The short answerWhat is this leaf?

This is a leaf of Papyrus 46 — the earliest substantial copy of the letters of the Apostle Paul, written around AD 200 — carrying almost the whole of Romans 12, Paul’s great turn from doctrine to daily life. The front opens on the closing doxology of chapter 11 (“for of him and through him and to him are all things”) and moves into the famous appeal: “present your bodies a living sacrifice… be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The back carries the practical heart of the chapter — “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep,” “repay no one evil for evil,” “overcome evil with good” — and turns the corner into Romans 13:1.

The leaf is well preserved down its middle, with the tear taking only the outer edge of the last few lines on each side. This page shows you exactly which letters survive and which are supplied — and two places where an ancient corrector went back over the text: a word he added above the line, and a spelling he tidied. It even preserves a distinctive early wording of Romans 13:1.

The featurePaul’s ethics, in the oldest hand

“A living sacrifice.” Romans 12 is where Paul pivots from eleven chapters of argument to how a changed life actually looks. Papyrus 46 lets us read that pivot in the oldest copy that survives — “present your bodies a living sacrifice… be transformed by the renewing of your mind… do not be conformed to this world.” From there it runs through the body with many members, gifts that differ, love without hypocrisy, blessing persecutors, weeping with those who weep, and the closing charge, “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Two scribes, caught in the act. This leaf shows the ordinary work of copying and correcting. At 12:1 the first scribe skipped the word “you” (ΥΜΑΣ) in “I urge you, brothers”; a corrector slotted it back in above the line. A few lines onto the back, at 12:16, the first hand wrote ΦΡΟΝΟΥΤΕΣ and a corrector tidied the spelling to ΦΡΟΝΟΥΝΤΕΣ. And at Romans 13:1 the leaf preserves a distinctive early wording — “be subject to all the governing authorities” — where most later copies read “let every soul be subject.”

Line by lineThe Greek exactly as it sits on the leaf

Transcribed from the INTF transcription (NTVMR, 𝔓46 folio 16) and shown in the majuscule capitals the scribe used, with the original line breaks. Sacred names keep their overline. The photograph sits beside each side so you can compare the letters directly.

Front — Romans 11:35–12:9 (“a living sacrifice”)

1ΠΟΔΟΘΗΣΕΤΑΙ ΑΥΤΩ ΟΤΙ ΔΙ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΕΞ ΑΥΤΟΥRom 11:35

2ΚΑΙ ΕΙΣ ΑΥΤΟΝ ΤΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΑΥΤΩ Η ΔΟΞΑ ΕΙΣ ΤΟΥΣ

3ΑΙΩΝΑΣ ΑΜΗΝ· ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΩ ΟΥΝ ΥΜΑΣ⌃ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΙ12:1

4ΔΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΟΙΚΤΕΙΡΜΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΘΥ ΠΑΡΑΣΤΗΣΑΙ ΤΑ

5ΣΩΜΑΤΑ ΥΜΩΝ ΘΥΣΙΑΝ ΖΩΣΑΝ ΑΓΙΑΝ

6ΕΥΑΡΕΣΤΟΝ ΘΩ ΤΗΝ ΛΟΓΙΚΗΝ ΛΑΤΡΕΙΑΝ ΥΜ[Ω]Ν

7ΚΑΙ ΜΗ ΣΥΝΣΧΗΜΑΤΙΖΕΣΘΕ ΤΩ ΑΙΩΝΙ ΤΟΥΤΩ2

8ΑΛΛΑ ΜΕΤΑΜΟΡΦΟΥΣΘΕ ΤΗ ΑΝΑΚΑΙΝΩΣΕΙ ΤΟΥ

9ΝΟΟΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΔΟΚΙΜΑΖΕΙΝ ΥΜΑΣ ΤΙ ΤΟ ΘΕΛΗΜΑ Τ[ΟΥ]

10ΘΥ ΤΟ ΑΓΑΘΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΑΡΕΣΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΕΛΕΙΟΝ

11ΛΕΓΩ ΓΑΡ ΔΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΤΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΔΟΘΕΙΣΗΣ ΜΟΙ Π[Α]Ν3

12ΤΙ ΤΩ ΟΝΤΙ ΕΝ ΥΜΕΙΝ ΜΗ ΥΠΕΡΦΡΟΝΕΙΝ ΠΑΡ [Ο]

13ΔΕΙ ΦΡΟΝΕΙΝ ΑΛΛΑ ΦΡΟΝΕΙΝ ΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΣΩΦΡΟΝΕΙΝ

14ΕΚΑΣΤΩ ΩΣ Ο ΘΣ ΕΜΕΡΙΣΕΝ ΜΕΤΡΟΝ ΠΙΣΤΕΩΣ4

15ΚΑΘΑΠΕΡ ΕΝ ΕΝΙ ΣΩΜΑΤΙ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΜΕΛΗ ΕΧΟΜΕΝ

