Papyrus 82

Papyrus 82 (designated 𝔓^82 in the Gregory‑Aland numbering) is a Greek papyrus manuscript of the New Testament. It contains a fragmentary portion of the Acts of the Apostles and is one of the papyri classified among the New Testament papyri.

Description

• Material: Papyrus, written on both sides (recto and verso).
• Script: Greek uncial letters, typical of late antiquity.
• Format: Single column per page; the exact dimensions of the surviving leaves vary, with fragments measuring approximately 12 cm × 9 cm.

Contents

𝔓^82 preserves a small portion of the Acts of the Apostles (the specific verses extant are Acts 7:46‑48 and 7:52‑53). The fragment is highly lacunose, with many gaps due to the deteriorated condition of the papyrus.

Date and Provenance

• Paleographic dating: The manuscript has been assigned to the 4th or 5th century CE on the basis of its letter‑forms and comparative analysis with other dated papyri.
• Origin: The exact place of production is not recorded; the papyrus was likely produced in an Egyptian Christian community, as is typical for many early New Testament papyri.

Textual Character

• Text‑type: The text of 𝔓^82 is considered mixed, exhibiting readings that align with both the Alexandrian and Western textual traditions.
• Significance for textual criticism: Because of its fragmentary nature, the manuscript provides limited but valuable data for the reconstruction of the Acts text in the early centuries of Christianity.

Current Location

The surviving fragments of 𝔓^82 are held in the University of Michigan Library (P. Michigan 1085), Ann Arbor, United States.

Scholarly Assessment

• The manuscript was first catalogued in the mid‑20th century as part of the broader effort to inventory New Testament papyri.
• It is listed in the Kurzgefasste Liste of New Testament papyri compiled by the Institute for New Testament Textual Research (INTF) in Münster, Germany.
• Due to its limited textual span, 𝔓^82 is cited sparingly in critical editions of the Greek New Testament, such as the Nestle‑Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (28th edition).

References

• Institute for New Testament Textual Research (INTF). Liste Handschriften. Münster: INTF. (Online database, 2024).
• Metzger, B. M.; Ehrman, J. L. The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2022.
• University of Michigan Library catalog entry for Papyrus 1085 (𝔓^82).

Note: The information presented reflects the current scholarly consensus as of 2024. No speculative or unverified details have been included.