Minuscule 700

Last updated • 8 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Minuscule 700
New Testament manuscript
Minuscule 700 f. 91v.JPG
Folio 91 verso, Evangelist Mark
Text Gospels
Date11th century
Script Greek
Now at British Library, Egerton 2610
Size14.8 cm by 11.7 cm
Type Caesarean text-type
Category III
Notenumerous unique readings

Minuscule 700 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts), ε 133 (in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts), [1] : 72  is a Greek New Testament minuscule manuscript of the Gospels, written on parchment. It was formerly labelled as 604 in all New Testament manuscript lists (such as that of textual critics Frederick H. A. Scrivener, and Hoskier), however textual critic Caspar René Gregory gave it the number 700. [2] : 213  Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been dated to the 11th century. [3] It is currently housed at the British Library (Egerton MS 2610) in London. [3]

Contents

Description

The manuscript is a codex (the forerunner to the modern book), containing the complete text of the Gospels on 297 parchment leaves (14.8 cm by 11.7 cm). [4] : i  The text is written in one column per page, 19 lines per page in minuscule letters, [3] with around 30 letters on each line. [5] [4] : i  The initial letters are in gold and blue ink, as well as the simple headpieces (titles to each Gospel) and tailpieces (ending to each Gospel). [4] : ii  Iota subscript (a small Greek letter ι (iota) written underneath vowels in certain words to indicate a change of sound) is never used by the initial copyist, however iota adscript (where the ι is written as part of the main text with the same function as the iota subscript) is employed quite often, most frequently with substantives, definite articles, and pronouns. [4] : vi  The initial copyist however has used iota adscript erroneously very often: scholar and textual critic Herman C. Hoskier notes the copyist inserted iota adscript incorrectly 80 times in Matthew, 27 times in Mark, 19 times in Luke, and 23 times in John. [4] : vi–viii 

The text of the Gospels is divided according to the chapters (known as κεφαλαια / kephalaia), whose numbers are placed in the margin of the text, with the titles of the chapters given at the top of the pages, with gold and red ink. [5] [4] : ii  The tables of content lists are placed before each Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke). [5] [4] : ii  The chapters to Matthew contains only 17 entries, with the list being left unfinished. [4] : ii  There is also a division into smaller sections, the Ammonian sections with references to the Eusebian Canons (an early system of dividing the four Gospels into different sections), although this is done in John very rarely. [2] : 213 

It contains the Epistula ad Carpianum (a letter from the early church writer Eusebius of Caesarea, outlying his gospel harmony system, his chapter divisions of the four gospels, and their purpose); Eusebian Canon tables (list of chapters) at the beginning of the codex; subscriptions (end titles) at the close of each Gospel; illustrations of the evangelists; and lectionary markings (to indicate what verse was to be read on a specific day in the churches yearly calendar) in the margin, written in gold ink. [5] [4] : ii  The initial copyist left space between the weekly readings for insertion of the ἀρχ(η) (beginning) and τελ(ος) (end) markings, however they were left unfinished. [4] : ii  The original copyist didn't add any to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, but a few were inserted by a later copyist. [4] : ii  The initial copyist did however insert a few in the Gospels of Luke (Luke 6:17; 10:16, 21, 22, 25, 37, 38; 12:16, 32) and John (John 1:17/18, 52/2:1), in gold ink. [4] : ii 

Quotations from the Old Testament are sometimes marked in the margin by a diplai (>), written in gold ink. [4] : vi  These are found at Matthew 1:23; 2:6, 15, 18; 4:6, 7, 15, 16; Luke 3:4-6; 4:10, 11, 18; 10:27; John 19:24, 37. There are none in Mark. [4] : vi  Accents (used to indicate voiced pitch changes) and breathing marks (utilised to designate vowel emphasis) are utilised throughout. [4] : xiv  Three forms of the round stops (above, middle, and below the line), the comma, (applied to show the end of phrases/sentences) and the semicolon (used to mark a question has been asked) are employed. [4] : xiv  The three stops and comma are partially applied, although incorrectly in many instances. [4] : xiv  The semicolon is only used sparingly, and mostly neglected where the end of a question is. [4] : xiv  Itacism (spelling errors due to similar sounding letters) mistakes are witnessed, however not as many as in other codices, with Hoskier noting a total of 205 (33 in Matthew; 32 in Mark; 102 in Luke; and 38 in John). [4] : xiv-xv  Some cases of homoeoteleuton are noticed, but very rarely (this being the omission of words/phrases which finish with either similar letters, or the same word). [4] : xv 

