The short answerWhat is this leaf?

This is the first leaf of Papyrus 1 — among the earliest surviving copies of the Gospel of Matthew, written in the third century and dug from the sands of Oxyrhynchus in Egypt. On these two pages you can read the very first words of the New Testament in nearly their oldest form: ΒΙΒΛΟΣ ΓΕΝΕΣΕΩΣ — “the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” — the long roll-call of names from Abraham down to Joseph, the famous count of fourteen generations, and the beginning of the account of the birth of Jesus.

The leaf is torn along its edges, so part of every line is lost. This page shows you exactly which letters are real ink on the papyrus and which are supplied by scholars from the known text of Matthew — so you can read your replica precisely, and see the sacred names and the numeral 14 written the way the scribe actually wrote them.

The feature“Asaph,” and the fourteen generations

A famous reading. In verse 8, where nearly every English Bible reads that Abijah was the father of “Asa” — the king of Judah — this leaf plainly reads ΑΣΑΦ, “Asaph,” the name of the psalmist. P1 is one of the oldest and most important witnesses to this reading, and modern critical editions of the Greek New Testament print “Asaph” largely on its authority. You can see the letters for yourself in the line-by-line transcription below.

Fourteen, fourteen, fourteen. Matthew arranges the whole genealogy into three sets of fourteen generations, and on the back of this leaf the scribe writes that number three times — not as a word but as letters under a bar: ΙΔ, iota (10) + delta (4) = 14. It is the same kind of bar the scribe draws over the sacred names, and you can spot all three on your replica.

Line by lineThe Greek exactly as it sits on the leaf

Transcribed from the INTF transcription (NTVMR, 𝔓1 folio 1) and shown in the majuscule capitals the scribe used, with the original line breaks. Sacred names and numbers keep their overline. The photograph sits beside each side so you can compare the letters directly.

Front — Matthew 1:1–9, 12 (Abraham to Uzziah; after the exile)

1ΒΙΒΛΟΣ ΓΕΝΕΣΕΩΣ ΙΥ ΧΥ ΥΥ ΔΑΥΙΔ [ΥΙΟΥ]Matt 1:1

2ΑΒΡΑΑΜ ΑΒΡΑΑΜ ΕΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ [ΙΣΑΑΚ]1:2

3ΙΣΑΑΚ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΓΓΗΣΕΝ Τ[ΟΝ] ΙΑΚΩΒ [ΙΑΚΩΒ]

4ΔΕ ΕΓ[Ε]ΓΓΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΙΟΥΔΑΝ Κ[Α]Ι Τ[ΟΥΣ]

5Α[Δ]ΕΛΦΟΥΣ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΙΟΥΔΑΣ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΓΓΗ1:3

6ΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΦΑΡΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΝ ΖΑΡΕ ΕΚ ΤΗΣ ΘΑ

7ΜΑΡ ΦΑΡΕΣ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΕΣΡΩΜ

8ΕΣ[ΡΩ]Μ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ [Α]Ρ[Α]Μ [ΑΡΑΜ]1:4

9ΔΕ [Ε]ΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΑΜΜΙΝΑΔΑΒ ΑΜ

10Μ[Ι]ΝΑ[ΔΑ]Β ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΝΑΑΣΣΩΝ

11ΝΑΑ[Σ]ΣΩΝ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΣΑΛ[ΜΩ]Ν

12ΣΑΛΜΩΝ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝΝ[Η]ΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΒΟΕΣ [ΕΚ]1:5

13ΤΗΣ ΡΑΧΑΒ ΒΟΕΣ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ Ι

14ΩΒΗΔ ΕΚ ΤΗΣ Ρ[Ο]ΥΘ ΙΩ[ΒΗ]Δ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝΝΗ

15ΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΙΕΣΣΑΙ ΙΕΣ[ΣΑΙ] ΔΕ ΕΓΕΓΓΗΣΕΝ

16ΤΟΝ ΔΑΥΙΔ ΤΟΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕ[Α ΔΑΥ]ΙΔ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝ1:6

17ΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝΑ ΕΚ ΤΗΣ ΟΥΡΕΙΟΥ ΣΟ1:7

18ΛΟΜΩΝ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝΝΗ[Σ]ΕΝ ΤΟΝ [Ρ]ΟΒΟΑΜ ΡΟΒΟ

19ΑΜ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ [ΤΟ]Ν ΑΒ[ΕΙ]Α ΑΒΕΙΑ ΔΕ

20ΕΓΕΓΓΗΣΕΝ [Τ]ΟΝ ΑΣΑ[Φ] [ΑΣΑ]Φ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝ1:8

21ΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΙΩΣΑΦΑΤ [ΙΩΣΑ]ΦΑΤ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝ

