Chester Beatty Papyrus P46 (folio 86 verso & recto).


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Chester Beatty Papyrus II. 

In Mr. Beatty's original acquisition there were ten leaves, in conjoint pairs, containing portions of Romans on the first halves, and portions of Philippians, Colossians, and 1 Thessalonians on the second - evidently, therefore, part of a single-quire codex of the Pauline Epistles - and calculations of space made it probable that Hebrews had been included in the missing intermediate portion. This calculation was confirmed when, shortly after the ten leaves had been published by the present writer, it was announced that the University of Michigan had acquired thirty more leaves of the same codex, in excellent condition, which showed that Hebrews was indeed included, and was placed immediately after Romans. Scarcely had these been published by Professor H. A. Sanders, of Michigan, together with the ten Beatty leaves, when they were capped by the acquisition by Mr. Beatty of forty-six leaves more.  The entire manuscript therefore consists, in its present state, of eighty-six nearly perfect leaves out of a total of 104, of which the last five were probably blank; at least they are not needed for the completion of Thessalonians, and would not be enough for the Pastorals, which seem to have been omitted.

Folio 86r concludes Paul's epistle to the Galatians, Gal.6.10-18, & the epistle to the Philippians verse 1. Over the page, folio 86v continues Phil. 1.5-15. Note the use of Nomina sacra (overlined) in the places where they occur.

On the 4th line from the end of Galatians, we hear Paul's frustration breaking forth:

ΤΟΥ ΠΟΛΟΥ ΚΟΠΟΥΣ ΜΟΙ ΜΗΔΕΙΣ | ΠΑΡΕΧΕΤΩ ΕΓΩ ΓΑΡ ΤΑ ΣΤΙΓΜΑΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΙΗΥ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΣΩΜΑΤΙ ΜΟΥ ΒΑΣΤΑΖΩ.

(literally ...) FOR THE-REST. TROUBLES TO-ME, NO-ONE | LET-GIVE, FOR-I THE MARKS - OF-JESUS IN THE BODY OF-ME BEAR.

(RSV) Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

HERE is the Galations passage in context, & HERE is the Philippians passage.

Read more about P46 HERE.
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