(04) The Rylands Fragment

The Rylands Fragment

We do not have original copies of the Gospels or Epistles.

The very earliest written piece of the Gospel we have is a fragment of papyrus found preserved in the bone-dry sands of Egypt. The style of handwriting in those days was evolving quite rapidly, which allows us to date a manuscript within about thirty years.

The handwriting of our fragment dates it at 125 - 150 AD. It is from the Gospel according to St John. We know that he wrote this in his old age, about 90 AD, when the other Apostles were long dead. Our fragment, therefore, could easily have been copied from the actual original. The three earlier Gospels had covered pretty much the same material. Matthew, Mark and Luke wrote very matter-of-factly, with a minimum of commentary. John's disciples came to him in his old age and said, "Master, tell us more!" John fills in many things not previously mentioned, and includes long passages reflecting on the words of Our Lord. He writes at great length about the Last Supper, and of Our Lord's interview with Pontius Pilate on Good Friday.

We could say that it was mere chance, or randomness, that decided which passage would be preserved for us in those desert sands; but there is no such thing as Chance in God's wise Providence. What we read is this, in clearly legible Greek capital letters:

"For this I was born, and for this I am come into the World, to bear witness to the Truth. All who are of the Truth hear My Voice".

These words were spoken to Pontius Pilate, but they have resonated down the ages.

The scrap of papyrus is now on display in the Rylands Library, Manchester, England