The Chester Beatty Papyri are a collection of ancient manuscripts discovered in the early 20th century. They date back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD and include some of the earliest known copies of texts from the New Testament, as well as works from the Old Testament and other classical literature. These papyri are significant for biblical studies and provide insight into early Christian writings. Named after the collector Sir Alfred Chester Beatty, the papyri are housed in various institutions, including the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin. They are written in Greek and demonstrate the use of papyrus as a writing material in antiquity, highlighting the cultural and historical context of the time.