Papyrus P62: Matthew 11:25–27 in a Greek–Coptic Witness

The ancient findspot and excavation circumstances are not securely documented in the consulted collection records. The manuscript belongs to the University of Oslo Library's papyrus collection as P. Osloensis 1661 and was published by Leiv Amundsen in 1945 among Christian papyri from Oslo. Modern Oslo collection descriptions call it a miniature New Testament codex, while specialized databases classify it more cautiously as biblical with possible liturgical or applied-magical functions. The absence of an archaeological context prevents identification with a particular church, monastery, owner, or ritual setting.

The fragments are exceptionally small: the repertory gives approximately 6.5 by 5.6 centimeters, with only one to four lines surviving per fragment and an estimated seven lines per miniature page. Greek Matthew occupies lines 1–62, the Akhmimic Coptic version lines 63–111, and Greek Daniel lines 116–171. A bilingual title to Matthew survives in unusual spelling. The sequence is excerpted rather than a normal full Gospel page. Its codex construction and tiny scale matter for interpretation, since portability may fit private devotion or ritual handling, although physical size alone cannot prove use as an amulet.

P62 is generally assigned to the fourth century through palaeographic comparison. There is no explicit date or scientific measurement. Akhmimic Coptic localizes its translation history more narrowly than the undocumented findspot, connecting the manuscript to Upper Egyptian language culture. The Greek-and-Coptic presentation shows that the same passage could be transmitted across linguistic communities or used by bilingual readers. Its combination of Matthew and Daniel belongs to a culture of selected biblical texts, but whether the booklet served reading, memorization, liturgy, prayer, protection, or consultation remains unresolved.