The Bodmer Papyri are a set of Greek and Coptic manuscripts, ranging from the 2nd to the 7th-centuries. These manuscripts were collected between the 1950s and 1960s by Swiss bibliophile, Martin Bodmer, who obtained them across Egypt. Many of these manuscripts are unique or early attestations of important Christian works, such as The Vision of Dorotheus or the Biblical , described by the Bodmer Foundation (French: Fondation Bodmer) as "highly important for the history of early Christianity", alongside several classical or Egyptological works, such as the works of Menander and Egyptian land and financial registers. Many of these papyri are parts of larger papyrus codexes, such as the Bodmer Composite Codex or Codex of Visions. These manuscripts, since Bodmer's death, have been scattered across several collections; primarily in the Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, these papyri are also found in the Chester Beatty Library, libraries in Mississippi, Cologne, Barcelona and the Vatican. Because of the efforts of the Fondation and many scholars, these manuscripts have been prepared into editiones principes and digitized, allowing for scholarly access.

The following list is based on the catalogues of the Bodmer Lab, Brent Nongbri and Albert Pietersma. The numbering system is based on the abbreviation "Papyrus Bodmer" with an Arabic numeral (e.g. Papyrus Bodmer 23). Where a date range for a papyrus can be ascertained, it is included. The "citation(s)" section refers to the editio princeps of the papyrus, alongside later text revisions or additions. When a papyrus is part of a larger codex, that codex's name is added.

