An Overview of New Testament Manuscripts
Primary Sources
There is no original Greek Text. Meaning we do not have the original document upon
which the writers of the New Testament penned their letters inspired by the Holy Spirit.
All we have are copies that have survived. Below are the principle categories of copies,
which contain the texts of the New Testament, as we know it. Notice the significant
evidence for the existence of the New Testament.
Papyrus (96 cited in official scholarly lists)
 Second to eighth centuries
 Among the earliest surviving manuscripts
 The earliest known manuscript is P52, John 18:31-33 (front side) and 18:37-39 (back
side). This papyrus dates to 125 CE
 Preserved throughout the centuries in Egypt because of the hot dry climate
 Written in block capital letters, or uncials
Uncials (300)
 Second to tenth centuries
 The two most important are Codex Sinaiticus (S, 01, middle fourth century) and
Codex Vaticanus (B, 03, early fourth century)
 Later than the Papyri
 Written on parchment, or “vellum”
Minuscules (2800+)
 Ninth to sixteen centuries
 Written in cursive characters
Lectionaries (2800+)
 Fourth to Sixteenth centuries
 Both in uncial and minuscule scripts
 Used in the early church
 Not as valuable as the copies of text
Other sources used in the reconstruction of the New Testament
 Quotations from the Church Fathers (First through Third / Fourth Centuries)
 Early Translations of the Greek New Testament
1. Latin
- Old Latin (second century)
- Vulgate (383 CE). About 8000 Vulgate manuscripts have survived
2. Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Georgian, Ethiopic, Gothic, Slavonic
NOTE: The study of how these manuscripts fit together is called Textual Criticism.
A Brief History Leading Up to the Time of Christ
B.C.E = Before the Common Era of Jews and Christians (formerly BC)
C.E. = The Common Era of Christians and Jews (formerly AD)
BCE
1000
Monarchy under Kings David and Solomon
921
Divided Kingdom: Israel (North) and Judah (South)
721
Assyrians capture Northern Kingdom (Israel) and deport population to
Assyria (Note this is the origin of the Samaritans)
587
Babylonians defeat Southern Kingdom (Judah), destroy Jerusalem and the
Temple, and carry the population off into Babylonian Captivity
539
Persians defeat Babylonians under Cyrus
538 Return of the remnant of the Jewish people to their land
515 The temple is rededicated
437 Nehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem walls
356-323
Conquests of Alexander the Great. Hellenistic Age
332
Greeks (Macedonians) march through Palestine
301
Ptolomies (Greek-Egyptians) control Palestine
198
Selucids (Greek Syrians) control Palestine (reign of Antiochus IV
Ephiphanes, who enforced Hellenization throughout his empire)
- Burned Torah scrolls
- Erected an altar over the altar of burn offering in the Jerusalem Temple
and offered sacrifices to the Greek god, Zeus. This became known as
the “abomination that makes desolate)
167
Maccabean revolt of Jews against Selucids
- Judas Maccabeus, hero of the revolt
- 164 Rededicated the Temple: Festival of Lights or Hanukkah
142
Independent Macabean (Hasmonean) Kingdom
63
Romans assume control of Palestine: end of Jewish independence (under
General Pompeii)
27
Roman Empire Established under Caesar Agustus (Octavian)
A Brief History Leading Up to the Time of Christ
Common Era
CE
14
Tiberius Caesar (appointed Pontius Pilate as governor of Judea and
Samaria in Palestine)
37
Caligula
41
Claudius
- Reigned during the missionary journey’s of Paul.
54
Nero
- Burning of Rome, and accusation of Christians
- Paul and Peter martyred during Nero’s reign
68
Galba, Otho, Vitellius
69
Vespasian
- Crushing of Jewish Rebellion and the destruction of the temple in Ad 70
79
Titus
80
Titus
81
Domitian
- One of the cruelest and tyrannical of the Caesars. His reign probably
forms the background for the book of Revelation
98
Trajan