In biblical studies, the term "fragment" often refers to a portion or piece of a larger text or manuscript that has survived through time. These fragments can be crucial for biblical scholarship, as they provide insights into the transmission, preservation, and interpretation of biblical texts. Fragments may be found in various forms, such as papyrus, parchment, or even inscriptions on stone or pottery.

Historical Context

Fragments of biblical texts have been discovered in numerous archaeological sites, most notably among the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found in the Qumran Caves near the Dead Sea. These scrolls, dating from the third century BCE to the first century CE, include some of the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible. The fragments from these scrolls have been instrumental in understanding the textual history of the Bible, offering a glimpse into the diversity of textual traditions that existed during the Second Temple period.

Significance in Biblical Studies

Fragments are invaluable for textual criticism, a discipline that seeks to reconstruct the original text of the Bible as closely as possible. By comparing fragments with later manuscripts, scholars can identify variations and attempt to determine the most authentic readings. This process helps in understanding how the biblical text has been transmitted over centuries and can shed light on the historical and cultural contexts in which these texts were copied and preserved.

Examples in Scripture

While the Bible itself does not explicitly mention "fragments" in the context of textual preservation, the concept can be metaphorically related to the gathering of remnants or pieces. For instance, in the New Testament, after Jesus feeds the five thousand, the disciples gather the leftover pieces: "So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten" (John 6:13). This act of gathering fragments can be seen as a symbolic gesture of preserving what is valuable and ensuring nothing is lost.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the preservation of biblical fragments underscores the providence of God in maintaining His Word throughout history. Despite the challenges of time, persecution, and the fragility of ancient materials, these fragments have survived, allowing believers to access the Scriptures in their quest for truth and understanding. The existence of these fragments serves as a testament to the enduring nature of God's Word, as expressed in Isaiah 40:8 : "The grass withers, the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

Conclusion

While fragments may seem insignificant in isolation, collectively they contribute to a richer and more nuanced understanding of the biblical text. They remind us of the intricate history of the Bible's transmission and the divine hand believed to be at work in preserving the Scriptures for future generations.(n.) A part broken off; a small, detached portion; an imperfect part; as, a fragment of an ancient writing.FRAGMENT

frag'-ment (klasma): "Fragment," a piece broken off, occurs only in the plural, in the accounts of the miracles of the Loaves in the Gospels and references thereto. It is the translation of klasma (from klao, "to break"), "a piece broken off" (Matthew 14:20 the King James Version); "broken meat" (Matthew 15:37).

The Revised Version (British and American) has in each instance "broken pieces." The change is important because it shows that the pieces left over were not mere fragments or crumbs left by the people after eating, but some of the original pieces into which it is said in all the synoptic narratives and references Jesus "broke" the "loaves," which, being thin cakes, were usually broken before distribution; hence, the phrase, "breaking of bread." See Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (five volumes), under the word "Fragment"; Weymouth translates "broken portions," namely, "those into which the Lord had broken the loaves; not mere scraps or crumbs."

W. L. Walker

5596. psomion -- a fragment, morsel
... a fragment, morsel. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: psomion Phonetic
Spelling: (pso-mee'-on) Short Definition: a bit, morsel Definition: a bit ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5596.htm - 6k

2801. klasma -- a broken piece
... a broken piece. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: klasma Phonetic Spelling:
(klas'-mah) Short Definition: a fragment Definition: a fragment, broken ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2801.htm - 6k

4485. rhegma -- a fracture, hence a ruin
... ruin. From rhegnumi; something torn, ie A fragment (by implication and abstractly,
a fall) -- ruin. see GREEK rhegnumi. (regma) -- 1 Occurrence. 4484, 4485. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4485.htm - 6k

6595. path -- fragment, bit, morsel
... 6594, 6595. path. 6596 . fragment, bit, morsel. Transliteration: path Phonetic
Spelling: (path) Short Definition: piece. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6595.htm - 6k

7447b. rasis -- a fragment
... rasis. 7448 . a fragment. Transliteration: rasis Short Definition: pieces. Word
Origin from an unused word Definition a fragment NASB Word Usage pieces (1). ...
/hebrew/7447b.htm - 5k

6604b. pathoth -- a fragment, bit, morsel (of bread)
... 6604a, 6604b. pathoth. 6605 . a fragment, bit, morsel (of bread).
Transliteration: pathoth Short Definition: fragments. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6604b.htm - 5k

5409. nethach -- a piece (of a divided carcass)
... pieces (10). part, piece. From nathach; a fragment -- part, piece. see HEBREW
nathach. 5408, 5409. nethach. 5410 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5409.htm - 6k

2964. tereph -- prey, food, a leaf
... leaf, meat, prey, spoil. From taraph; something torn, ie A fragment, eg A fresh
leaf, prey, food -- leaf, meat, prey, spoil. see HEBREW taraph. 2963, 2964. ...
/hebrew/2964.htm - 6k