Manuscripts

NumberDateSourced from , unless otherwise notedContentCitation(s)CodexPapyrus Bodmer 1 (I)3rd/4th-century Egyptian land list, later turned over and reused to record books 5 & 6 of the Illiad –Papyrus Bodmer 2 (II)2nd/3rd-centuryJohn 1:1-21:9, in Greek. Known as in Gregory-Aland numbering–Papyrus Bodmer 3 (III)4th-centuryJohn 1:1-21:25 and Genesis 1:1-4:2, in proto-Bohairic Coptic–Papyrus Bodmer 4 (IV)3rd-centuryThe Dyskolos of Menander in Greek, best preserved text of Menander in the CodexThe Bodmer Menander CodexPapyrus Bodmer 5 (V)3rd/4th-centuryText of the apocryphal Protevangelium of James (also known as the Genesis Marias or Infancy Gospel of James)The Bodmer Composite CodexPapyrus Bodmer 6 (VI)4th/5th-centuryProverbs 1:1-21:4, in proto-Theban Coptic–Papyrus Bodmer 7 (VII)3rd/4th-centuryEpistle of Jude 1-25, in Greek. Known as in Gregory-Aland numbering.The Bodmer Composite CodexPapyrus Bodmer 8 (VIII)3rd/4th-centuryFirst and Second Epistle of Peter in Greek. Known as in Gregory-Aland numberingThe Bodmer Composite CodexPapyrus Bodmer 9 (IX)3rd/4th-centuryPsalms 33-34, in Greek. Known as Rahlfs 2113 in Rahlfs classification.The Apology of Phileas and Psalms CodexPapyrus Bodmer 10 (X)3rd/4th-centuryApocryphal correspondence of Paul the Apostle and the Corinthians, the Third Epistle to the Corinthians, in GreekThe Bodmer Composite CodexPapyrus Bodmer 11 (XI)3rd/4th-century11th Ode of Solomon, in GreekThe Bodmer Composite CodexPapyrus Bodmer 12 (XII)3rd/4th-centuryUnidentified fragment of a liturgical hymn in Greek, only extant in 6 lines.The Bodmer Composite CodexPapyrus Bodmer 13 (XIII)3rd/4th-centuryPeri Pascha by Melito of Sardis, in Greek.The Bodmer Composite CodexPapyrus Bodmer 14 (XIV)2nd to 4th-centuryLuke 3:18-18:18; 22:4-24:53. Earliest manuscript copy of the Lord's Prayer. Known as in Gregory-Aland numberingThe XIV+XV CodexPapyrus Bodmer 15 (XV)2nd to 4th-centuryJohn 1:1-15:8. Known as in Gregory-Aland numberingThe XIV+XV CodexPapyrus Bodmer 16 (XVI)4th-centuryExodus 1:1-15:21, in Sahidic Coptic. The papyrus is preserved in its leather binding.–Papyrus Bodmer 17 (XVII)7th-centuryActs 1:2-28:31; James 1:1-5:20: 1 Peter 1:1-3:5; 2 Peter 2:21-3:16; 1 John 1:1-5:17; 2 John 1-13; 3 John 6, 12; Jude 3-25; in Greek. Known as in Gregory-Aland numbering–Papyrus Bodmer 18 (XVIII)4th-centuryDeuteronomy 1:1-10:7, in Sahidic Coptic–Papyrus Bodmer 19 (XIX)4th/5th-centuryMatthew 14:28-28:20; Romans 1:1-2:3; in Sahidic Coptic–Papyrus Bodmer 20 (XX)4th-centuryApology of Phileas, a hagiographical account of the judicial examination of the bishop of Thmuis, Phileas, who was martyred in 306.The Apology of Phileas and Psalms CodexPapyrus Bodmer 21 (XXI)4th-centuryJoshua 6:16-25, 7:6-11:23, 22:1-2, 22:19-23:7, 23:15-24:2; in Sahidic Coptic (a portion of the Codex is in the Chester Beatty Library) –Papyrus Bodmer 22 (XXII)4th/5th-centuryJeremiah 40:3-52:34; Lamentations; Epistle of Jeremiah; Baruch 1:1-5:5; in Sahidic Coptic. (The second half of this codex is known as Mississippi Codex II)–Papyrus Bodmer 23 (XXIII)4th-centuryIsaiah 47:1-66:24, in Sahidic Coptic–Papyrus Bodmer 24 (XXIV)3rd/4th-centuryPsalms 17:46-117:44, in Greek. Known as Rahlfs 2110 in Rahlfs classification–Papyrus Bodmer 25 (XXV)3rd-centuryThe Samia of Menander, in Greek.The Bodmer Menander CodexPapyrus Bodmer 26 (XXVI)3rd-centuryThe Aspis of Menander, in Greek.The Bodmer Menander CodexPapyrus Bodmer 27 (XXVII)4th-centuryBook 6 of Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, in Greek.The Bodmer Daniel-Thucydides CodexPapyrus Bodmer 28 (XXVIII)2nd-centuryFragmentary papyrus roll containing a satyr play with a conversation between Heracles and Atlas–Papyrus Bodmer 29 (XXIX)4th/5th-centuryAn early Christian epic poem, The Vision of Dorotheus, composed sometime in the 4th-century. Earliest example of dactylic hexameter in Christian poetry and entirely unique to the Bodmer papyri.The Bodmer Codex of VisionsPapyrus Bodmer 30 (XXX)4th/5th-centuriesPros Abraam, a unique and short (30 line) Greek Christian poem retelling the Binding of Isaac.The Bodmer Codex of VisionsPapyrus Bodmer 31 (XXXI)4th/5th-centuriesA Christian poem, "on the Just", in Greek.The Bodmer Codex