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Manuscript

Papyrus Bodmer XIV–XV (P75)

Also known as P75 · 𝔓75 · Hanna Papyrus 1 (Mater Verbi) · P. Bodmer XIV–XV
papyrinew-testamentgospelstextual-criticism

Summary

Luke and John in one early codex. Its text runs very close to Codex Vaticanus, which shows that the text Vaticanus carries was already in circulation well before Vaticanus was written.

  • Copied c. AD 175–350 — contested. Martin & Kasser: c. 175–225. Turner: c. 225–275. Orsini & Clarysse (2012): 200–250. Nongbri (2016): c. 350..
  • Written in greek on papyrus.
  • Kept at Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Hanna Papyrus 1, Mater Verbi).
  • Contains Luke 3:18–24:53, John 1–15.
  • Named in 3 of the places your Bible carries a footnote.
A papyrus page of Luke's Gospel in a neat Greek book hand
Papyrus Bodmer XIV–XV at Luke 14: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, public domain

Sources (3)

  1. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Hanna Papyrus 1 (Papyrus Bodmer XIV–XV) · accessed 2026-08-06The holding institution's own imaging.
  2. S. J. Voicu, "Notes on the History, Contents and Purpose of the Papyrus Bodmer XIV–XV" (Vatican Library) · accessed 2026-08-06The Vatican Library's own account of the acquisition.
  3. Metzger & Ehrman, The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration, 4th ed. (Oxford University Press, 2005) · accessed 2026-08-06The standard handbook of New Testament textual criticism.

What it is

It carries Luke 3:18–24:53 and John 1–15, extensively preserved.

In 2007 the Bodmer library sold it; the Hanna family and the Solidarity Foundation gave it to the Vatican Library, which renamed it Hanna Papyrus 1 (Mater Verbi). Modern writing may use either name.

Its date is argued about as sharply as P66's: the first editors said c. AD 175–225, Eric Turner c. 225–275, Orsini and Clarysse 200–250, Orsini later c. 250–325, and Nongbri argues for around AD 350 on both handwriting and bookmaking grounds.

Manuscript details
Date
c. AD 175–350 — contested. Martin & Kasser: c. 175–225. Turner: c. 225–275. Orsini & Clarysse (2012): 200–250. Nongbri (2016): c. 350.
Language
Greek
Script
Greek book hand (uncial)
Material
Papyrus
Held at
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Hanna Papyrus 1, Mater Verbi)
Found at
Egypt; part of the Bodmer papyri; given to the Vatican Library in March 2007
Contains
Luke 3:18–24:53 · John 1–15
Why it matters
Its text agrees closely with Codex Vaticanus, which settled a long argument: Vaticanus is copying an older text faithfully rather than presenting a fourth-century editor's clean-up. One honest qualification — if Nongbri's later date holds, the gap between the two narrows and that argument loses some of its force.

Where this witness is read

The words used here: uncial, papyrus, codex
uncial
a book hand of Greek capital letters, used for the oldest whole Bibles.
papyrus
paper made from reed, the cheap writing material of Egypt.
codex
a book with leaves and a spine, the form that replaced the scroll.

The KJV and the ASV translate the Hebrew Masoretic Text. Where Papyrus Bodmer XIV–XV (P75) reads differently, the footnote in your Bible is pointing here.

Where the manuscripts differ, all 15 places →Every handwritten copy, shelved and in date order →
Papyrus Bodmer XIV–XV (P75) — MannaFest