Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 5575

Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 5575

Standard abbreviation: P. Oxy. 5575

Other titles: none

Clavis numbers: ECCA 348

Category: Agrapha and Fragments

Related literature: Gospel of Peter (Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 4009), Gospel of Thomas

Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University ([email protected])

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 5575.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/papyrus-oxyrhynchus-5575/.

Created September 2023.

1. SUMMARY

This fragmentary leaf was found at Oxyrhynchus during Grenfell and Hunt’s second excavation season. It has been dated by the editors to the second century, based in part on similarities to the hand of P. Oxy. 4009 (tentatively identified as a portion of the Gospel of Peter). The recto (writing with the fibers) begins with a word reconstructed as “he died,” which the editors consider a possible parallel to the ending of Gos. Thom. 63. Then follows a parallel to Matt 6:25//Luke 12:22 (par. Gos. Thom. 36), but closer to Luke’s version (“I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear,” NRSV), seguing into material found in Gos. Thom. 27 (“If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the kingdom. If you do not make the Sabbath a sabbath, you will not see the Father,” trans. Ehrman and Pleše, Apocryphal Gospels). The parallel to Matthew and Luke continues with Matt 6:26//Luke 12:23, this time closer to Matthew (“Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow not reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” NRSV).

The verso (writing against the fibers) runs parallel to Matt 6:28–30, 32b, 33//Luke 12:27–28, 30b–31 (Matthew’s version: “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore . . . and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well,” NRSV). There is a partial parallel here also to the Greek version of Gos. Thom. 36, which follows Matt 6:25//Luke 12:22 with “You are worth much more than lilies, which neither card nor spin. If you have no clothing, what will you put on? Who might add to your stature? He is the one who will give you your clothing” (trans. Ehrman and Pleše, Apocryphal Gospels).

The parallels to the Synoptic material are said to be “loose,” which may be due to their collection in a harmony or because they derive from oral rather than written traditions.

Named Historical Figures and Characters: Jesus Christ (unnamed speaker).

Geographical Locations: none.

2. RESOURCES

2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Resources

Bible Unboxed. “New Papyrus Discovered Containing Sayings of Jesus!” YouTube. Posted 6 Sept. 2023.

English synopsis of the papyrus (and its sources) constructed by Mark Goodacre.

Greek synopsis of the papyrus constructed by Peter Gurry.

“Sayings of Jesus: P. Oxy 5575.” Gospels.net. Translation by Mark M. Mattison.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

Oxford, Sackler Library, Papyrology Rooms, P. Oxy. 5575 (2nd cent.)

Fish, Jeffrey, Daniel B. Wallace, and Michael W. Holmes. “5575. Sayings of Jesus.” Pages 6–14 in vol. 87 of The Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Edited by Peter J. Parsons and Nikolaos Gonis. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 2023 (transcription, p. 9; English translation, p. 11).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 English

3.3 General Works

Coogan, Jeremiah, and Jacob A. Rodriguez. “Ordering Gospel Textuality in the Second Century.” JTS 74.1 (2023): 57–102 (cited by Moss for placing the fragment into context; the authors were aware of the fragment but were not able to cite it in the article).

“Greco-Roman Memoirs 108 is available.” Egypt Exploration Society. Posted 30 August 2023. Online: https://www.ees.ac.uk/news/graeco-roman-memoirs-108-is-available. (Includes image of the fragment).

Gurry, Peter. “New 2nd-Century ‘Sayings of Jesus’ Oxyrhynchus Papyrus.” Evangelical Textual Criticism. Posted 31 August 2023: http://evangelicaltextualcriticism.blogspot.com/2023/08/new-2nd-century-sayings-of-jesus.html (includes colour photographs).

Holmes, Michael W. “What’s the Big Deal about a New Papyrus with Sayings of Jesus?” Text & Canon Institute. Posted 13 September 2023. Online: https://textandcanon.org/whats-the-big-deal-about-a-new-papyrus-with-sayings-of-jesus/.

Kruger, Michael J. “Is P.Oxy. 5575 the Only Manuscript that Mixes Synoptic Material with the Gospel of Thomas? Further Reflections on the New ‘Gospel’ Fragment from Oxyrhynchus.” Canon Fodder. Posted 8 January 2024. Online: https://michaeljkruger.com/is-p-oxy-5575-the-only-manuscript-that-mixes-synoptic-material-with-the-gospel-of-thomas/.

__________. “New ‘Gospel’ Manuscript Discovered? (What It Is and Why It Matters.)” Gospel Coalition. Posted 23 September 2023. Online: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/new-gospel-manuscript-oxyrhynchus/.

Mills, Ian N. “Putting the New Papyrus of Jesus’ Sayings in Context.” Text & Canon Institute. Posted 9 January 2024. Online: https://textandcanon.org/putting-the-new-papyrus-ofjesussayings-in-context/.

Moss, Candida. “Scholars Publish new Papyrus with Early Sayings of Jesus.” Daily Beast. Posted 31 August 2023. Online: https://www.thedailybeast.com/scholars-publish-new-papyrus-with-early-sayings-of-jesus.

Nongbri, Brent. “The Date of the New Oxyrhynchus Sayings of Jesus P. Oxy. 87.5575.” Variant Readings. Posted 9 September 2023. Online: https://brentnongbri.com/2023/09/09/the-date-of-the-new-oxyrhynchus-sayings-of-jesus-p-oxy-87-5575/.

__________. “P.Oxy. 87.5575 and P.Oxy. 60.4009: The Same Copyist.” Variant Readings. Posted 30 September 2023. Online: https://brentnongbri.com/2023/09/30/p-oxy-87-5575-and-p-oxy-60-4009-the-same-copyist/.

Schrader Polczer, Elizabeth. “Early Christianity, fragment by fragment.” Christian Century. Posted 9 April 2024. Online: https://www.christiancentury.org/features/early-christianity-fragment-fragment.

Steinmeyer, Nathan. “An Early ‘Sayings of Jesus’ Text?” Bible History Daily. Posted 13 October 2023. Online: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/an-early-sayings-of-jesus-text/.