Minuscule 69
Encyclopedia
Minuscule 69 δ 505 (Soden), known as Codex Leicester, or Codex Leicestrensis, is a Greek minuscule manuscript
of the New Testament
on paper and parchment leaves. The manuscript palaeographically
has been assigned to the 15th century. Some leaves of the codex were lost. The text-type is eclectic. It has been examined and collated by many palaeographers and textual critics. Although it is of late date, its text is remarkable from the point of view of textual critic. There are no marginalia
. It is carelessly written with breathings and accents often given wrongly.
(Matthew
1:1-18:15; Acts
10:45-14:17; Jude
7-25; Apocalypse
19:10-22:21) on 213 leaves . The text of the manuscript skips from Acts 10:45 to 14:17 without a break; possibly a scribe rewrote it from a defective manuscript. The codex is written on 91 leaves of parchment and 122 of paper. Usually two parchment leaves are followed by three paper leaves. The paper was very poor quality. It is so bad that four of the leaves were written only on one side.
The leaves are arranged in quarto
(four leaves in quire). There are catchwords from quire to quire and the first half of each quire the leaves are numbered (2nd, 3rd, 4th).
The original order of books was: Pauline epistles
, Acts of the Apostles
, Catholic epistles, Revelation of John, Gospel
s. The Pauline epistles
precede Acts of the Apostles
(like in Codex Sinaiticus
). This order was changed by a binder: Gospels, Pauline epistles, Acts, Catholic epistles, and Apocalypse.
The text of Rev 18:7-19:10 is fragmentary.
It has some non-biblical additional material like: An explanation of the Creed and the Seven Councils (fol. 159v), the Lives of the Apostles (fol. 160v), Limits of the Five Patriarchates
(fol. 161r) like codices 211
and 543
.
It contains Prolegomena to the Hebrews, the tables of the κεφαλαια (tables of contents) precede the three later Gospels with very unusual variations, but without corresponding numbers of the κεφαλαια (chapters) at the margin. There is no division into chapters or sections, no references to the Eusebian Canons, no liturgical markings at the margin. The marginal notes are often illegible. It contains subscriptions at the end of each book. In subscriptions are given numbers of στιχοι and numbers of ρηματα.
The headings of the Gospels are titled as in codex 178
— εκ του κατα Μαρκον.
The writing is rather rough and inelegant. It was written by a strange hand, epsilon
being recumbent and so much like alpha
, that it is not clear which was intended. The accents are placed over the succeeding consonant of the vowel. "The whole style of writing resembling a careless scrawl" (Scrivener). There are numerous marginal notes written by a beautiful hand. This hand wrote words Ειμι Ιλερμου Χαρκου at the top of the first page. The hand of the corrector is nearly old as the scribe.
Name ιησους is always writing at full length up to John 21:15, where we meet with ις, and in 41 other places, 19 of which are in the Acts. The nomina sacra
are contracted in an usual way (δαδ, ις, κς, ουνος, ανος, χς, ιηλ, ιλημ, σηρ, πηρ, μηρ, πνα, στρος, and παρνος). The abbreviation χς (χρισος) once was used for χρηστος.
Ferrar
enumerated 1129 errors of itacism in the codex: ο for ω
(190 occurrences), ω for ο (126), η for ει (93), ει for η (104), ι
for ει (77), ει for ι (62), η
for ι (87), ι for η (46), ε
for αι (73), αι for ε (72), ε for η (24), η for ε (20), υ for η (27 – rare elsewhere), η for υ (28), ου for ω (13), ω for ου (16), οι for ι (3), ι for οι (3), η for ευ (1 – in Luke 12:16), υ for ι (15), ι for υ (14), υ for η (6), υ for ε (1), υ for οι (4), υ for ει (3), οι for υ (4), οι for η (9), ο for ου (3), η for οι (3). There is also θ for τ (after σ) in Mark 10:40 and Luke 11:7.
N ephelkystikon is rarely omitted.
There are some unusual for late mediaeval manuscripts grammar forms: ειπαν (twice only – Matthew 26:35; Luke 20:2), ηλθατε (Matthew 25:36), εξηλθατε (Matthew 26:55; Mark 14:48; Luke 7:24.25.26; 22:52), εισηλθατε (all instances), ανεπεσαν (John 6:10), παραγενομενος (Luke 14:21).
In some cases the accusatives are written with ending -αν for -α, e.g. νυκταν, θυγατεραν, χειραν. The gender is sometimes altered, verbs in -αω or -οω are formed as those in -εω (e.g. επηρωτουν, Luke 3:10; 20:27; επετιμουν, Luke 18:15; ετολμουν; ερωτουν; εμβριμουμενος and others). The augment is often omitted after Luke 11:44, but all before Luke 9, and there is a double augment in ηπηντησαν (John 4:51).
