In Galatians Paul used Greek Peter and Aramaic Cephas either one could be correct but mixed seems odd so which do you find in the oldest known Greek manuscripts?

Answer 1

Since Paul was undoubtedly familiar with both languages and Peter may well have gone by both names, as well as considering that Paul often used a secretary to whom he dictated his letters it is not really surprising or significant that we find two different names for Peter within a very short few verses.

As for the manuscript evidence, it appears that only manuscript p46 has a variant reading which uses Peter instead of Cephas in Galatians 2 v 9 (all other references being Peter, Petros).The Chester Beatty Papyri 11 as it is sometimes known is indeed ancient, some regarding it as being from towards the end of the first century, within only 30 years or so of Paul having written Galatians.

The only problem is that oldest is not always the best. This manuscript is well known to be full of scribal errors, which is determined mostly by comparing it with the many other manuscripts available. Thus, the majority of manuscripts greatly favor the existing reading which has Peter mentioned five times (Galatians 1:18, 2:7, 2:8, 2:11, and 2:14) and Cephas once (2:9).