62 REV. GEOEGE MTLLIGAN^ D.D., ON THE GREEK PAPYEI. 



Jews thought in Hebrew but talked in Greek, so that you must 

 interpret their Greek language with the aid of Hebrew. I have 

 the very great pleasure of introducing Dr. Milligan, from Glasgow, 

 Professor of Biblical Criticism in that great City and University, 

 who has come down from his northern regions to give us a little 

 light on this most intricate question. 



The following paper was then read by the author : — 



GBEEK PAPYEI : ivith special reference to their value for 

 New Testament study. Ly the Eev. Geoege Milligan, D.D. 



THE most significant fact in the modern study of the JSTew 

 Testament is the recognition that it has a history, and con- 

 sequently that its several books can only be fully understood in 

 connexion with their surroundings or the special circumstances 

 that called them forth. Everything, therefore, that throws light 

 on the outward conditions of the New Testament writers is of 

 value. And it is just here that we are in a peculiarly favourable 

 position to-day. In the past, archaeological discovery has been 

 mainly concerned with the Old Testament, but now the light it 

 sheds has been extended to the New Testament, and is lai-gely 

 derivable from the immense number of texts on stone, on earthen- 

 ware, and on papyrus which recent discoveries have brought 

 within our reach. 



It is only with the papyrus texts that w^e are at present 

 concerned, and for their preservation we have to thank the 

 marvellously dry climate of Egypt. The first finds were made 

 at Gizeh as far back as 1778, but it was not until 1877, when 

 several thousands of papyri were unearthed at Crocodilopolis, or 

 Arsinoe, the ancient capital of the Fayuni district, that public 

 interest was fully aroused. The work of exploration was after- 

 wards extended to Tebtunis, Oxyrhynchus, and other likely sites, 

 with the result that we have now thousands of these texts in our 

 hands. 



Some were discovered in the ruins of old temples, others 

 in the cartonnage of munnnies ; but the greater number were 

 found in what were literally the dust or refuse heaps on 

 the outskirts of the towns or villages. The old Egyptians, 

 instead of burning their waste-papers, as is the custom amongst 

 ourselves, were in the habit of tearing them up and throwing 

 them out on these heaps,, where, thanks to a covering of desert 

 sand, they have lain in safety all these years. 



Of the character of these papyri I shall have something to 