22Ν[Η]ΣΕ[Ν] ΤΟΝ ΙΩΡΑΜ ΙΩΡΑΜ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΓΝ[ΗΣΕΝ]

23[ΤΟΝ] ΟΖΕ[Ι]ΑΝ ΟΖΕΙΑΣ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΓ[ΝΗΣΕΝ]1:9

24[ΜΕΤΑ ΔΕ ΤΗΝ] ΜΕ1:12

25[ΤΟΙΚΕΣΙΑΝ ΒΑΒΥΛΩΝΟΣ ΙΕΧΟΝΙ]ΑΣ ΕΓΕΝ

26[ΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΣΑΛΑΘΙΗΛ ΣΑΛΑΘΙΗΛ ΔΕ ΕΓΕ]Ν

27[ΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΖΟΡΟΒΑΒΕΛ] [ΖΟΡΟΒΑΒΕΛ Δ]Ε1:13

Back — Matthew 1:14–20 (Zadok to Joseph; the birth of Jesus)

1[ΤΟΝ Σ]ΑΔΩ[Κ Σ]ΑΔΩΚ ΔΕ ΕΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟ[Ν]Matt 1:14

2[ΑΧΕΙΜ] ΑΧΕΙΜ ΔΕ ΕΓΕ[Ν]ΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΕΛΙΟΥ[Δ]1:15

3[ΕΛΙΟΥ]Δ ΔΕ ΕΓ[ΕΝ]ΝΗ[Σ]Ε[Ν] ΤΟΝ ΕΛΕΑΖΑΡ ΕΛΕ

4[ΑΖ]ΑΡ [ΔΕ ΕΓ]ΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ [ΤΟ]Ν ΜΑΘΘΑΝ ΜΑΘΘΑ[Ν]1:16

5ΔΕ ΕΓΕΓΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ [Ι]ΑΚΩΒ ΙΑΚΩΒ ΔΕ

6[ΕΓ]ΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ ΤΟΝ ΙΩΣΗΦ ΤΟΝ ΑΝΔΡΑ Μ[Α]

7ΡΙΑΣ [Ε]Ξ ΗΣ ΕΓΕΝΝ[ΗΘ]Η ΙΣ Ο ΛΕΓΟΜΕΝΟ[Σ] [ΧΣ]

8Π[ΑΣ]ΑΙ ΟΥΝ ΓΕ[ΝΕ]ΑΙ ΑΠΟ ΑΒΡΑΑΜ ΕΩΣ1:17

9ΔΑΥΙΔ ΓΕΝΕΑΙ ΙΔ ΚΑΙ ΑΠΟ [ΔΑΥΙΔ ΕΩΣ ΤΗΣ]

10ΜΕΤΟΙΚΕΣΙΑΣ ΒΑΒΥΛΩΝΟ[Σ] ΓΕ[ΝΕΑΙ] ΙΔ ΚΑ[Ι]

11ΑΠΟ ΤΗΣ ΜΕΤ[ΟΙ]ΚΕΣΙΑΣ ΒΑΒ[Υ]ΛΩΝ[Ο]Σ ΕΩΣ

12ΤΟΥ ΧΥ ΓΕΝΕΑΙ ΙΔ ΤΟΥ ΔΕ ΙΥ ΧΥ Η ΓΕΝΕ1:18

13ΣΙΣ ΟΥΤΩΣ ΗΝ ΜΝΗΣΤΕΥΘΕΙΣΗΣ ΤΗΣ ΜΗ

14ΤΡΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΥ Μ[ΑΡΙ]Α[Σ] ΤΩ [ΙΩ]ΣΗΦ ΠΡΙΝ Η ΣΥΝ

15[Ε]ΛΘΕ[Ι]Ν ΑΥ[ΤΟ]Υ[Σ] ΕΥΡΕ[ΘΗ] ΕΝ ΓΑΣΤΡΙ ΕΧΟΥ

16ΣΑ Ε[Κ] [ΠΝΣ] [ΑΓΙΟΥ] [ΙΩΣΗΦ ΔΕ Ο] ΑΝΗΡ ΑΥ1:19

17ΤΗΣ [ΔΙΚΑΙ]ΟΣ ΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΜΗ ΘΕΛΩΝ ΑΥΤΗΝ

18ΔΕΙΓΜΑ[Τ]Ε[ΙΣΑΙ ΕΒΟΥΛΗ]ΘΗ [ΛΑΘΡΑ]

19[Α]ΠΟΛΥ[ΣΑΙ ΑΥ]Τ[Η]Ν [Τ]ΑΥΤΑ [ΔΕ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΕΝ]1:20

