PAPYRUS P47 – 𝔓⁴⁷
Dated to the early 3rd century AD (200-250 AD).
Language: Greek. The manuscript is quite fragmented.
This recreation contains the text of Revelation 11:13-19 Probably discovered in Faiyum, Egypt. It is housed in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, Ireland. 𝔓⁴⁷, is a codex (precursor to the modern book), written on papyrus, which contains the text of chapters 9 to 17 of the Book of Revelation.
This manuscript provides a snapshot of the transmission of Revelation’s text during a time when Christianity was spreading amidst opposition and doctrinal disputes. P47 is part of the Chester Beatty Papyri collection and represents one of the oldest surviving witnesses to Revelation, bridging the gap between earlier fragmentary evidence and later complete codices like Codex Sinaiticus (א).
This manuscript contains portions of Revelation 9:10–11:3; 11:5–16:15; and 16:17–17:2, encompassing a significant segment of the apocalyptic visions. Its textual affinities, particularly with Codex Sinaiticus, make it invaluable for reconstructing the original wording of Revelation. Additionally, the physical characteristics and scribal habits observed in P47 provide insights into the manuscript production and textual preservation practices of early Christians.
Revelation 11: 13-19
13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings,4 peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