7616. shebabim -- probably splinters
... broken in pieces. From an unused root meaning to break up; a fragment, ie Ruin --
broken in pieces. 7615, 7616. shebabim. 7617 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7616.htm - 6k

7111. qetsaphah -- snapping, splintering
... splinters (1). barked. From qatsaph; a fragment -- bark(-ed). see HEBREW qatsaph.
7110b, 7111. qetsaphah. 7112 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7111.htm - 6k

7518. rats -- perhaps piece, bar
... Word Origin from ratsats Definition perhaps piece, bar NASB Word Usage pieces (1).
piece. Contracted from ratsats; a fragment -- piece. see HEBREW ratsats. ...
/hebrew/7518.htm - 6k

Fragment X.
... Fragment X. [1764] (1.) Mary the mother of ... two husbands. Footnotes: [1764]
This fragment was found by Grabe in a ms. of the Bodleian ...
//christianbookshelf.org/papias/fragments of papias/fragment x.htm

Fragment iv.
... Fragment IV. Expounding the reason of the incessant plotting of the devil
against us, he declares: Before the advent of the Lord ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment iv.htm

Fragment V.
... Fragment V. And Justin of Neapolis, a man who was not far separated from
the apostles either in age or excellence, says that that ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment v.htm

Fragment vi.
... Fragment VI. Neither is there straitness with God, nor anything that is not
absolutely perfect."From manuscript of the writings of Justin. ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment vi.htm

Fragment vii.
... Fragment VII. We shall not injure God by remaining ignorant of
Him, but shall deprive ourselves of His friendship. ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment vii.htm

Fragment viii.
... Fragment VIII. The unskilfulness of the teacher proves destructive to his
disciples, and the carelessness of the disciples entails ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment viii.htm

Fragment X.
... Fragment X. By the two birds [2637] Christ is denoted, both dead as man,
and living as God. He is likened to a bird, because He ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment x.htm

Fragment ix.
... Fragment IX. The soul can with difficulty be recalled to those good things
from which it has fallen, and is with difficulty dragged ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment ix.htm

Fragment xi.
... Fragment XI. When God formed man at the beginning, He suspended the things of nature
on his will, and made an experiment by means of one commandment. ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment xi.htm

Fragment xii.
... Fragment XII. As it is inherent in all bodies formed by God to have a shadow,
so it is fitting that God, who is just, should render ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment xii.htm

Fragment (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A part broken off; a small, detached portion; an
imperfect part; as, a fragment of an ancient writing. Int. ...FRAGMENT. ...
/f/fragment.htm - 8k

Logia
... When excavation was resumed in February, 1903, a second fragment was discovered,
which must have belonged to the same or a similar collection, as the formula ...
/l/logia.htm - 19k

Separate (115 Occurrences)
... Thecla. (2) Another important fragment of the Acts of Paul is that containing
the so-called Third Epistle to the Corinthians. Paul ...
/s/separate.htm - 71k

Potsherd (6 Occurrences)
... A "shred", ie, anything severed, as a fragment of earthenware (Job 2:8; Proverbs
26:23; Isaiah 45:9). ... (n.) A piece or fragment of a broken pot. Int. ...
/p/potsherd.htm - 9k

Clout
... 3. (n.) A piece; a fragment. ... CLOUT. klout: As substantive (ha-cechabhoth) a patch
or piece of cloth, leather, or the like, a rag, a shred, or fragment. ...
/c/clout.htm - 7k

Epistles (2 Occurrences)
... together. It is mentioned in the Muratorian Fragment (170 AD); and by
the end of the 4th century. it had a wide circulation. It ...
/e/epistles.htm - 80k

Fourth (87 Occurrences)
... In 1875 Bensly published the missing fragment with an Introduction and critical
notes. In 1895 Bensly and James published a critical ...
/f/fourth.htm - 43k

Jude (4 Occurrences)
... By the great majority of writers the date of the fragment is given as circa 170
AD, as it claims to have been written not long after Pius was bishop of Rome ...
/j/jude.htm - 40k

Andrew (12 Occurrences)
... A fragment of a Coptic gospel of the 4th or 5th century tells how not only Thomas
(John 20:27), but also Andrew was compelled, by touching the feet of the ...
/a/andrew.htm - 20k

Canon
... 2) Forces Increasing Value of Writings (a) Apologists, Justin Martyr (b) Gnostics,
Marcion 2. From 170 AD to 220 AD (1) Irenaeus (2) Muratorian Fragment 3. 3rd ...
/c/canon.htm - 68k

What is the Apocalypse of Peter? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Philo of Alexandria? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Muratorian Canon? | GotQuestions.org

Fragment: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus