Standard abbreviation: P. Oxy. 4009
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 667; CANT 13 (under Gospel of Peter)
VIAF: 173979407
Category: Agrapha and Fragments
Related literature: 2 Clement 5:2–4, Gospel of Peter, Papyrus Oxyrhnchus 2949, Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 5575, Egerton Gospel, Fayyum Fragment.
Compiled by Mark G. Bilby (independent scholar)
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Bilby, Mark G. “Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 4009.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/gospel-of-peter/.
Created February 2025.
1. SUMMARY
P.Oxy. 4009 is a single folio papyrus fragment with text on both recto and verso sides. On the recto is found a version of a saying by Jesus which attests the following words: “harvest,” “innocent” (possibly), “doves” (possibly), “wise,” and “wolves.” These may have parallels in the so-called double tradition (esp. Matt 10:16 // Luke 10:2–3 // Gos.Thom. 39 // 2 Clem. 5.2). Just below follows vestiges of words that may run closest to 2 Clem 5.3–4 (cp. Luke 12:4–5 // Matt 10:28), about wolves not being able “to do” anything else after killing a sheep. This saying is introduced by the explicit formula, “he says to me,” which Lührmann proposes as an indication of Peter speaking as first person narrator, and on that basis, for this fragment being a witness to the Gospel of Peter.
The verso side is even more fragmentary, with possible attestations to a form of the verbs “to trouble” and “to forgive,” as well as the noun “name,” but otherwise only commonplace conjunctions. Myllykoski has proposed an extensive reconstruction that runs parallel to Luke 7:45–50, a reconstruction met with skepticism by other scholars.
2. RESOURCES
2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Resources
“Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 4009.” Wikipedia.
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
Oxford, Sackler Library, Papyrology Rooms, P. Oxy. 4009 (2nd/3rd cent.) ~ IMAGES
Bernard, Andrew E. Other Early Christian Gospels: A Critical Edition of the Surviving Greek Manuscripts. London: Clark, 2006 (pp. 54–55).
Blumell, Lincoln, and Thomas A. Wayment. Christian Oxyrhynchus: Texts, Documents, and Sources. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2015 (pp. 201–205).
Ehrman, Bart D. and Zlatko Pleše. The Apocryphal Gospels: Texts and Translations. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011 (text and English translation, pp. 289–98).
Foster, Paul. The Gospel of Peter. Edited by Stanley E. Porter and Wendy J. Porter. TENTS 4. Leiden: Brill, 2010 (diplomatic edition p. 208).
Kraus, Thomas and Tobias Nicklas. Das Petrusevangelium und die Petrusapokalypse. Berlin and New York: de Gruyter, 2004 (pp. 60–61).
Lührmann, Dieter. “POx 4009: Ein neues Fragment des Petrusevangeliums?” NovT 35 (1993): 390–410.
Lührmann, Dieter and Peter J. Parsons. “4009: Gospel of Peter?” Pages 1–5 in The Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Edited by Robert A. Coles. Vol. 60. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1993.
Wayment, Thomas A. The Text of the New Testament Apocrypha (100–400 CE). London and New York: T&T Clark, 2013 (pp. 49–50 with images on pages 253–54).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Ehrman, Bart D., and Zlatko Pleše. The Apocryphal Gospels: Texts and Translations. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011 (English translation of recto only, pp. 289–98).
Foster, Paul. The Gospel of Peter. Edited by Stanley E. Porter and Wendy J. Porter. TENTS 4. Leiden: Brill, 2010 (p. 208).
Kraus, Thomas and Tobias Nicklas. Das Petrusevangelium und die Petrusapokalypse. Berlin and New York: de Gruyter, 2004 (English translation of recto only, p. 62).
3.2.2 German
Kraus, Thomas and Tobias Nicklas. Das Petrusevangelium und die Petrusapokalypse. Berlin and New York: de Gruyter, 2004 (translation of recto only, p. 62).
Lührmann, Dieter. “POx 4009: Ein neues Fragment des Petrusevangeliums?” NovT 35 (1993): 390–410.
Lührmann, Dieter and Peter J. Parsons. “4009: Gospel of Peter?” Pages 1–5 in The Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Edited by Robert A. Coles. Vol. 60. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1993.
3.3 General Works
Foster, Paul. “Are there any Early Fragments of the so-called Gospel of Peter?” NTS 52 (2006): 1–28.
____________. “The Disputed Early Fragments of the so-called Gospel of Peter – Once Again.” NovT 49 (2007): 402–406.
Kraus, Thomas and Tobias Nicklas. Das Petrusevangelium und die Petrusapokalypse. Berlin and New York: de Gruyter, 2004 (pp. 59–63).
Myllykoski, Matti. “The Sinful Woman in the Gospel of Peter: Reconstructing the Other Side of P.Oxy. 4009.” NTS 55 (2009): 105–15.
____________. “Tears of Repentance or Tears of Gratitude? P.Oxy. 4009, the Gospel of Peter and the Western Text of Luke 7.45–49.” NTS 55 (2009): 380–89.
Nongbri, Brent. “P.Oxy. 87.5575 and P.Oxy. 60.4009: The Same Copyist.” Variant Readings. Posted 30 September 2023. Online: https://brentnongbri.com/2023/09/30/p-oxy-87-5575-and-p-oxy-60-4009-the-same-copyist/.
Schlarb, Egbert, and Dieter Lührmann. Fragmente apokryph gewordener Evangelien in griechischer und lateinischer Sprache. Marburger theologische Studien 59. Marburg: N.G. Elwert Verlag, 2000 (pp. 73, 78–79).