16ΤΑ ΔΕ ΜΕΛΗ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΟΥ ΤΗΝ ΑΥΤΗΝ ΠΡΑΞΙΝ

17ΕΧΕΙ ΟΥΤΩΣ ΟΙ ΠΟΛΛΟΙ ΕΝ ΣΩΜΑ ΕΣΜΕΝ ΕΝ [ΧΩ]5

18ΤΟ ΔΕ ΚΑΤ ΙΣ ΑΛΛΗΛΩΝ ΜΕΛΗ ΕΧΟΝΤΕ[Σ ΔΕ]6

19ΧΑΡΙΣΜΑΤΑ ΚΑΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΤΗΝ ΔΟΘΕ[ΙΣΑΝ]

20ΗΜΕΙΝ ΔΙΑΦΟΡΑ ΕΙΤΕ ΠΡΟΦΗΤΕΙΑ ΚΑ[ΤΑ ΤΗΝ]

21ΑΝΑΛΟΓΙΑΝ ΤΗΣ ΠΙΣΤΕΩΣ ΕΙΤΕ ΔΙΑΚ[ΟΝΙΑΝ ΕΝ ΤΗ]7

22ΔΙΑΚΟΝΙΑ ΕΙΤΕ Ο ΔΙΔΑΣΚΩΝ ΕΝ Τ[Η ΔΙΔΑΣΚΑΛΙΑ]

23Ο ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΩΝ ΕΝ ΤΗ ΠΑΡΑΚΛΗΣΕΙ [Ο ΜΕΤΑΔΙΔΟΥΣ]8

24[Ε]Ν ΑΠΛΟΤΗΤΙ Ο ΠΡΟΙΣΤΑΜΕΝ[ΟΣ ΕΝ ΣΠΟΥΔΗ] [Η ΑΓΑ]9

25[ΠΗ ΑΝΥΠΟ]ΚΡΙΤΟΣ ΑΠ[ΟΣΤΥΓΟΥΝΤΕΣ ΤΟ ΠΟΝΗΡΟΝ]

Back — Romans 12:10–13:1 (“overcome evil with good”)

1ΜΕΝΟΙ ΤΗ ΣΠΟΥΔΗ ΜΗ ΟΚΝΗΡΟΙ ΤΩ ΠΝΙRom 12:11

2ΖΕΟΝΤΕΣ ΤΩ ΚΩ ΔΟΥΛΕΥΟΝΤΕΣ ΤΗ ΕΛΠΙΔΙ12

3ΧΑΙΡΟΝΤΕΣ ΤΗ ΘΛΕΙΨΕΙ ΥΠΟΜΕΝΟΝΤΕΣ

4ΤΗ ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΗ ΠΡΟΣΚΑΡΤΕΡΟΥΝΤΕΣ ΤΑΙΣ13

5ΧΡΕΙΑΙΣ ΤΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΥΝΤΕΣ ΤΗΝ

6ΦΙΛΟΞΕΝΙΑΝ ΔΙΩΚΟΝΤΕΣ ΕΥΛΟΓΕΙΤΕ14

7ΤΟΥΣ ΔΙΩΚΟΝΤΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΜΗ ΚΑΤΑΡΑΣΘΕ ΧΑΙΡΕΙΝ15

