What question did this study set out to answer?

This study examines number-writing techniques in the Chester Beatty Old Testament papyri to understand their use in communal reading in early Christianity.

March 7, 2026

The Chester Beatty Old Testament Papyri and the Communal Reading of Christian Scripture

Key Points

This study examines number-writing techniques in the Chester Beatty Old Testament papyri to understand their use in communal reading in early Christianity.
Analyzed number-writing techniques in Chester Beatty Old Testament papyri
Compared findings with early New Testament manuscripts
Assessed clarity and ambiguity in number use by scribes
Chester Beatty papyri display similar number-writing principles as New Testament texts
Both sets of manuscripts prioritize clarity in pronunciation
A notable exception in number use was observed in the Chester Beatty texts

Abstract

Abstract It is widely understood that many, if not most, early Christian manuscripts were produced for use in communal reading. Recent studies show that this view is supported by scribal number-writing techniques, which appear to be constrained by the need for clarity in pronunciation. Specifically, early New Testament scribes used alphabetic numerals in their body texts but only when these would be unambiguous to a would-be reader. This study examines the number-writing techniques found in the Chester Beatty Old Testament papyri and finds that they abide by the same principles of number writing as their New Testament counterparts (with one notable exception), a fact which sheds further light on the use of scriptural texts in early Christianity.

Mark Helpful

Bookmark

Relay