The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 2 records across 2 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
A Coptic ostracon with a letter of apology from a monk or cleric to a 'brother', begging forgiveness and explaining why he failed to act. He refers to a letter from 'our father the bishop' and to brothers sent on his behalf, and ends by quoting a saying about forgiving so as to be forgiven. It comes from the Theban region.
The opening sentences are fairly clear, but the second half is damaged and its translation is tentative; the closing phrase echoes the Gospel saying 'forgive and you will be forgiven'. No date is given in the records, though such Theban monastic ostraca usually date to about the 7th-8th century AD.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below. It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
ⲁⲣⲓⲧἀγάπη ⲕⲱ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ πιστεύειν ⲛⲁⲓ ϫⲉ ⲁⲓⲣⲁⲡⲁⲧⲟⲟⲧ ⲉϯⲙⲧⲟⲛ ⲙⲡⲉⲕϩⲏⲧ' ⲉⲙⲡⲁϯⲙⲡⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲣⲟ ⲉⲛⲉⲙⲡⲕϫⲟⲟⲥ γάρ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ ϫⲉ ⲕⲧⲏⲧ ⲛⲉⲓⲛⲁϥⲓⲧϥ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲕⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲡⲉⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲡἐπίσκοπος ⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲉⲛϩⲏⲧ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲁⲓϫⲟⲟⲩⲥⲟⲩ ⲉⲩⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡⲁπρόσωπον ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩ […]ⲉⲡϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩ […]ⲡτόπος ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲁ […]ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲛⲕⲟ…
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