New Testament minuscule

Last updated August 24, 2024

A New Testament minuscule is a copy of a portion of the New Testament written in Greek minuscule, a small, cursive Greek language script (developed from Uncial).^[1] Most of the minuscules are still written on parchment. Paper was used since the 12th century.

New Testament papyri — written on papyrus and more ancient than minuscules;
New Testament uncials — written in uncial script (i.e. all capital letters) also more ancient than minuscules; and,
New Testament lectionaries — usually written minuscule (but some in uncial) letters and generally contemporary.

Minuscules codices contain commentaries and other additional matter, like, Prolegomena to the four Gospels, the Epistula ad Carpianum, the treatise of Pseudo-Dorotheus on the Seventy disciples and twelve apostles (82, 93, 117, 459, 613), List of Lord's miracles (e.g. 536), List of Parables of Jesus (e.g. 273, 536), short biographies of the Apostles, or summaries of the journeys of St. Paul (e.g. 468). Since the 9th century some manuscripts have notes with the date and place of the composition of the different NT books. Some manuscripts informed about name of scribe and date of composition of the manuscript, but date usually reckoning from the creation of the world (5508 BC). It was the Byzantine manner. Only in a few minuscule codices is the date reckoned from the birth of Christ.

Classification of minuscules

Since the time of J. J. Wettstein the minuscules manuscripts have been indicated by Arabic numerals,^[2] but the numbers in each of the four groups of the books of the New Testament began with 1, and thus "1" might indicate a book in any of the manuscripts (f.e. 1^eap, 1^r, 2^e, 2^ap). Different parts of the same manuscript had different numbers (f.e. 18^evv, 113^Acts, 132^Paul, and 51^Apoc belonged to the same manuscript). Only the first manuscript situation was simple, because it had number 1 in Gospels (1^e), in Acts and Catholic epistles (1^a), and in Pauline epistles (1^p). This system was complicated. Scrivener, for instance, enumerated known for him minuscule codices:

Gospels .... 739
Acts and Catholic epistles .... 261
Pauline epistles .... 338
Apocalypse .... 122

It did not mean that the total number of minuscules was 1460, because some of them belonged to the same manuscripts.

Wettstein's system was improved and corrected by F. H. A. Scrivener, C. R. Gregory, and other scholars. Aland renumbered minuscule manuscripts (1^r received number 2814, 2^ap received 2815, 4^ap received 2816 etc.), and now every minuscule manuscript has a different catalogue number.

Renumbered minuscules:

1^r received number 2814,
2^ap received 2815,
4^ap received 2816,
7^p received 2817,
36^a received 2818,
753^b received 2819,
753^c received 2820,
60^r received 2821,
1274b^ap received 2822,
1352b^ap received 2824,
1674b^ap received 2825,
1674c^ap received 2826,
1674d^ap received 2827,
1681b^ap received 2828,
1755b^ap received 2829,
1755c^ap received 2830,
2306b^ap received 2831,
2306c^ap received 2832,
2306d^ap received 2833,
2306e^ap received 2834,
ℓ1891^ap received 2835.

Wettstein knew 112 minuscule codices of the Gospels, 58 of the Acts, 60 of St. Paul, and 28 of the Apocalypse. Manuscripts of the Gospels with number 260–469 were added to the list by Scholz (1794–1852). Gregory in 1908 knew 2292 all minuscule manuscripts of the New Testament.^[3]As of 16 November 2010^[update], there are currently 2911 minuscule codices catalogued by the Institute for New Testament Textual Research (INTF) in Münster.^[4]^{[ failed verification ]}

Lists of New Testament minuscules

Related Research Articles

Codex Basilensis A. N. IV. 4, known as Minuscule 2815, α 253 (Soden), formerly labelled as 2^ap in all catalogues, but subsequently renumbered by Aland, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, dated paleographically to the 12th century.

Uncial 098, α 1025 (Soden), is a Greek uncial manuscript of the New Testament, dated palaeographically to the 7th-century. It is also named Codex Cryptoferratensis.

Codex Basilensis A.N.IV.5, known as Minuscule 2816, α597, formerly labelled as 4^ap in all catalogs, but subsequently renumbered by Aland, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, paleographically had been assigned to the 15th century.

Minuscule 38, δ 355. It is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, written on vellum. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century. Formerly it was labelled by 38^e, 19^a, 377^p. The manuscript is lacunose. It has marginalia.

