Daily Cross-bearing Reconsidered. The Case of καθʼ ἡμέραν in Luke 9:23

Does καθʼ ἡμέραν belong to the call to bear one’s cross in Luke 9:23? While many believe the case is closed, this short paper proposes reconsidering it. While there is certainly a textual basis for καθʼ ἡμέραν, the evidence, except P75, is from the fourth century or later. However, recent research by Brent Nongbri has criticised the early dating of P75 (175–225 CE), making a case that the fourth century might also be possible. In our case, that would make much more sense regarding the external evidence: the earliest witnesses for καθʼ ἡμέραν date back to the early fourth century, as evidenced by early Christian writings and Latin and Coptic versions alike. That, together with the other Greek manuscripts, seems to suggest that καθʼ ἡμέραν appeared in the late third century, provided that we follow Nongbri’s suggestion. This study demonstrates the implications of how dating papyri can influence exegesis, as the concept of “daily cross-bearing” has had a profound impact on scholarship and the beliefs of Christians throughout the ages.