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It is notable, though, that various important manuscripts and diverse early witnesses omit these words. Therefore, Matthew 17:21 lacks adequate ancient textual support.
In the case of the New Testament papyri manuscripts, our early evidence for the Greek New Testament, size is irrelevant. They range from centimeters encompassing a couple of verses to a codex with many books of the New Testament. But all of them add something significant.
Uncial 0189 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering) is the oldest parchment manuscript of the New Testament. It consists of a single vellum leaf of a middle second-century Greek codex
Interesting;y, the text of 𝔓118 runs straight through Romans 15:33 to 16:1, so it differs from 𝔓46, which has the doxology (usually printed at 16:25-27) immediately following 15:33.
The INTF has paleographically assigned the manuscript to the early 3rd century CE. [200-225 A.D.] Papyrologist Philip Comfort dates the manuscript to the middle-late 2nd century C.E. 150-200 A.D.].
The general rule, the earlier the manuscript, the more accurate. So, the early papyri can validate the original reading for almost all of our textual variants.
The early papyri can validate the original reading for almost all of our textual variants.
Grenfell and Hunt said P39 generally agrees with B. In fact, it agrees verbatim with B [Codex Vaticanus] and nearly so with P75. The Alands consider P39 to have a “strict” text.
In the case of the New Testament papyri manuscripts, our early evidence for the Greek New Testament, size is irrelevant. They range from centimeters encompassing a couple of verses to a codex with many books of the New Testament. But all of them add something.
Variant Reading(s): differing versions of a word or phrase found in two or more manuscripts within a variation unit (see below). Variant readings are also called alternate readings.