Papyrus 125
New Testament manuscript
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Papyrus 125, also known as P. Oxy. 4934, is an early copy of the New Testament in Greek.[1] It is a papyrus manuscript of the First Epistle of Peter in a fragmentary condition.[1][2] It is designated by the siglum 𝔓125 in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts.[2] Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been dated to the late 3rd or early 4th century.[1]: 17 [2][3]
| New Testament manuscript | |
Recto, 1 Peter 1:23-2:5 | |
| Name | P. Oxy. 4934 |
|---|---|
| Sign | 𝔓125 |
| Text | 1 Peter 1:23-2:5; 7-12 |
| Date | 3rd/4th century |
| Script | Greek |
| Found | Oxyrhynchus, Egypt |
| Now at | Sackler Library |
| Cite | D. Obdink (2009) |
| Size | 15 cm by 8.5 cm |
| Type | Alexandrian (?) |
| Category | none |
Description

The original manuscript was likely a codex (precursor to the modern book format), of which only pieces from one leaf of the codex have survived to the present day. The only verses extant are 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2:1-4. The original text was written in one column per page, with around 30 lines per page.[1][2] The graphical style of writing has been described as belonging to the "severe style".[1][3] The Greek text of this codex is probably a representative of the Alexandrian text-type.
In 1 Peter 2:3, it has an interesting reading (shared with another early Papyrus 𝔓72) of having the traditional χρηστὸς ὁ κύριος (The Lord is good) as χριστὸς ὁ κύριος (Christ is Lord), with χριστὸς written as a nomen sacrum (ΧΡΣ).[4] This wordplay appears quite early in Christian tradition, and is also seen in Roman misunderstandings of referring to Chrestus and Chrestianity instead of Christus and Christianity.[4]
History
The earliest history of the manuscript is unknown.[1] It was discovered during one of the digs at the site of Oxyrhynchus (Al-Bahnasa) in Egypt.[1]
It was published by papyrologist Juan Chapa in the 73rd volume of The Oxyrhynchus Papyri in 2009.[1] The manuscript is currently housed in the Papyrology Rooms of the Sackler Library at Oxford with the shelf number P. Oxy. 4934.[2][1]