Oxyrhynchus Papyri and the Gospel of Thomas Fragments
A rubbish-heap of Roman Egypt yielding the earliest 'Sayings of Yeshua' and dozens of New Testament pieces
Found 1897 — Bernard P. Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt (Egypt Exploration Fund), excavating the town dumps from winter 1896–97 to 1907
Where Oxyrhynchus (el-Bahnasa), Minya Governorate (Egypt)
Dates from 1st century BCE–7th century CE; Thomas fragments c. 200–250 CE · Roman Egypt · Early Christian writing and daily life in the diaspora
Now at Mainly the Sackler Library, Oxford (Egypt Exploration Society); P.Oxy. 1 in the Bodleian Library, Oxford; P.Oxy. 654–655 in the British Library
How Oxyrhynchus Papyri and the Gospel of Thomas Fragments was found
On the second day of digging, Grenfell and Hunt found a leaf they called 'Logia Iesou' (Sayings of Jesus) — later recognised as the Gospel of Thomas (P.Oxy. 1). Two more Thomas fragments (P.Oxy. 654, 655) followed, along with hundreds of thousands of documents.
What it is
Around half a million papyrus pieces, of which about 5,000 have been published. Christian items include more than 40 New Testament papyri (P1, P5, P13, P104 and others), fragments of Thomas, Peter, Mary, and the Shepherd of Hermas, plus letters, contracts, and tax lists that show ordinary life.
Why it matters for the Bible
Oxyrhynchus supplies the largest set of early New Testament manuscripts and shows Scripture being read in a middle-sized Egyptian town by the 2nd–3rd century. The Greek Thomas fragments proved that the Coptic Gospel of Thomas found at Nag Hammadi had a Greek original circulating by about 200; they help readers see what 'other gospels' looked like and why they differ from the four. Everyday papyri from the site also illuminate words in the New Testament, such as tax receipts, adoption papers, and private letters in the language of Paul.
The Hebrew word: de-vah-REEM
דְּבָרִים
דְּבָרִים is pronounced de-vah-REEM and means words, sayings (Greek logia) (Strong's H1697 / G3051).
People this discovery connects to
- Jesus — יֵשׁוּעַ (yeh-SHOO-ah) — YHVH saves
- Thomas — תְּאוֹמָא (te-o-MAH) — twin (Aramaic Ta'oma; Greek Didymos)
Events
Circulation of gospels and sayings collections in Egypt
Oxyrhynchus Papyri and the Gospel of Thomas Fragments in Scripture
Matthew 10:3 First mention of Thomas in Scripture.
Luke 1:1 'Many have undertaken to compile a narrative' — Oxyrhynchus shows the range of such writings.
John 1:23-31 P5 (P.Oxy. 208 + 1781), a 3rd-century Oxyrhynchus copy of John, preserves these verses.
Questions people ask
What is Oxyrhynchus Papyri and the Gospel of Thomas Fragments?
Around half a million papyrus pieces, of which about 5,000 have been published. Christian items include more than 40 New Testament papyri (P1, P5, P13, P104 and others), fragments of Thomas, Peter, Mary, and the Shepherd of Hermas, plus letters, contracts, and tax lists that show ordinary life.
When was Oxyrhynchus Papyri and the Gospel of Thomas Fragments discovered?
It was found in 1897 by Bernard P. Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt (Egypt Exploration Fund), excavating the town dumps from winter 1896–97 to 1907, at Oxyrhynchus (el-Bahnasa), Minya Governorate.
Where is Oxyrhynchus Papyri and the Gospel of Thomas Fragments today?
Mainly the Sackler Library, Oxford (Egypt Exploration Society); P.Oxy. 1 in the Bodleian Library, Oxford; P.Oxy. 654–655 in the British Library.
Which Bible verses does Oxyrhynchus Papyri and the Gospel of Thomas Fragments relate to?
Matthew 10:3, Luke 1:1, John 1:23-31.
Related discoveries
- מָשִׁיחַMagdalen Papyrus P64 (with P67)Three scraps of Matthew 26 once claimed to be 'eyewitness-era' — the claim did not hold
- אֱמֶתPapyrus P52 (Rylands Greek 457)The earliest surviving scrap of the New Testament — John 18 on a card-sized fragment
- יֵשׁוּעַThe Talpiot Tomb ('Jesus Family Tomb')A first-century family tomb with common names that a 2007 film claimed held Yeshua's family
- צְלָבAlexamenos GraffitoThe earliest picture of the crucifixion — a mocking scratch on a Roman wall
- כְּלֵי אֶבֶןCana: Khirbet Qana and Kafr KannaTwo candidates for the village of the water-into-wine sign
- שֻׁלְחָןMegiddo Prison Church MosaicThe earliest known Christian prayer hall, with a mosaic dedicated 'to God Jesus Christ'
Sources
- B. P. Grenfell & A. S. Hunt, Logia Iesou: Sayings of Our Lord (1897)
- Wikipedia, 'Oxyrhynchus Papyri'
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