Washington Manuscript IV, Epistles of Paul

What it is

This is a parchment manuscript made in Egypt in the 6th century, containing copies of the epistles written by Paul. It survives as fragmentary leaves, now held by the Freer Gallery of Art.

The leaves are written in Greek uncial script, the formal style of lettering used by scribes copying religious texts in that period.

Why it matters

Although made centuries after Paul's lifetime, this manuscript preserves his words through a long chain of copying that let his letters reach later generations. It shows how early Christian communities valued and preserved his writings, and gives historians a rare physical trace of how his texts were transmitted.

Look closer

• What does the damage to the parchment tell you about how old and fragile this object is?
• Why might scribes in Egypt have taken the effort to copy Paul's letters by hand?
• What is missing from this fragment that a complete letter would include?