> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://qurantalk.gitbook.io/problems-in-christianity/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://qurantalk.gitbook.io/problems-in-christianity/manuscripts/oldest-manuscripts.md).

# Oldest Manuscripts

The oldest complete manuscripts of the New Testament come from the 4th century. 

#### Earliest Manuscripts (Fragmentary)

1. [**Papyrus P52**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rylands_Library_Papyrus_P52) **(Rylands Library Papyrus P52)**:
   * **Date**: Around 125-150 AD
   * **Content**: A fragment of the Gospel of John (John 18:31-33, 37-38).
   * **Language**: Greek
   * **Significance**: Considered the oldest known fragment of the New Testament.
2. [**Papyrus P90**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus_90) **(P. Oxy. 3523)**:
   * **Date**: Late 2nd century
   * **Language:** Greek
   * **Content**: Portions of the Gospel of John (18:36-19:1r+19:1-7v)
3. [**Papyrus P66**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus_66) **(Bodmer Papyrus P66)**:
   * **Date**: Around 200 AD
   * **Content**: A substantial portion of the Gospel of John  (1:1–6:11; 6:35–14:26,29–30; 15:2–26; 16:2–4,6-7; 16:10–20:20,22–23; 20:25–21:9,12,17)
4. [**Papyrus P46**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus_46) **(Chester Beatty Papyrus II)**:
   * **Date**: Around 200 AD
   * **Language**: Greek
   * **Content**: The oldest substantial manuscript of Pauline epistles, containing large parts of Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 Thessalonians.
5. [**Papyrus P45**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus_45) **(Chester Beatty Papyrus I)**:
   * **Date**: Early 3rd century
   * **Language**: Greek
   * **Content**: Portions of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts.

#### Earliest Complete Manuscripts

1. [**Codex Sinaiticus**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Sinaiticus):
   * **Date**: Mid-4th century
   * **Language**: Greek
   * **Content**: The earliest complete copy of the New Testament.
   * **Books**: Contains the entire New Testament.
   * [Notable Omissions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Sinaiticus#Notable_omissions) (verses & phrases)
     * 42 verses missing (37 from gospels)
   * [Additions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Sinaiticus#Additions)
   * [Variants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Sinaiticus#Unique_and_other_textual_variants)
2. [**Codex Vaticanus**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Vaticanus):
   * **Date**: Mid-4th century
   * **Language**: Greek
   * **Content**: One of the most important complete manuscripts of the Greek Bible (Old and New Testament), though some parts are missing.
   * **Books**: Nearly complete New Testament; missing parts of Hebrews, Pastoral Epistles, and Revelation.
   * [Missing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Vaticanus#Non-included_verses) 39 verses in Gospel & 6 from other books in NT
   * There are a number of differences between Sinaiticus and Vaticanus; Textual critic [Herman C. Hoskier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_C._Hoskier) enumerated 3036 differences :

     Matt: 656\
     Mark: 567\
     Luke: 791\
     John: 1022\
     Total — 3036.[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Sinaiticus#cite_note-25)
3. [**Codex Alexandrinus**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Alexandrinus):
   * **Date**: 5th century
   * **Content**: Contains almost the entire Bible, but with some gaps.
   * **Language**: Greek
   * **Books**: Nearly complete New Testament.
4. [**Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Ephraemi_Rescriptus):
   * **Date**: 5th century
   * **Language**: Greek
   * **Content**: A palimpsest, with the text of the New Testament written over erased earlier writings.
   * **Books**: Most of the New Testament, but with many gaps.