P52: A Fragment of the Gospel of John
(a.k.a. John Rylands P457)  

P52 is the oldest known manuscript fragment of the New Testament.
This photo is of the recto (front side).
©Copyright
John Rylands
Library of Manchester.

  
DESCRIPTION
Language: Greek
Medium: papyrus
Size: 3.5 inches long
2.5 inches wide
Length: 7 lines on each side
Approximate Date: c. 125–150 CE
Place of Discovery: Egypt
Date of Discovery/
Acquisition:		 1920
Acquirer: Bernard P. Grenfell
Current Location: John Rylands Library
Manchester, England
Inventory Number: Rylands Greek Papyrus 457
Manuscript Number: P52
Manuscript Family: Alexandrian

 

GREEK TEXT
Recto: John 18:31-33

TRANSLATION
by K. C. Hanson

EIPEN OUN AUTOIS O PILATOS LABETE AUTON UMEIS KAI KATA TON NOMON UMWN KRINATE AUTON EIPON AUTW OI IOUDAIOI HMIN OUK EXESTIN APOKTEINAI OUDENA INA O LOGOS TOU IHSOU PLHRWQH ON EIPEN SHMAINWN POIW QANATW HMELLEN APOQNHSKEIN EISHLQEN OUN PALIN EIS TO PRAITWRION O PILATOS KAI EFWNHSEN TON IHSOUN KAI EIPEN AUTW SU EI O BASILEUS TWN IOUDAIWN
Letters in red are visible on the fragment; letters in black are reconstructed 		Therefore Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Judeans said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." This was to fulfill the word which Jesus had spoken to show by what death he would die. Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the king of the Judeans?"