A New Number of the Beast

Oxford University | 4/16/05 | Ancient Authors

[STD]

The newest volume of Oxyrhynchus Papyri contains a fragmentary papyrus of Revelation which is the earliest known witness to some sections (late third / early fourth century). A detailed discussion of its place in the MS tradition is given in the printed volume. You will find images at 150dpi and 300dpi in the papyri section of this site, accessible from the main menu.

One feature of particular interest is the number that this papyrus assigns to the Beast: 616, rather than the usual 666. (665 is also found.) We knew that this variant existed: Irenaeus cites (and refutes) it. But this is the earliest instance that has so far been found. The number - chi, iota, stigma (hexakosiai deka hex) — is in the third line of the fragment shown below. But why does it matter what the number is? For that, we have to turn to ancient Greek ideas about numerology.

[STD]

Pretty wild to see new gospels and ancient manuscripts suddenly brought to life. More to follow!

[mikrofon]

616 was the old area code; with so many more souls in Hell now they had to allocate 666...

[Publius6961]

It might be nice if they mentioned what the "Oxyrhynchus Papyri " are...

[theDentist]

616. Michigan. That says so much!

What's funny is all those end-of-the-world Armegeddon-countdown-blues tomes that now have to re-written. LOL!

[muawiyah]

One item of great importance is that the date of writing for the Gospels can now be driven back well into the First Century AD.

The "number of the beast" may or may not be relevant. If it'd been "540k" we'd all been concerned.

[PAR35]

A detailed discussion of its place in the MS tradition is given in the printed volume. You will find images at 150dpi and 300dpi in the papyri section of this site, accessible from the main menu.

What site would that be. No link, no reference given.

[Alex Murphy]

One feature of particular interest is the number that this papyrus assigns to the Beast: 616, rather than the usual 666. (665 is also found.)

[Dr. Eckleburg]

LOL. He's gonna need a bigger hose.

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 4/16/2005. Thanks STD.

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