4009. GOSPEL OF PETER?

'Recto'

1 ] . [, descender, more ink above, on displaced fibers, and to right on edge
2 ] . , curving foot (α, κ, λ, μ; ζ, ξ, χ?) . [, left-hand arc as of ο, c (φ?)
3 ] . , right-hand tip of horizontal level with letter-tops . [, long oblique descender (ι? but more ink to top right)
4 ] . , ink on crumpled strip of projecting fibers . [, point on projecting fibers
5 ] . , ink high in the line, then heavy dot a little below mid-height
6 . [, ink on edge at mid-height
7 . [, oblique back as of ο, c, ω?
8 ] . , point on edge, just below letter-tops (tip of horizontal, e.g., of overhang of c?)
9 ] . , trace just below tops of letters
13 αυ . . , first, γ π τ; then angular loop, ο or second of ω
14 . . [, oblique top as of α δ λ; then top of upright?
15 . [, trace at mid-height ] . , ink level with letter tops
16 ] . , perhaps parts of ω π, hook at beginning of horizontal anomalous? but enough remains of the right-hand vertical to exclude τ?
17 . [, upper part of sloping upright (e.g., ι)
19 ] . . , first, high oblique descending from left to right, joining top of upright; second, probably extremities of ω
20 ] . . , oblique foot below, more ink to top right (κ, χ? or even ε?); then χ? . [, displaced fibers

'Verso'

2 . . [, left-hand arc and cross-bar of ε, θ; foot of upright
3 ] . , possible trace (end of horizontal) just below left-hand curl of υ . [, high horizontal joining top stroke of c (unless the whole thing is the top stroke extended)
4 . . . [ , high horizontal with curving upright below, γ, τ? or part of π?; then right-hand arc of small circle, το would suit spacing; then high dot, or left-hand end of horizontal, on the edge
7 . [, high dot, or left-hand end of horizontal, on the edge
8 . φ, perhaps part of the loop, and the beginning of the oblique tail, of α [[. ]]α [, a overwritten on (less probably by) a rounded letter?
12 . [, vertical traces on edge
14 ] . [ ] . . , first, high point of ink; second, flattened tail as of α, λ, μ, etc. [ , high dot on edge
15 ] . . . ]μ . αι or ]μμαι?
16 ] . , high trace joining cross-bar of π? or simply extension of that cross-bar? . [, ink on edge
17 . [, upright with junction at mid-height (η, κ, ρ?)
18 ] . , left-hand arc, middle damaged, ε or c? . . [, ink at mid-level (stop?), more traces to right
19 ] . . . . [ , loop of ρ or φ? then υ? then ρ (but unexplained ink to left)? then a sloping back, followed by an upright, e.g., αι?

'Recto'

Line-ends are visible in 9–15, and can be reconstructed in 6 (where the rules of syllable-division exclude φρονιμ||oc); the line-length can be estimated from the plausible and consistent supplements in 5–8.

4 ff. offer keywords of four logia sayings:
(i) 4 therismos harvest cf. Matt. 9.37–8/Luke 10.2.
(ii) 5–7 cf. Matt. 10.16b (quoted, in the singular, by Ignatius, Epist. ad Polycarp. 2.2), where the serpents come before the doves; IV 655 ii b 19–23 (Van Haelst 595) (= Gospel of Thomas 39).
(iii) 7 f. Matt. 10.16a/Luke 10.3; cf. 2Clem. 5.2 (quoted below, 9–15 note).
(iv) 11 ff. 2Clem. 5.4; cf. Matt. 10.28/Luke 12.4 f.

Thus Luke juxtaposes (i) and (iii); Matthew (ii) and (iii) in reverse order.
To anticipate the following discussion, we suggest a reconstruction of 4 ff. on these lines:

] the harvest
5 [become then] guileless pure/innocent as [doves and] prudent wise
[as the serpents; ] you will be as
[lambs in the] midst of wolves[
[I said to] him; if then
10 [we are torn apart];
[he answering] says to me; the
[wolves having torn] the
[lamb] no longer to it
[are able] to do anything. through