8ΜΕΤΑ ΧΑΙΡΟΝΤΩΝ ΚΛΑΙΕΙΝ ΜΕΤΑ ΚΛΑΙΟΝΤΩΝ

9ΤΟ ΑΥΤΟ ΕΙΣ ΑΛΛΗΛΟΥΣ ΦΡΟΝΟΥΤΕΣ ΜΗ ΤΑ ΥΨΗ16

10ΛΑ ΦΡΟΝΟΥΝΤΕΣ ΑΛΛΑ ΤΟΙΣ ΤΑΠΕΙΝΟΙΣ ΣΥΝ

11ΑΓΟΜΕΝΟΙ ΜΗ ΓΕΙΝΕΣΘΕ ΦΡΟΝΙΜΟΙ ΠΑΡ ΕΑΥ

12ΤΟΙΣ ΜΗΔΕΝΙ ΚΑΚΟΝ ΑΝΤΙ ΚΑΚΟΥ ΑΠΟΔΙΔΟΝ17

13ΤΕΣ ΠΡΟΝΟΟΥΜΕΝΟΙ ΚΑΛΑ ΕΝΩΠΙΟΝ ΤΩΝ ΑΝ

14ΘΡΩΠΩΝ ΕΙ ΔΥΝΑΤΟΝ ΤΟ ΕΞ ΥΜΩΝ ΜΕ18

15ΤΑ ΠΑΝΤΩΝ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΩΝ ΕΙΡΗΝΕΥΟΝΤΕΣ

16ΜΗ ΕΑΥΤΟΥΣ ΕΚΔΙΚΟΥΝΤΕΣ ΑΓΑΠΗΤΟΙ ΑΛΛΑ19

17ΔΟΤΕ ΤΟΠΟΝ ΤΗ ΟΡΓΗ ΓΕΓΡΑΠΤΑΙ ΓΑΡ ΕΜΟΙ

18ΕΚΔΙΚΗΣΙΣ ΕΓΩ ΑΝΤΑΠΟΔΩΣΩ ΛΕΓΕΙ ΚΣ

19[ΕΑΝ Π]ΕΙΝΑ Ο ΕΧΘΡΟΣ ΣΟΥ ΨΩΜΙΖΕ ΑΥΤΟΝ ΕΑΝ20

20[ΔΙΨΑ] ΠΟΤΙΖΕ ΑΥΤΟΝ ΤΟΥΤΟ ΔΕ ΠΟΙΩΝ ΑΝ

21[ΘΡΑΚΑΣ] ΠΥΡΟΣ ΣΩΡΕΥΣΕΙΣ ΕΠΙ ΤΗΝ ΚΕΦΑ

22[ΛΗΝ ΑΥΤΟΥ] ΜΗ ΝΕΙΚΩ ΥΠΟ ΤΟΥ ΚΑΚΟΥ ΑΛΛΑ21

23[ΝΕΙΚΑ ΕΝ ΤΩ] ΑΓΑΘΩ ΤΟ ΚΑΚΟΝ ΠΑΣΑΙΣ ΕΞΟΥ13:1

24[ΣΙΑΙΣ ΥΠΕΡΕΧΟΥ]ΣΑΙΣ ΥΠΟΤΑΣΣΕΣΘΕ ΟΥ ΓΑ[Ρ]

25[ΕΣΤΙΝ ΕΞΟΥΣΙΑ ΕΙ ΜΗ ΥΠΟ] [Θ]Υ ΑΙ ΔΕ [ΟΥΣΑΙ]

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. Words in a gold box appear (at least partly) on the fragment; grey words in [brackets] are supplied; the small raised word is the corrector’s addition.

For of him and through him are all things — Romans 11:35–12:1

Present your bodies a living sacrifice; be transformed — Romans 12:1–2

Think of yourself with sober judgment — Romans 12:3

One body, many members — in Christ — Romans 12:4–6

Gifts differing: prophecy, service, teaching, giving — Romans 12:6–9

Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord — Romans 12:11–13

Bless those who persecute; weep with those who weep — Romans 12:13–15

Be of the same mind; repay no one evil for evil — Romans 12:16–19

Vengeance is mine; feed your enemy — Romans 12:19–21

Overcome evil with good; be subject to the authorities — Romans 12:21–13:1

Reading the detailsTextual notes

The corrector’s added “you” (12:1). In “I urge you, brothers,” the first hand wrote the sentence without ΥΜΑΣ (“you”); a corrector inserted it above the line. We show it as a small raised word, the way it sits on the leaf.

A spelling tidied (12:16). At “be of the same mind,” the first hand wrote ΦΡΟΝΟΥΤΕΣ; a corrector emended it to the fuller ΦΡΟΝΟΥΝΤΕΣ. We show the surviving first-hand ink and note the correction — it is an emendation, not a deletion.

“All the governing authorities” (13:1). The leaf reads ΠΑΣΑΙΣ ΕΞΟΥΣΙΑΙΣ ΥΠΕΡΕΧΟΥΣΑΙΣ ΥΠΟΤΑΣΣΕΣΘΕ — “be subject to all the governing authorities” — a distinctive early wording where the majority text reads “let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.”

Everyday spellings. The scribe writes as he spoke — ΥΜΕΙΝ for ΥΜΙΝ, ΗΜΕΙΝ for ΗΜΙΝ, ΘΛΕΙΨΕΙ for ΘΛΙΨΕΙ, ΝΕΙΚΩ / ΝΕΙΚΑ for ΝΙΚΩ / ΝΙΚΑ — the ordinary phonetic spellings of the period.

The manuscriptAt a glance

Why it mattersThe chapter that turns belief into life

If the first eleven chapters of Romans are Paul’s deepest theology, chapter 12 is where he asks what it all means on a Tuesday: give yourself wholly, think of yourself soberly, use your gifts, love without pretending, bless the people who hurt you, and refuse to let evil have the last word. It is one of the most quoted ethical passages in the New Testament.

Papyrus 46 lets us read those words in the oldest copy that survives — complete with a scribe’s skipped word restored above the line, a spelling corrected, and an early wording of Romans 13:1 that later copies smoothed away.

ReferencesSources

• Transcription (surviving text): INTF transcription of 𝔓46, New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room, doc. ID 10046, folio 16 (Romans 11–13).
• Manuscript images: Chester Beatty Library, Dublin (P. Chester Beatty II); photographs from the Manuscript Shop listing.
• Editio princeps: F. G. Kenyon, The Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri, Fasciculus III: Pauline Epistles (London, 1936–37).
• 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.