Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been assigned to the 3rd century CE.

The manuscript was likely written by professional scribe, in 25 lines per page, in large, beautiful letters.

[1] Biblical scholar Don Barker proposes a wider and earlier range of dates for Papyrus 39, along with Uncial 0232, Papyrus 88 and Uncial 0206; and states that all four could be dated as early as the late second century or as late as the end of the fourth century.

[2] The Greek text of this codex is considered a representative of the Alexandrian text-type (or more likely proto-Alexandrian).

Biblical scholar Kurt Aland placed it in Category I of his New Testament manuscript classification system.