The Babatha Papyri and the New Testament

The article investigates the features of the Babatha Papyri suitable to be used for the study of the New Testament. This documentary material brings, indeed, various elements and clues allowing a better understanding both of the context and specific issues in the NT, particularly in the Synoptic Gospels. Under scrutiny is: the linguistic contexts of these texts; their scribal tradition; Q; and the Gospel sections concerning the Centurion (Mt 8; Lk 7) and the Dishonest Steward (Lk 16,1-8a).