, as very important member of this group—according to some scholars even the most important. The Greek text of the Gospels of this codex is representative of the Caesarean text-type
. Aland
placed it in Category III. It was confirmed by the Claremont Profile Method.
In Pauline epistles
and Catholic epistles its text is a Byzantine. Aland placed it in Category V. In the Book of Revelation
its text belongs to the Byzantine text-type, but with a large number of unique textual variants, in close relationship to the Uncial 046
and Minuscule 61
, which appears to have been copied from it. These three manuscripts constitute a subgroup of the Byzantine text-type
.
The text of Christ's agony at Gethsemane
(Luke 22:43-44) is placed after Matt 26:39. The Pericope Adulterae (John 7:53-8:11) is placed after Luke 21. It is typical for the manuscripts of the Ferrar Group
.
In 2 Cor 11:17 it reads ανθρωπον for κυριον.
In John 4:5 it reads Σιχαρ for Συχαρ.
Although there is no liturgical equipment in the codex, many of its various readings have arisen from lectionaries
.
dated the manuscript to the 14th century, C. R. Gregory to the 15th century. Currently it is dated by the INTF to the 15th century. Rendel Harris suggested that it was written by Emmanuel from Constantinople.
The manuscript was presented to George Neville, Archbishop of York (1465–1472). It once belonged to Richard Brinkeley, who probably got it from Convenant of Grey Friars at Cambridge (like minuscule 61
). Then it belonged to William Chark (or Charc), mentioned in marginal notes of codex 61
. Then it belonged to Thomas Hayne
, who in 1641 gave this codex with his other books to the Leicester Library.
John Mill
was permitted to use this manuscript at Oxford, and collated it there in 1671 (as L). Another collation was made by John Jackson and William Tiffin was lent to Wettstein
through César de Missy
. Wettstein had observed a close affinity between this codex and minuscule 13. It was also examined by Edward Gee
. Tregelles re-collated it in 1852 for his edition of the Greek New Testament. Scrivener collated it again in 1855 and published his results, with a full description in the Appendix to his "Codex Augiensis". It was collated by T. K. Abbott along with three other manuscripts of the Ferrar family (marked by L). It was examined and described by and Rendel Harris. Gregory saw it in 1883.
Formerly it was held in the library of the Town Council of Leicester. The codex now is located in Leicestershire Record Office (Cod. 6 D 32/1) at Leicester
.
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
on paper and parchment leaves. The manuscript palaeographically
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
has been assigned to the 15th century. Some leaves of the codex were lost. The text-type is eclectic. It has been examined and collated by many palaeographers and textual critics. Although it is of late date, its text is remarkable from the point of view of textual critic. There are no marginalia
Marginalia
Marginalia are scribbles, comments, and illuminations in the margins of a book.- Biblical manuscripts :Biblical manuscripts have liturgical notes at the margin, for liturgical use. Numbers of texts' divisions are given at the margin...
. It is carelessly written with breathings and accents often given wrongly.
Contents
The codex contains the entire New Testament with four lacunaeLacuna (manuscripts)
A lacunaPlural lacunae. From Latin lacūna , diminutive form of lacus . is a gap in a manuscript, inscription, text, painting, or a musical work...
(Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
1:1-18:15; Acts
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
10:45-14:17; Jude
Epistle of Jude
The Epistle of Jude, often shortened to Jude, is the penultimate book of the New Testament and is attributed to Jude, the brother of James the Just. - Composition :...
7-25; Apocalypse
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
19:10-22:21) on 213 leaves . The text of the manuscript skips from Acts 10:45 to 14:17 without a break; possibly a scribe rewrote it from a defective manuscript. The codex is written on 91 leaves of parchment and 122 of paper. Usually two parchment leaves are followed by three paper leaves. The paper was very poor quality. It is so bad that four of the leaves were written only on one side.
The leaves are arranged in quarto
Quarto
Quarto could refer to:* Quarto, a size or format of a book in which four leaves of a book are created from a standard size sheet of paper* For specific information about quarto texts of William Shakespeare's works, see:...
(four leaves in quire). There are catchwords from quire to quire and the first half of each quire the leaves are numbered (2nd, 3rd, 4th).
The original order of books was: Pauline epistles
Pauline epistles
The Pauline epistles, Epistles of Paul, or Letters of Paul, are the thirteen New Testament books which have the name Paul as the first word, hence claiming authorship by Paul the Apostle. Among these letters are some of the earliest extant Christian documents...
, Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
, Catholic epistles, Revelation of John, Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
s. The Pauline epistles
Pauline epistles
The Pauline epistles, Epistles of Paul, or Letters of Paul, are the thirteen New Testament books which have the name Paul as the first word, hence claiming authorship by Paul the Apostle. Among these letters are some of the earliest extant Christian documents...
precede Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
(like in Codex Sinaiticus
Codex Sinaiticus
Codex Sinaiticus is one of the four great uncial codices, an ancient, handwritten copy of the Greek Bible. It is an Alexandrian text-type manuscript written in the 4th century in uncial letters on parchment. Current scholarship considers the Codex Sinaiticus to be one of the best Greek texts of...
