Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 3035


Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 3035 is a warrant for the arrest of a Christian, issued by the authorities of the Roman Empire. This is one of the earliest uses of the word Christian attested on papyrus.
The order was issued by the head of the Oxyrhynchus ruling council, to the police in a country village, to arrest a man described as a Christian. The charge which makes the Christian liable for arrest is not given.
The manuscript is dated precisely in its closing lines to the third year of the co-regency of Valerian and Gallienus his son, in the third day of the Egyptian month Phamenoth. The equivalent date in our Gregorian calendar is 28 February 256 AD.

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