Introduction
This page examines the evidence we have for the New Testament, including the age of the earliest manuscripts, their distribution over time, and the textual relationships between various books.
The Manuscripts
The distribution of New Testament manuscripts shows a clear pattern: very few early manuscripts exist, with the vast majority coming from much later centuries:
Data from Institute for New Testament Textual Research
This data shows a significant gap between the events described in the New Testament (c. 30-100 CE) and our earliest manuscript evidence. The vast majority of manuscripts date from medieval times, over 700 years after the events they describe.
Earliest Gospel Manuscripts
The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) form the core of the New Testament and are the primary sources for information about Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
| Earliest Manuscript | Date | Type | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| P104 | c. 150-200 CE | Fragment | Matthew 21:34-37, 43, 45 |
| P137 | c. 150-250 CE | Fragment | Mark 1:7-9, 16-18 |
| P75 | c. 175-225 CE | Partial | Portions of Luke 3-18, 22-24 |
| P52 | c. 125-175 CE | Fragment | John 18:31-33, 37-38 |
| Codex Sinaiticus | c. 330-360 CE | Complete | First complete manuscript of all four gospels |
Earliest Pauline Manuscripts
The letters attributed to Paul constitute a significant portion of the New Testament and provide crucial insights into early Christian theology and community formation.
| Manuscript | Date | Type | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| P46 | c. 175-225 CE | Partial | Contains portions of Romans, Hebrews, 1-2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 Thessalonians |
| P32 | c. 200 CE | Fragment | Contains Titus 1:11-15, 2:3-8 |
| P87 | c. 250 CE | Fragment | Contains Philemon 13-15, 24-25 |
| Codex Sinaiticus | c. 325 CE | Complete | Contains all of Paul's letters in the modern canon |
Earliest Other Manuscripts
Beyond the gospels and Pauline epistles, the New Testament contains several other important texts, including Acts, the general epistles, and Revelation.
| Manuscript | Date | Type | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| P29 | c. 175-225 CE | Fragment | Acts 26:7-8, 20 |
| P47 | c. 250-300 CE | Partial | Revelation 9:10-17:2 |
| P72 | c. 300-350 CE | Complete | Contains complete text |
Textual Variants and Interpolations
The New Testament manuscripts contain numerous textual variants and later interpolations, showing that the texts evolved over time:
Major Gospel Variants
The Ending of Mark
Mark 16:9-20 (the resurrection appearances) is not found in the earliest and most reliable manuscripts. Most scholars believe the original ending was lost and this longer ending was added later. (Read More)
The Woman Caught in Adultery
John 7:53-8:11 is absent from the earliest manuscripts and appears in different locations in later manuscripts, indicating it was a later addition. (Read More)
Luke's Account of Jesus Sweating Blood
Luke 22:43-44 (describing Jesus sweating blood in Gethsemane) is not found in some of the earliest manuscripts (Read More).
Variants in Other New Testament Texts
The Johannine Comma
1 John 5:7-8, which explicitly mentions the Trinity, is absent from all Greek manuscripts before the 16th century and is now recognized as a later addition. (Read More)
Doxology in Romans
The doxology in Romans (16:25-27) appears in different locations in various manuscripts, suggesting it may have been a later addition. (Read More)
Variant Endings of Romans
Some manuscripts end Romans at chapter 15, others at 16:23, and still others include the doxology at different points, suggesting the letter may have circulated in multiple forms. (Read More)
These examples demonstrate that the New Testament texts were not perfectly preserved but underwent changes during transmission. The later the manuscript evidence, the more opportunity existed for alterations, embellishments, and theological adjustments.