Author Archives: Brent Nongbri

More on the Curious Green Collection 1 Samuel Papyrus

I’ve written several posts (like this one) on different aspects of the “Passages” travelling exhibition of the Green Collection that took place between 2011 and the opening of the permanent exhibition at the Museum of the Bible in 2017. Some … Continue reading

Posted in Antiquities Market, Green Collection, Green Collection 1 Samuel, Mummy cartonnage, Passages Speakers Series, Scott Carroll | 1 Comment

Ryan Kaufman on the Ending of John 20 in P.Bodmer 2

In a paper recently posted to academia.edu, Ryan Kaufman engages with some of my hypotheses about the ending of the Gospel According to John in P.Bodmer 2. His suggestions are excellent and in fact offer a simpler explanation for some … Continue reading

Posted in Bodmer Papyri, Codices, Codicology, P.Bodmer II | 6 Comments

Big Discount on God’s Library at Amazon

If for some reason you haven’t picked up a copy of God’s Library yet, it is currently being sold at amazon (US) at a discount of over 50%–$15.84 USD. It also makes a great Christmas gift. I have no idea … Continue reading

Posted in Manuscript Collections | Leave a comment

Once More: An Oxyrhynchus Papyrus of Exodus and Revelation, Part 2

In my previous post, I reviewed a recent article by Scott Charlesworth on British Library Pap. 2053, a papyrus from Oxyrhynchus with the ending of Exodus on one side (P.Oxy. 8.1075) and the opening verses of Revelation on its reverse … Continue reading

Posted in Codices, Oxyrhynchus Papyri | 4 Comments

Once More: An Oxyrhynchus Papyrus of Exodus and Revelation, Part 1

Among the Christian papyri from Oxyrhynchus is an interesting piece now in the British Library (Pap. 2053) that contains the final verses of Exodus in Greek with an end title (P.Oxy. 8.1075) and on the reverse, in a different script, … Continue reading

Posted in Bodmer composite codex, Codices, Oxyrhynchus Papyri, Scott Charlesworth | 3 Comments

National Geographic’s “Bible Hunters” Article Online

I mentioned in an earlier post that cover story of the December 2018 issue of National Geographic magazine features “Bible Hunters”–the search for early Christian and Jewish manuscripts. The full story is now online (along with some images that are … Continue reading

Posted in Antiquities Market, Find Stories | 1 Comment

National Geographic’s “Bible Hunters”: Some Observations

As Larry Hurtado mentioned on his blog a couple days ago, the cover story of the December 2018 issue of National Geographic magazine is on “Bible Hunters,” that is to say both nineteenth century figures like Constantine von Tischendorf and … Continue reading

Posted in Antiquities Dealers and Collectors, Fakes and Forgeries, First Century Mark, Oxyrhynchus Papyri, P.Ryl. 3.457, Van Kampen Collection | 2 Comments

Tertullian and the Ending of the Gospel According to John

In response to my recent article on the ending of John in P.Bodmer 2, Michael Lattke brought to my attention an article of his that is relevant to the question of the circulation of the Gospel According to John without … Continue reading

Posted in Textual criticism | 8 Comments

Palaeography and Codices: A Couple Thoughts on Larry Hurtado’s Review of God’s Library

Over on his blog, Larry Hurtado has posted a detailed review of God’s Library. Early on in the book, I mention three of the main scholars who paved the way for those of us working on early Christian manuscripts today: … Continue reading

Posted in Codices, Palaeography | 2 Comments

Manufacturing Square Papyrus Codices: Two Ways to Cut the Roll

When trying to understand the process of making small format papyrus codices, it is sometimes tricky to figure out how the papyrus bifolia were cut from the roll. For books that are more tall and narrow, like the Nag Hammadi … Continue reading

Posted in Berlin Coptic Proverbs Codex, Bodmer composite codex, Bodmer Papyri, Codices, Codicology | 3 Comments