Most of the conventional nomina sacra (special names/words considered sacred in Christianity - usually the first and last letters of the name/word in question are written, followed by an overline; sometimes other letters from within the word are used as well) are employed throughout (the following list is for nominative case (subject) forms): ις (ιησους / Jesus); χς (χριστος / Christ); θς (θεος / God); κς (κυριος / Lord); πνα (πνευμα / Spirit); δαδ (δαυιδ / David); ιηλ (ισραηλ / Israel); πηρ (πατηρ / father); μηρ (μητηρ / mother); σηρ (σωτηρ / saviour); σρια (σωτηρια / salvation); σριος (σωτηριος / salvation); ουνος (ουρανος / heaven); ουνοις (ουρανιος / heavenly); ανος (ανθρωπος / man); (σταυρος / cross). [4] : xiii  The nomen sacrum (singular of nomina sacra) for υιος (son / υς) is seen in Matthew 1:23, 3:17, 17:15; Mark 10:47; Luke 1:13, 31, 3:2. [4] : xiii  The nomen sacrum for Ιερουσαλημ (Jerusalem / ιλημ) is seen in Matthew 23:37; Luke 2:25, 38, 41, 43, 5:17, 6:17, 9:31, 53, 10:30, 13:4, 22, 23, 34, 19:11, 23:28, 24:13, 18, 33, 47, 49, 52. [4] : xiii 

Text

The Greek text of the codex has been considered as a representative of the Caesarean text-type. The text-types are groups of different New Testament manuscripts which share specific or generally related readings, which then differ from each other group, and thus the conflicting readings can separate out the groups. These are then used to determine the original text as published; there are three main groups with names: Alexandrian, Western, and Byzantine. [6] : 205–230  The Caesarean text-type however (initially identified by biblical scholar Burnett Hillman Streeter) has been contested by several text-critics, such as Kurt and Barbara Aland. [7] : 55–56  Aland placed it in Category III of his New Testament manuscript text classification system. [7] Category III manuscripts are described as having "a small but not a negligible proportion of early readings, with a considerable encroachment of [Byzantine] readings, and significant readings from other sources as yet unidentified." [7] : 335  Among Aland's test collation passages (a specific list of verses in the New Testament which have been determined to show to which text-type a manuscript belongs), the codex has 153 variants in agreement with the Byzantine text, 81 with the Byzantine and Nestle-Aland texts, 35 with the Nestle-Aland text, and 58 distinctive readings. [7]

According to the Claremont Profile Method (a specific analysis method of textual data), it has a mixed textual relationship in Luke 1, accords to the Alexandrian text-type in Luke 10, and represents the textual family Kx in Luke 20. It belongs to the textual family subgroup 35. [8]

In Matthew 27:16 it has the famous textual variant "Ιησουν τον Βαραββαν" (Jesus Barabbas). This variant is found in Codex Koridethi (Θ), and manuscripts of textual group Family 1 (ƒ1). It lacks Mark 11:26. [9] : 128 

Together with minuscule 162, it contains the remarkable reading in the Gospel of Luke 11:2: ἐλθέτω τὸ πνεῦμά σου τὸ ἅγιον ἐφ' ἡμᾶς καὶ καθαρισάτω ἡμᾶς (May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us), instead of ελθετω η βασιλεια σου (May your kingdom come) in the Lord's Prayer. [6] This peculiar reading does not appear in any other manuscript, but it was derived from a very old archetype, because it is present in Marcion's text of the third Gospel (Marcion was an early gnostic, considered a heretic by contemporary and later Christians), and is also attested by the church father Gregory of Nyssa in his quotations of the Gospel of Luke in his writings. [10]

Hoskier's collation (a comparison of a manuscript's text with that of another, and differences between them recorded) notes 2724 variations from the Textus Receptus (before the 1900s, this was the most common printed Greek New Testament): of these 791 are omissions; 353 are additions; and 270 textual variants have not been found in any other manuscript. [10] [4] : xxviii 

Notable readings

Below are some readings of the manuscript which agree or disagree with variant readings in other Greek manuscripts, or with varying ancient translations of the New Testament. See the main article Textual variants in the New Testament.

