For the past hundred years, much has been written about the early editions of Christian texts discovered in the region that was once Roman Egypt. Scholars have cited these papyrus manuscripts--containing the Bible and other Christian works--as evidence of Christianity's presence in that historic area during the first three centuries AD. In Early Christian Books in Egypt, distinguished papyrologist Roger Bagnall shows that a great deal of this discussion and scholarship has been misdirected, biased, and at odds with the realities of the ancient world. Providing a detailed picture of the social, economic, and intellectual climate in which these manuscripts were written and circulated, he reveals that the number of Christian books from this period is likely fewer than previously believed.Bagnall explains why papyrus manuscripts have routinely been dated too early, how the role of Christians in the history of the codex has been misrepresented, and how the place of books in ancient society has been misunderstood. The author offers a realistic reappraisal of the number of Christians in Egypt during early Christianity, and provides a thorough picture of the economics of book production during the period in order to determine the number of Christian papyri likely to have existed. Supporting a more conservative approach to dating surviving papyri, Bagnall examines the dramatic consequences of these findings for the historical understanding of the Christian church in Egypt.

This book is brilliant, concise, and elegantly written. Bagnall provides a masterful and readable study, while also addressing a number of controversies in early Christian studies. The book will be an instant and major classic in the field--it is that good. -- T. G. Wilfong, University of Michigan Written by one of the world's leading papyrologists, this book is full of valuable and interesting information that will help to advance the discussion of a hot topic. -- Robert Kraft, University of Pennsylvania

List of Figures ix Preface xi A Note on Abbreviations xv Chapter I: The Dating of the Earliest Christian Books in Egypt General Considerations 1 Chapter II: Two Case Studies 25 Chapter III: The Economics of Book Production 50 Chapter IV: The Spread of the Codex 70 Notes 91 Bibliography 99 Index of Subjects 105 Index of Papyrological Texts Discussed 110