of VisionsPapyrus Bodmer 32 (XXXII)4th/5th-centuriesA Christian poem, "[...] of the Lord Jesus", in Greek.The Bodmer Codex of VisionsPapyrus Bodmer 33 (XXXIII)4th/5th-centuriesA Christian poem, "What Would Say Cain Having Murdered [Abel]", in Greek. Part 1 of the "Murder of Abel by Cain".The Bodmer Codex of VisionsPapyrus Bodmer 34 (XXXIV)4th/5th-centuriesA Christian poem, "The Lord to the [...]", in Greek.The Bodmer Codex of VisionsPapyrus Bodmer 35 (XXXV)4th/5th-centuriesA Christian poem, "“[...] Abel Destroyed by Cain", in Greek. Part 2 of the "Murder of Abel by Cain".The Bodmer Codex of VisionsPapyrus Bodmer 36 (XXXVI)4th/5th-centuriesA Christian poem in Greek, whose title has been lost for the codex's damage.The Bodmer Codex of VisionsPapyrus Bodmer 37 (XXXVII)4th/5th-centuriesAn unidentified Christian hymn in Greek.The Bodmer Codex of VisionsPapyrus Bodmer 38 (XXXVIII)4th/5th-centuriesThe Shepherd of Hermas, visions 1-3, in Greek. A missing 4th vision has been conjectured, but is not extant in the codex.The Bodmer Codex of VisionsPapyrus Bodmer 39 (XXXIX)Letter 11b of Pachomius the Great, in Sahidic Coptic(publication still in progress)–Papyrus Bodmer 40 (XL)The Song of Songs, in Sahidic Coptic.–Papyrus Bodmer 41 (XLI)4th-centuryThe Acts of Paul, in Sub-Achmimic Coptic–Papyrus Bodmer 42 (XLII)4th to 6th-century2 Corinthians 10:15-11:12, in Sahidic Coptic.–Papyrus Bodmer 43 (XLIII)Zostrianos, in Sahidic Coptic. Written on a single papyrus leaf. –Papyrus Bodmer 44 (XLIV)Daniel, in Bohairic Coptic. Written on 73 parchment leaves. (publication in progress)–Papyrus Bodmer 45 (XLV)4th-centurySusanna, (a possibly apocryphal portion of the Book of Daniel) in Theodotion's Greek translation.The Bodmer Daniel-Thucydides CodexPapyrus Bodmer 46 (XLVI)4th-centuryDaniel 1:1-20, in Theodotion's Greek translation.The Bodmer Daniel-Thucydides CodexPapyrus Bodmer 47 (XLVII)4th-centuryA selection of moral maxims arranged acrostically, in Greek.The Bodmer Daniel-Thucydides CodexPapyrus Bodmer 48 (XLVIII)Homer's Iliad, 1:45-58; inscribed in Greek on two small papyrus fragments. –Papyrus Bodmer 49 (XLIX)Homer's Odyssey 9:455-488 & 526-556; 10:188-215; in Greek–Papyrus Bodmer 50 (L)Matthew 25:43, 26:2-3; in Greek. Originally described as part of Papyrus Bodmer 17, where the codex's decaying leaves had stuck together. Known as in Gregory-Aland numbering.–Papyrus Bodmer 51 (LI)Papyrus fragment used for syllable exercises, and later reused for a medical/ethnographic treatise, both in Greek. The fragments were found in the leather cover of Papyrus Bodmer 23.–Papyrus Bodmer 52 (LII)Greek papyrus leaf of Isocrates' Ad Nicoclem, found in the leather cover of Papyrus Bodmer 23.–Papyrus Bodmer 53 (LIII)Blank papyrus leaf, found in the leather cover of Papyrus Bodmer 23.(nothing to publish)–Papyrus Bodmer 54 (LIV)Fragmentary land register, found in the leather cover of Papyrus Bodmer 23.–Papyrus Bodmer 55 (LV)Fragmentary fiscal register, found in the leather cover of Papyrus Bodmer 23.–Papyrus Bodmer 56 (LVI)Fragmentary fiscal register, found in the leather cover of Papyrus Bodmer 23.–Papyrus Bodmer 57 (LVII)Part of a codex of Didymus the Blind's Commentary on the Psalms (Codex V of the Tura papyri, a group of Codexes found in Tura during WWII) in Greek. The codex as a whole, is dispersed across several collections. The papyrus was a palimpsest and has a noticeable undertext.–Papyrus Bodmer 58 (LVIII)Papyrus codex of patristic works in Sahidic Coptic. Bodmer Lab catalogues: "a dialogue between two deacons and Cyril of Alexandria; letter from Theophilus to Horsiesius; a dialogue between Horsiesius and Theophilus; a letter from Theophilus to monks; a dialogue between Phausos and Timotheos with Horsiesius; a collection of works attributed to Agathonicos; and a Coptic recipe for the preparation of parchment". The text was formerly in the collection of Thomas Phillipps, and was published under this name.–

References

External links

Bodmer Papyri at Bodmer Lab - Digital scans of most of the Bodmer Papyri Papyrus Bodmer 8 at the Vatican Library Website Papyrus Bodmer 14+15 (XIV+XV Codex) at the Vatican Library Website Papyrus Bodmer 24 at the Museum of the Bible Website