Mark 5:9

απεκριθη λεγων (he answered, saying) — 700 E 565
απεκριτη (he answered) — D it
λεγει αυτω (he said to him) — Majority of manuscripts
-
λεγιων ονομα μοι (my name is Legion) — 700* א ‎c2 B c2 C L Δ 579
λεγεων (Legeon) — 700c(vid) א ‎* B* A W Θ ƒ1 ƒ13 Byz [9] : 102 

Mark 10:19

μη αποστερησης (do not defraud)
omit — 700 B K W Ψ ƒ1 ƒ13 28 1010 1079 1242 1546 2148 ℓ10 ℓ950ℓ1642ℓ1761 sys arm geo [11] : 165 

Luke 6:2

οὐκ ἔξεστιν (not lawful) — 700 𝔓4 B (D) N lat sa bo arm geo
οὐκ ἔξεστιν ποιεῖν (not lawful to do) - Majority of manuscripts [9] : 170 

Luke 11:4

αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου (but deliver us from evil)
omit — 700 א ‎ B L ƒ1 vg sys sa bo arm geo
incl. — Majority of manuscripts [11] : 256 

John 8:7

αναβλεψας (having looked up) — 700 U Λ ƒ13
ανακυψας (having got up) — Majority of manuscripts [9] : 274 

John 8:8

ενος εκαστου αυτων τας αμαρτιας (the sins of each of them) — 700 U (030) 73 331 364 658 782 1592 lat arm (652 mg; 264 in John 8:6) [9] : 274 

History

The author of the codex is unknown. It was probably written in Constantinople (modern day Istanbul in Turkey). [12]

The codex was bought on the 28th April, 1882 for the British Museum, [4] [2] : 214  through the auspices of Edward Maunde Thompson, the then Principal Keeper of manuscripts at the British Museum. [4] The codex was previously in the hands of a German bookseller. [4]

It was examined by Anglican clergyman Dean Burgon, and it was described and collated by scholars W. H. Simcox, [13] Scrivener, and Hoskier. The collation and comments of W. H. Simcox were severely criticised by Hoskier for its numerous mistakes. [4] : xv–xxii  The manuscript is now located in the British Library in London (Egerton MS 2610). [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Codex Regius (New Testament)</span> 8th century Greek uncial manuscript of the 4 canonical gospels

Codex Regius, designated by siglum Le or 019, ε56, is a Greek uncial manuscript of the New Testament written on parchment. Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been assigned to the 8th century. The manuscript has several gaps. Textual critic Frederick H. A. Scrivener described it as "by far the most remarkable document of its age and class."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Codex Basilensis A. N. IV. 2</span> Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament

Codex Basilensis A. N. IV. 2, known as Minuscule 1, δ 254, and formerly designated by 1eap to distinguish it from minuscule 1rK is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the entire New Testament, apart from the Book of Revelation. Using the study of comparative writings styles (palaeography), it is usually dated to the 12th century CE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Codex Basiliensis A. N. IV. 1</span> Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament

Codex Basiliensis A. N. IV. 1, known as Minuscule 2, ε 1214, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, written on parchment. Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been dated to the 11th or 12th century. The manuscript has complex contents. It is one of several Greek New Testament manuscripts housed at the Basel University Library, all of which take their name from the Latin adjective for Basel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minuscule 69</span> 15th century manuscript

Minuscule 69, δ 505, known as the Codex Leicester, or Codex Leicestrensis, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on paper and parchment leaves. Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been dated to the 15th century. Some leaves of the codex are lost. It has been examined and collated by many palaeographers and textual critics. Although it is of a late date, its text is remarkable from the point of view of textual criticism.

Minuscule 28, ε 168, formerly known as Colbertinus 4705, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, written on vellum. Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been dated to the 11th-century. It contains marginal notes (marginalia), and has several gaps.

Codex Ephesinus, minuscule 71, ε 253, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment, illuminated, and elegantly written. It is dated by the colophon to 1160. In the 15th century the manuscript was prepared for liturgical use. The scribal errors are not numerous, but it has many textual divergences from the common text. The Greek text of the codex is a representative of the Byzantine text-type, but the textual character of the codex is disputed by scholars since the 19th century.

Minuscule 75, ε 176, known as Codex Genevensis, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. The codex has complex contents. It was adapted for liturgical use. It has complex contents, and full marginalia.

Minuscule 94 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), O31 (von Soden), is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment and paper, dated to the 12th or 13th century. Formerly it was labelled by 18a, 21p, and 19r.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minuscule 157</span> Greek minuscule of the New Testament, circa 1122

Minuscule 157, ε207, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament Gospels, written on parchment. According to the colophon it is dated to the year 1122. The date had been wrongly deciphered formally as 1128. It has complex contents and full marginal notations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lectionary 184</span> New Testament manuscript

Lectionary 184, designated by siglum ℓ184 is a Greek New Testament manuscript written on parchment. Textual critics Westcott and Hort referred to it by the siglum 39e, textual critic Scrivener by 259e. It is dated by a colophon to the year 1319. It is currently housed at the British Library in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lectionary 183</span> New Testament manuscript

Lectionary 183, designated by siglum ℓ183 is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, written on parchment in uncial letters. Biblical scholars Westcott and Hort labelled it by 38e,and biblical scholar Frederick H. A. Scrivener by 257e. Using the study of comparative writings styles (palaeography), it has been assigned to the 10th century. The manuscript has some missing portions and gaps at the end and inside, but they were supplied by a later hand. It is faded in parts.

