I Know Where I Came From
One of the most beautifully written of all the early Gospel papyri — John 8:14–22, where Jesus testifies about himself in the temple. Reproduced at true scale on genuine Egyptian papyrus, both sides in screw-down acrylic.
Egypt
(calligraphic)
A perfect hand,
a bold claim.
This leaf carries Jesus in the temple treasury, testifying about himself: “I know where I came from and where I am going,” and the warning, “where I go, you cannot come.”
𝒫39 is celebrated for the quality of its writing — a large, upright, strikingly regular hand, a calligrapher's book rather than a working copy. Its text sits so close to the modern critical edition of John that scholars cite it as a witness to the earliest recoverable text.
From the evangelist's century to yours
I know where I came from
The two sides of the leaf, side by side.
John 8:14–18
“Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going.”
John 8:19–22
“Where I go, you can't come.”
Made by hand, made to order.
Catalogued as Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 1780, 𝒫39 is prized for its deluxe, calligraphic hand and for a text that agrees almost exactly with the modern critical edition — a careful, high-quality copy of John from around AD 200–250.
Common questions
Is the display stand included?
The stand is optional. Choose “Add the engraved stand” 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 worldwide.
“I know where I came from” —
on one of John's finest pages.
Museum-grade, made to order, and framed to be read from both sides.
