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Named Letter-Carriers among the Oxyrhynchus Papyri

Tyndale House, 36 Selwyn Gardens, Cambridge CB3 9BA pmh15{at}cam.ac.uk

This paper analyses the role played by named letter-carriers among Greek personal letters in the Oxyrhynchus papyri as possible background for Pauline practice, and within the context of recent proposals concerning the role of the letter-carriers within Pauline practice. Around forty letters are discussed, with three examples analysed in more depth (P.Oxy. 113; P.Oxy. 3313; P.Oxy. 3505). It is seen that, when named and identified within the letter, the letter-carrier frequently supplements the written communication with some oral supplement. Against some recent proposals no evidence is found in support of the view that the letter-carrier ever read the letter itself to the recipient.

Key Words: Letter-carriers • Oxyrhynchus • Paul • papyrology

Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Vol. 31, No. 3, 279-299 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0142064X08101525


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