Papyrus 𝒫2 · Bilingual

Two Tongues, One Leaf

Papyrus 2 — John 12:12–15 (Greek) & Luke 7 (Coptic)

A rare bilingual leaf — John's triumphal entry in Greek on one side, Luke in Coptic on the other. Reproduced at true scale on genuine Egyptian papyrus, both sides in screw-down acrylic.

$149USDWith display stand
✓ Made to order  ·  ✓ Ships to the US, UK, Canada & Australia  ·  ✓ 30-day guarantee
Replicated on genuine Egyptian papyrus
Greek & Coptic, both sides in acrylic
True-scale, museum-grade replica
Made to order by hand
Read the translation & transcription →
Date
AD 500–600
Scripture
John 12:12–15 (Greek)
Luke 7 (Coptic)
Discovered
Egypt
Held at
Museo Arch.
Nazionale, Florence
Papyrus 2 (𝒫2) John 12:12–15 | Floating Acrylic Frame
The story on the leaf

One page, two languages,
one church.

This leaf carries two Gospels in two tongues. On the recto, in Greek, is John's account of the triumphal entry — the palm branches, the crowd's cry of “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” On the verso, in Coptic, is Luke's answer to John the Baptist: the blind see, the lame walk, the poor have good news preached to them.

𝒫2 is a rare bilingual New Testament witness — a physical record of how early Christian communities in Egypt adapted Scripture for worship across the languages they actually spoke. Greek for the wider church, Coptic for the people at home. Held before you, it is a small monument to a faith crossing borders, one leaf carrying two worlds.

“One leaf, two languages — the record of a faith crossing borders in the churches of Egypt.”
How old is it, really?

From the apostle's century to yours

c. AD 90–100
The Gospel of John is written in Greek.
c. AD 500–600
This leaf is copied in Egypt — Greek on one side, Coptic on the other.
Modern era
Excavated in Egypt; catalogued among the papyri of Florence.
Today
Held at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Florence — reproduced at true scale for your shelf.
What's written on it

The triumphal entry — in two languages

A rare bilingual leaf: John's Greek on one side, Luke in Coptic on the other.

Greek · recto

John 12:13

“…took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Coptic · verso

Luke 7:22

“…the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Text: World English Bible (public domain).  ·  See the full interlinear transcription →
About this replica

Made by hand, made to order.

01
Genuine Egyptian papyrus
Not paper or print stock — genuine papyrus, the same material the original was written on.
02
4×6 screw-down acrylic
Greek recto and Coptic verso both visible at once, the leaf held between two panes and secured with four bolts.
03
A multi-week replication process
Scale, layout, line spacing and both scripts — Greek and Coptic — are matched by hand, every piece made to order.
04
Two languages, on your shelf
A true-scale reproduction of a rare bilingual leaf from the churches of Egypt.
Papyrus 2 (𝒫2) John 12:12–15 | Floating Acrylic Frame
Why scholars keep coming back to it
A rare bilingual witness — Greek and Coptic on a single leaf — showing how the early Egyptian church carried Scripture across languages.

𝒫2 preserves John 12 in Greek on the recto and Luke 7 in Coptic on the verso. Bilingual New Testament manuscripts are uncommon, and this one is a vivid record of how early Christian communities adapted Scripture for worship in more than one tongue.

Good to know

Common questions

Is the display stand included?

The stand is optional. Choose “Add display stand” (+$10) to have it shown upright as in the photos, or “Replica only” for the framed piece on its own.

Is it really made on papyrus?

Yes — every replica is reproduced on genuine Egyptian papyrus, then set by hand in a front-and-back screw-down acrylic display so both sides are visible.

How long does it take to ship?

Each piece is made to order through a multi-week hand-replication process. Your exact timeline is shown at checkout, and we ship to the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

Can I see the text translated?

Yes — every leaf has a companion reading page with a full interlinear transcription and translation, letter by letter.

Hold the evidence

Two languages, one leaf —
on your shelf.

Museum-grade, made to order, and framed to be read from both sides.

From $139 USD
✓ Made to order · ✓ Ships to the US, UK, Canada & Australia · ✓ 30-day guarantee
Two Tongues, One Leafmade to order
$149