fragments · dates · physical evidence

Bible fragments timeline: claims beside the surviving evidence

This is the page for seeing how the Bible's books connect to actual surviving objects: traditional dating claims, scholarly date ranges, early fragments, complete codices, and discovery notes in one view.

books mapped

early fragmentary witnesses

625 BC

oldest object in this dataset

Composition windows

Amber bands show the traditional date range. The thinner dark band appears when the data includes a scholarly range.

Surviving objects

Dots are manuscripts, fragments, inscriptions, scrolls, or codices. A dot is evidence for a surviving copy, not the original autograph.

Discovery notes

Cards on the right show the first witness, first complete copy when known, and where the object was found or catalogued.

1500 BC

1000 BC

500 BC

AD 0

AD 500

1000

Genesis

Moses

First witness: 4Q Genesis Fragments (150 BC – 25 BC (~50 BC))

Found/catalogued: 1952, Qumran Cave 4

Complete copy: Leningrad Codex

Exodus

Moses

First witness: Nash Papyrus (150 BC – 100 BC (~125 BC))

Found/catalogued: 1898, Egypt

Complete copy: Leningrad Codex

Numbers

Moses

First witness: Ketef Hinnom Silver Scrolls (650 BC – 587 BC (~625 BC))

Found/catalogued: 1979, Ketef Hinnom (Jerusalem)

Complete copy: Leningrad Codex

Deuteronomy

Moses

First witness: Papyrus Rylands 458 (150 BC – 100 BC (~125 BC))

Found/catalogued: Egypt, 2nd century BCE deposit

Complete copy: Leningrad Codex

Psalms

David (and others)

First witness: Great Psalms Scroll (AD 1 – AD 68 (~AD 50))

Found/catalogued: 1956, Qumran Cave 11

Complete copy: Leningrad Codex

Isaiah

Isaiah ben Amoz

First witness: Great Isaiah Scroll (150 BC – 100 BC (~125 BC))

Found/catalogued: 1947, Qumran Cave 1

Complete copy: Great Isaiah Scroll

Matthew

Matthew the apostle (tax collector)

First witness: Papyrus P45 (Chester Beatty I) (AD 200 – AD 250 (~AD 225))

Found/catalogued: c. 1930, Egypt

Complete copy: Codex Sinaiticus

Mark

John Mark, companion of Peter

First witness: Papyrus P45 (Chester Beatty I) (AD 200 – AD 250 (~AD 225))

Found/catalogued: c. 1930, Egypt

Complete copy: Codex Sinaiticus

Luke

Luke, companion of Paul

First witness: Papyrus P75 (Bodmer XIV-XV) (AD 175 – AD 225 (~AD 200))

Found/catalogued: c. 1952, Egypt

Complete copy: Codex Sinaiticus

John

John the apostle

First witness: Papyrus P52 (Rylands Library Papyrus P52) (AD 100 – AD 200 (~AD 150))

Found/catalogued: 1920 (acquired); identified 1934 by C.H. Roberts

Complete copy: Codex Sinaiticus

Romans

Paul

First witness: Papyrus P46 (Chester Beatty II) (AD 175 – AD 225 (~AD 200))

Found/catalogued: Egypt, c. 1930

Complete copy: Codex Sinaiticus

Revelation

John (apostle, in tradition; 'John of Patmos' in the text)

First witness: Papyrus P98 (AD 150 – AD 200 (~AD 175))

Complete copy: Codex Sinaiticus

traditional composition windowscholarly range when presentfragment, papyrus, scroll, or inscriptioncodex or larger manuscriptearliest complete copy marker

Catalogue

Open the manuscript records

Each witness links to contents, dating method, location, discovery notes, notable readings, and source trails.

Gospel evidence

Map the four Gospels against the witnesses

See authorship tradition, dating range, earliest witnesses, major textual issues, and the bridge to Gospel Compare.