Minuscule 471, α 136, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on a parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century. Scrivener labelled it by number 510. The manuscript has no complex contents.

Minuscule 475, α 138, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. Scrivener labelled it number 515. It has full marginalia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minuscule 480</span> Greek manuscript of New Testament

Minuscule 480, δ 462, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. It is dated by a colophon to the year 1366. The manuscript is lacunose. The manuscript was adapted for liturgical use. It has marginalia. It contains liturgical books with hagiographies: Synaxarion and Menologion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minuscule 482</span> New Testament manuscript

Minuscule 482, ε 1017, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. It is dated by a colophon to the year 1285 . Scrivener labelled it by number 570. The manuscript has complex context, but faded in parts. The text exhibits more numerous and bolder textual variants than usual manuscripts of the four Gospels. Marginal apparatus is given fully.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minuscule 537</span> Religious document

Minuscule 537, ε 334, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on a parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century. Scrivener labelled it by number 550. The manuscript was prepared for liturgical use, its marginalia are not complete. It has survived until the present day in complete condition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minuscule 543</span> Greek manuscript of the New Testament

Minuscule 543, ε 257 and labelled 556 by biblical scholar and textual critic F. H. A. Scrivener, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, written on parchment. Using the study of comparative handwriting styles (palaeography) it has been assigned to the 12th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minuscule 545</span> New Testament manuscript

Minuscule 545, ε 511, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on paper. It is dated by a colophon to the year 1430. Scrivener labeled it by number 558. It is housed at the University of Michigan. It has marginalia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minuscule 546</span> New Testament manuscript

Minuscule 546, ε 511, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. It is dated palaeographically to the 13th century. It has some marginalia, the scribe has made numerous errors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minuscule 699</span> New Testament manuscript

Minuscule 699, δ104, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. Some leaves of the manuscript were lost. Scrivener labelled it by 603e.

References

  1. ↑ Gregory, Caspar René (1908). Die griechischen Handschriften des Neuen Testament. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs.
  2. 1 2 3 Gregory, Caspar René (1900). Textkritik des Neuen Testaments. Vol. 1. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Aland, Kurt; M. Welte; B. Köster; K. Junack (1994). Kurzgefasste Liste der griechischen Handschriften des Neues Testaments. Berlin, New York: Walter de Gruyter. p. 88. ISBN   3-11-011986-2.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Hoskier, Herman C. (1890). A Full Account and Collation of the Greek Cursive Codex Evangelium 604. London: David Nutt Publishers.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose; Edward Miller (1894). A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament . Vol. 1 (4 ed.). London: George Bell & Sons. p. 261.
  6. 1 2 Metzger, Bruce Manning; Ehrman, Bart D. (2005). The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 90. ISBN   0-19-516667-1.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Aland, Kurt; Aland, Barbara (1995). The Text of the New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism. Erroll F. Rhodes (trans.). Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 133. ISBN   978-0-8028-4098-1.
  8. ↑ Wisse, Frederik (1982). The Profile Method for the Classification and Evaluation of Manuscript Evidence, as Applied to the Continuous Greek Text of the Gospel of Luke . Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 64. ISBN   0-8028-1918-4.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Aland, Kurt; Black, Matthew; Martini, Carlo M.; Metzger, Bruce M.; Wikgren, Allen, eds. (1981). Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (26 ed.). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelstiftung. ISBN   3-438-051001. (NA26)
  10. 1 2 Koester, Helmut (1995). Introduction to the New Testament. New York: Walter de Gruyter. p. 31. doi:10.1515/9783110812657.39.
  11. 1 2 Aland, Kurt; Black, Matthew; Martini, Carlo M.; Metzger, Bruce M.; Wikgren, Allen, eds. (1983). The Greek New Testament (3rd ed.). Stuttgart: United Bible Societies. (UBS3)
  12. ↑ Minuscule 700 Archived 2023-03-31 at the Wayback Machine at the British Library
  13. ↑ Simcox, W. H. (1884). "Collation of the British Museum MS Evan. 604" (PDF). American Journal of Philology. 5 (4): 454–465.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.