20[Θ]ΥΜΗ[ΘΕΝΤΟΣ Ι]ΔΟΥ Α[ΓΓΕΛΟΣ ΚΥ ΚΑΤ]

21[Ο] ΓΑΡ [ΕΦΑΝΗ ΑΥ]ΤΩ [ΛΕΓΩΝ] ΙΩΣ[ΗΦ]

22[ΥΙΟΣ ΔΑΥΙΔ] Μ[Η] ΦΟ[ΒΗΘΗ]Σ ΠΑΡ[ΑΛΑΒ]ΕΙΝ

23[Μ]ΑΡΙΑ[Ν ΤΗΝ ΓΥ]ΝΑΙ[ΚΑ ΣΟΥ] ΤΟ [ΓΑΡ ΕΝ ΑΥ]

24[ΤΗ ΓΕΝ]ΝΗΘΕΝ Ε[Κ] ΠΝΣ [ΕΣΤΙΝ ΑΓΙΟΥ]

Word by wordRead it, sound it out, and see the meaning

The whole leaf, word by word: the Greek on the leaf, a transliteration to sound it out, and a word-for-word English gloss, with the smooth translation after each passage. Sacred names and numbers carry the scribe’s overline; their meaning is in the gloss. Words in a gold box appear (at least partly) on the fragment; grey words in [brackets] are supplied.

The book of the genealogy — Matthew 1:1

Abraham to Judah — Matthew 1:2

Judah to Hezron — Matthew 1:3

Hezron to Nahshon — Matthew 1:4

Nahshon to David — Matthew 1:5–6

Jesse and David the king, to Asaph — Matthew 1:6–8

Asaph to Uzziah — Matthew 1:8–9

After the exile: Jeconiah to Zerubbabel — Matthew 1:12–13

Zadok to Matthan — Matthew 1:14–15

Matthan, Jacob, and Joseph — the husband of Mary — Matthew 1:16

Fourteen generations — Matthew 1:17

The birth of Jesus Christ — Matthew 1:18–19

An angel appears to Joseph — Matthew 1:20

Reading the detailsTextual notes

“Asaph” for “Asa” (1:7–8). P1 reads ΑΣΑΦ where the Hebrew Scriptures — and most later Greek manuscripts — have the king Asa. Whether Matthew himself wrote “Asaph” (perhaps by design, perhaps a very early slip) is debated, but the reading is old and well attested, and P1 is a leading witness to it. The modern Nestle–Aland and UBS critical texts print “Asaph” here.

The scribe’s spelling of “begat.” The Greek word for “became the father of” is ΕΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΝ. Several times the scribe writes it with a doubled gamma — ΕΓΕΓΓΗΣΕΝ, ΕΓΕΓΝΗΣΕΝ — an ordinary phonetic slip of the period. We have transcribed exactly what appears on the leaf; the meaning is unchanged.

Names spelled by ear. The scribe uses the everyday Greek forms of Old Testament names: ΒΟΕΣ for Boaz, ΙΩΒΗΔ for Obed, ΟΖΕΙΑΝ for Uzziah, ΟΥΡΕΙΟΥ for Uriah — spellings shaped by how the words sounded in third-century Egypt.

Nomina sacra and the numeral 14. The sacred names are contracted and overlined throughout — ΙΥ/ΙΣ (Jesus), ΧΥ/ΧΣ (Christ), ΥΥ (son), ΠΝΣ (Spirit), and, where supplied, ΚΥ (Lord) and ΘΣ (God). The number fourteen is written ΙΔ under the same kind of bar.

The manuscriptAt a glance

Why it mattersThe first page of the New Testament, at the source

Matthew stands first in the New Testament, and its opening genealogy is the doorway to the whole book — tying Jesus to Abraham, to David, and to the entire story of Israel. Papyrus 1 lets us read that doorway in a copy made only a century or so after Matthew was written, long before the great parchment Bibles of the fourth century.

Its text is remarkably close to Codex Vaticanus, one of the finest later manuscripts, which tells scholars that this careful strand of the tradition was already in place very early. And in at least one famous spot — “Asaph” — this little leaf preserves a reading that shapes how the modern Greek New Testament is printed to this day.

ReferencesSources

• Transcription (surviving text): INTF transcription of 𝔓1, New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room, doc. ID 10001, folio 1 (Matthew 1).
• Manuscript images: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology (E 2746); photographs from the Manuscript Shop listing.
• Editio princeps: B. P. Grenfell & A. S. Hunt, The Oxyrhynchus Papyri, Part I (London, 1898), no. 2.
• Text & significance: Nestle–Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece; K. Aland & B. Aland, The Text of the New Testament.
• Word-for-word glosses follow standard tagged Greek New Testament data (STEP Bible, Tyndale House; Berean Interlinear).
• Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain), ebible.org.