshipping that crucified sophist himself and living under his laws." (The Death/Passing of Peregrinus 11-13)
Cornelius Tacitus (c.55-c.117 A.D.) the Roman historian wrote about events in Rome and Great Britain from 15-70 A.D. In Annals 15:44 he wrote of Nero torturing the hated Christians. "Christus" was executed under Pontius Pilate, but this "most mischievous superstition" still broke out, and Christians were killed in cruel ways.
Suetonius, (120 A.D.) wrote, "As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from Rome. Life of Claudius 25.4
Pliny the Younger was a governor of Bithynia who wrote to Emperor Trajan in 112 A.D. if he should actively seek after Christians to kill them, or simply kill the ones they discovered. He says Christians met before dawn, sang a hymn to Christ as to a god, and promised not to do evil. Epistles 10.96.
Phlegon was a Carian Greek writer and freed slave of Emperor Hadrian. He wrote soon after 137 A.D. that in the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad [33 A.D.] there was "the greatest eclipse of the sun" and that "it became night in the sixth hour of the day [noon] so that stars even appeared in the heavens. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in Nicea." The Case for Christ p.111
Other Non-Christians
Thales/Thallus was a Palestinian historian referenced by Julius Africanus (writing 232-245 A.D.). He wrote of the darkness at Christ's death.
Mara Bar-Serapion was a Syrian who wrote his son after 73 A.D. to emulate the wise men of history who died for what they believed in, such as Socrates, Pythagoras, and the wise King the Jews executed.
Summary
Many are not aware of the historical evidence.
It is false to call Gnostics Christians, especially those who believed in Hercules and Hermes along with Jesus
37 Early Church Fathers before 258 A.D. show we have the right books preserved
Tatian's Diatessaron before 172 A.D. quotes 79% of the gospel verses
7 Jewish Talmuds plus Josephus mention Jesus
5 Roman sources (112-137 A.D.) refer to Christ or darkness at the time of the crucifixion
2 other non-Christian sources show the darkness at the time of Jesus' death and the executed wise king of the Jews
50 Early Bible Manuscripts not later than 300 A.D. show we have the right books preserved
For more info please contact Christian Debater™ P.O. Box 144441 Austin, TX 78714 www.BibleQuery.org
by Steven M. Morrison, PhD.