<P> The earliest manuscript of a New Testament text is a business - card - sized fragment from the Gospel of John , Rylands Library Papyrus P52 , which may be as early as the first half of the 2nd century . The first complete copies of single New Testament books appear around 200 , and the earliest complete copy of the New Testament , the Codex Sinaiticus dates to the 4th century . The following table lists the earliest extant manuscript witnesses for the books of the New Testament . </P>
<P> The earliest manuscript of a New Testament text is a business - card - sized fragment from the Gospel of John , Rylands Library Papyrus P52 , which may be as early as the first half of the 2nd century . The first complete copies of single New Testament books appear around 200 , and the earliest complete copy of the New Testament , the Codex Sinaiticus dates to the 4th century . The following table lists the earliest extant manuscript witnesses for the books of the New Testament . </P>
when were the oldest surviving new testament manuscripts written
when were the oldest surviving new testament manuscripts written
the 4th century
the 4th century