{"id":67445,"date":"2026-07-16T14:51:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=67445"},"modified":"2026-07-16T15:48:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T20:48:08","slug":"%f0%9d%94%9352","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=67445","title":{"rendered":"\ud835\udd1352"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Yesterday, Elder DZ<\/strong> and I saw the W<\/strong>orld’s R<\/strong>arest and M<\/strong>ost V<\/strong>aluable P<\/strong>apyrus F<\/strong>ragment (WRMVPF). Also known as P52<\/strong> (or \ud835\udd1352<\/sup>), this papyrus fragment was on display at the University of Texas’ Harry Ransom Center<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to our adventure, we had a cordial breakfast of “eggs in purgatory”, tortillas, tomatoes, and avocado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Elder DZ<\/strong> drove us to the UT campus, and we were able to part a mere 82 minute walk from the Center. When we arrived, we were initially confused – why would this priceless artifact be hanging outside, on a sign, exposed to the rain and sun?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We arrived just as a friendly docent was beginning the tour of the exhibit. In addition to the P52<\/strong>, she described the Gutenberg Bible<\/strong>, the Ni\u00e9pce Heliograph<\/strong> (the earliest surviving photograph), and an exhibit called “Lives and Literacy in Ancient Egypt.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our visit was so “nutrient dense” – every sentence the docent spoke could fill a library, and represented untold numbers of dedicated scholars, researchers, historians, linguists, scientists… all to benefit mankind with knowledge of the ancient world. It was a proud moment to see my son so immersed in his world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud835\udd1352<\/sup> – The Nuts and Bolts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Rylands Library Papyrus P52<\/strong>, also known as the St John’s fragment and with an accession reference of Papyrus Rylands Greek 457, is a fragment from a papyrus codex[1]<\/sup>, measuring only 3.5 by 2.5 inches (8.9 cm \u00d7 6.4 cm) at its widest (about the size of a credit card), and conserved with the Rylands Papyri at the John Rylands University Library Manchester, UK. The front (recto) contains parts of seven lines from the Gospel of John 18:31\u201333, in Greek, and the back (verso) contains parts of seven lines from verses 37\u201338.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Rylands \ud835\udd1352 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering)[2]<\/sup>is generally accepted as the earliest<\/strong> extant record of a canonical New Testament text, the dating of the papyrus is still debated. The original editor proposed a date range of 100\u2013150 CE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The papyrus is written on both sides and hence must be from a codex, a sewn and folded book, not a scroll, roll or isolated sheet; and the surviving portion also includes part of the top and inner margins of the page. The recto consequently preserves the top left corner of a right-hand page; while the verso preserves the top right corner of a left-hand page. The characters in bold style are the ones that can be seen in Papyrus \ud835\udd1352. The recto text comes from the Gospel of John 18:31\u201333:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a> The verso text comes from the Gospel of John, 18:37\u201338:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The text translates as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/a><\/figure>\nWikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

[1]<\/sup> A codex<\/strong> is an early book, read by flipping through the pages, rather than unrolling a scroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[2]<\/sup> The Gregory-Aland numbering system is the universal cataloging system used by scholars to identify ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. It organizes these fragile historical texts into four distinct categories so researchers can easily find and compare them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n