The Textual Evidence

A. Greek Mauscripts: papyri

86 found — p¹ – p⁸⁶

p⁵² approx 125 AD (fragment of John)

p⁶⁶ approx 200 AD (part of John)

B. Uncials (=all capital letters, no spaces)

270 found

referred to by latin or Greek letters, or numbered 0270

B – Vaticanus (missing Genesis, pastorals & Revelation) approx 350

A – Siniaitucus (rescued from fire) dated approx 350, complete with LXX and Barnabas & Hermas. An unusually high number of copying errors

C. Minuscules (=all small letters)

2793 found

referred to by number

began around 9^th century

D. Lectionaries (Pre-arranged readings for a whole year)

from 6^th century l1-l2000

E. Versions (translations)

100’s in many languages

5 different versions in Syriac

some into old latin

Coptic (Egyptian)

Armenian, Gothic, Slavic etc.

F. Patristic Quotations

in commentaries, sermons, treatises, letters

If we had no other source we could reconstruct virtually the entire NT. But unfortunately they were often not very careful how they quoted and it seems to be from memory.