A Reexamination of the Text of P.Oxy. 2949‪.‬

Recently, Paul Foster has pointed out several significant obstacles to equating P.Oxy. 2949 and the Gospel of Peter (Akhmim Codex). (1) Foster's conclusions are based primarily on what he considers hasty and overly optimistic reconstructions of P.Oxy. 2949 in the editioprinceps and subsequent studies. (2) Of particular importance in the discussion is whether line 5 of R. A. Coles's reconstruction, which includes the name HziKaxov, is accurately reconstructed, or whether Coles was encouraged to restore the name to create a stronger parallel with the Akhmim text. (3) Several other readings also are called into question in Foster's minimalist reconstruction, as well as the text of the smaller fragment, which Coles originally placed to the bottom left of the original fragment. (4) This study will consider the issue in light of recent multi-spectral images of P.Oxy. 2949 that were completed in October 2006. (5) As a result of the new images, we are able to reconstruct the text with greater confidence as well as consider whether Foster's conclusions about the potential relationship to the Gospel of Peter are sound. (6)