1781. THEOLOGICAL FRAGMENTS

period between A. D. 200 and 300 (Part II, p. 2), and there is no reason to question that attribution, though the codex is perhaps more likely to date from the second half of the century than the first. With regard to the corrections and additions, which are in a small but very similar hand, the further specimens now available rather suggest that these are due to a diorthotes corrector rather than to the original scribe, though they must in any case be practically contemporary.

In consideration of the interesting character of the text of 208, the recovery of a further fragment of this ancient book, the earliest copy so far known of the Gospel, is very fortunate. In 208 a tendency was noted to agreement with the Codex Sinaiticus, but this is not apparent in 1781, so far as variants peculiar to that MS. are concerned, though where ℵ the Codex Sinaiticus is supported by one or more of the other chief uncials the papyrus is usually in harmony. Coincidences with ℵA are found in ll. 47, 48, with ℵD in l. 12, with ℵBD in ll. 13, 20, with ℵBC in ll. 34-5. There is one agreement with B the Codex Vaticanus against the other main authorities (l. 13, omission of the article with Jesus; cf. l. 12, n.), one with BD (l. 31) and BCD (l. 34). An omission of 'I' in l. 47 is peculiar to the papyrus, and in l. 44 there was apparently another omission which has hitherto depended on slight authority. The tendency to brevity, especially in omitting unnecessary pronouns, conjunctions, &c., is an outstanding feature of both 208 and 1781; cf. 208 Fol. 1 verso. 5, 10, 11, recto. 12, 22, Fol. 2 recto. 19, verso. 2, 5 sqq., 12, 14-15, 17, 1781. 6, 12, 13, 20, 26, 38, 44, 47, 50-1, and nn.

Recto.

[that from my own he will take] and will an[nounce
to you all that] he has; the Fa[ther's
is mine. For this reason I sai]d that from [my
own he takes] and will announce to you.
[A little while and no longer you see me, and]
[again a little while] and you will see [me. They said]
[therefore... of his] disciples
[to one another,] "What is this that he says
[to us, 'A little while and you do not] see [me,]
[and again a little while and you will] see me,' and 'be[ca]use
[I go to the] Father'?" They were saying therefore,
["What is this] 'a little while'? We do not know
[what he speaks." Jesus] knew that they wanted
[to ask him] and said to them

xvi. 14