Minuscule 43, α 270 and ε 170, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. Gregory suggested the 12th century. It has full marginalia.

Lectionary 10, designated by siglum ℓ10. It is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on vellum leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 13th-century. The manuscript is lacunose.

Lectionary 1, designated siglum ℓ1, is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament on vellum. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 10th century. Formerly it was known as Codex Colbertinus 700, then Codex Regius 278.

Lectionary 3, designated siglum ℓ3, is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament on vellum. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. Scrivener dated to the 10th century.

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 680, δ 103, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 14th century. The manuscript has complex contents. Scrivener labelled it by 531^e, 199^a, 231^p, 104^r.

Lectionary 211, designated by siglum ℓ211 is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century. Scrivener labelled it by 218^evl. The manuscript has complex contents.

Minuscule 712, δ160, Rahlfs 1913 for the Psalter part, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. The manuscript has complex contents. Scrivener labelled it as 560^e.

Minuscule 824, δ404, is a 14th-century Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on paper. It has marginalia and liturgical books.

Minuscule 831, ε117, is an 11th-century Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on parchment. The manuscript is lacunose.

Minuscule 872, ε203, is Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament written on parchment. It has full marginal notes. Using the study of comparative writing styles (paleography), it has been assigned to the 12th century.

Minuscule 887, is an 11th-century Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on parchment, with a commentary.

Minuscule 891, Θ^ε427, is a 14th-century Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on paper, with a commentary. It has not survived in complete condition.

Lectionary 335 (Gregory-Aland), designated by siglum ℓ335 is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th-century. The manuscript has survived in complete condition.

Lectionary 337 (Gregory-Aland), designated by siglum ℓ337 is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th-century. The manuscript has not survived in complete condition.

References

↑ Eberhard Nestle, Erwin Nestle, Barbara Aland and Kurt Aland (eds), Novum Testamentum Graece , 27th edition, (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2001).
↑ Wettstein, J. J. (1751). Novum Testamentum Graecum editionis receptae cum lectionibus variantibus codicum manuscripts. Amsterdam: Ex Officina Dommeriana. pp. 42–62.
↑ C. R. Gregory, Die griechischen Handschriften des Neuen Testament (Leipzig 1908), p. 122.
↑ "Liste Handschriften". Münster: Institute for New Testament Textual Research. Retrieved 16 November 2010.

Bibliography

Scrivener, F.H.A., "A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament", Fourth edition. Cambridge 1861, London 1894.
Soden, Hermann von, "Die Schriften des Neuen Testaments, in ihrer ältesten erreichbaren Textgestalt hergestellt auf Grund ihrer Textgeschichte", Berlin 1902–1910.
Caspar René Gregory, "Die griechischen Handschriften des Neuen Testaments"; Leipzig 1908.
K. Aland, M. Welte, B. Köster, K. Junack, "Kurzgefasste Liste der griechischen Handschriften des Neuen Testaments", Walter de Gruyter , Berlin, New York 1994, pp. 47–215. ISBN 3-11-011986-2
K. Aland, B. Aland, "The Text of the New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Text Criticism", trans. E. F. Rhodes, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company , Grand Rapids, Michigan 1995 (3rd ed.).

External links

Sortable lists

Peter M. Head, New Testament Minuscule Manuscripts
New Testament Greek MSS ordered by century (Compiled by Maurice Robinson)
Timothy Seid, A Table of Greek Manuscripts, Interpreting Ancient Manuscripts. [Retrieved 2012-02-29]
Greek Manuscript Quick Reference – The Life Foundations Nexus
"Continuation of the Manuscript List" INTF , University of Münster. Retrieved September 8, 2009

Sortable articles

The Mount Athos Greek Manuscripts Catalog

Images of minuscules manuscripts

Images of manuscripts at the CSNTM

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[1] Eberhard Nestle, Erwin Nestle, Barbara Aland and Kurt Aland (eds), Novum Testamentum Graece , 27th edition, (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2001).

[2] Wettstein, J. J. (1751). Novum Testamentum Graecum editionis receptae cum lectionibus variantibus codicum manuscripts. Amsterdam: Ex Officina Dommeriana. pp. 42–62.

[3] C. R. Gregory, Die griechischen Handschriften des Neuen Testament (Leipzig 1908), p. 122.

[INTF-4] "Liste Handschriften". Münster: Institute for New Testament Textual Research. Retrieved 16 November 2010.

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