). This order was changed by a binder: Gospels, Pauline epistles, Acts, Catholic epistles, and Apocalypse.
The text of Rev 18:7-19:10 is fragmentary.
It has some non-biblical additional material like: An explanation of the Creed and the Seven Councils (fol. 159v), the Lives of the Apostles (fol. 160v), Limits of the Five Patriarchates
Limits of the Five Patriarchates
The Limits of the Five Patriarchates is a text describing the five patriarchates of Christianity in the Middle Ages. It is found appended to some manuscripts of the New Testament. The text's sequence and validity of patriarchates is different from the traditional Pentarchy established by ecumenical...
(fol. 161r) like codices 211
Minuscule 211
Minuscule 211 , ε 234 , is a Greek-Arabic diglot minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century. The manuscript is lacunose...
and 543
Minuscule 543 (Gregory-Aland)
Minuscule 543 in the Gregory-Aland numbering is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century....
.
It contains Prolegomena to the Hebrews, the tables of the κεφαλαια (tables of contents) precede the three later Gospels with very unusual variations, but without corresponding numbers of the κεφαλαια (chapters) at the margin. There is no division into chapters or sections, no references to the Eusebian Canons, no liturgical markings at the margin. The marginal notes are often illegible. It contains subscriptions at the end of each book. In subscriptions are given numbers of στιχοι and numbers of ρηματα.
The headings of the Gospels are titled as in codex 178
Minuscule 178
Minuscule 178 , ε 210 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century. It has marginalia.- Description :...
— εκ του κατα Μαρκον.
Scribal habit
The text is written in one column per page, 37-38 lines per page. The large initial letters at the beginning of each book are written in red.The writing is rather rough and inelegant. It was written by a strange hand, epsilon
Epsilon
Epsilon is the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet, corresponding phonetically to a close-mid front unrounded vowel . In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 5. It was derived from the Phoenician letter He...
being recumbent and so much like alpha
Alpha
Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Alpha or ALPHA may also refer to:-Science:*Alpha , the highest ranking individuals in a community of social animals...
, that it is not clear which was intended. The accents are placed over the succeeding consonant of the vowel. "The whole style of writing resembling a careless scrawl" (Scrivener). There are numerous marginal notes written by a beautiful hand. This hand wrote words Ειμι Ιλερμου Χαρκου at the top of the first page. The hand of the corrector is nearly old as the scribe.
Name ιησους is always writing at full length up to John 21:15, where we meet with ις, and in 41 other places, 19 of which are in the Acts. The nomina sacra
Nomina sacra
Nomina sacra means "sacred names" in Latin, and can be used to refer to traditions of abbreviated writing of several frequently occurring divine names or titles in early Greek language Holy Scripture...
are contracted in an usual way (δαδ, ις, κς, ουνος, ανος, χς, ιηλ, ιλημ, σηρ, πηρ, μηρ, πνα, στρος, and παρνος). The abbreviation χς (χρισος) once was used for χρηστος.
Ferrar
William Hugh Ferrar
William Hugh Ferrar , Latinist, a classical Irish scholar at Dublin University.Ferrar in 1868 discovered that four medieval manuscripts, namely minuscules 13, 69, 124, and 346, were closely related texts. They are descendants of an archetype from Calabria in southern Italy or Sicily. Now they are...
enumerated 1129 errors of itacism in the codex: ο for ω
Omega
Omega is the 24th and last letter of the Greek alphabet. In the Greek numeric system, it has a value of 800. The word literally means "great O" , as opposed to omicron, which means "little O"...
(190 occurrences), ω for ο (126), η for ει (93), ει for η (104), ι
Iota
Iota is the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 10. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Yodh . Letters that arose from this letter include the Roman I and J and the Cyrillic І , Yi , Je , and iotified letters .Iota represents...
for ει (77), ει for ι (62), η
ETA
ETA , an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization. The group was founded in 1959 and has since evolved from a group promoting traditional Basque culture to a paramilitary group with the goal of gaining independence for the Greater Basque Country...
for ι (87), ι for η (46), ε
Epsilon
Epsilon is the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet, corresponding phonetically to a close-mid front unrounded vowel . In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 5. It was derived from the Phoenician letter He...
for αι (73), αι for ε (72), ε for η (24), η for ε (20), υ for η (27 – rare elsewhere), η for υ (28), ου for ω (13), ω for ου (16), οι for ι (3), ι for οι (3), η for ευ (1 – in Luke 12:16), υ for ι (15), ι for υ (14), υ for η (6), υ for ε (1), υ for οι (4), υ for ει (3), οι for υ (4), οι for η (9), ο for ου (3), η for οι (3). There is also θ for τ (after σ) in Mark 10:40 and Luke 11:7.
N ephelkystikon is rarely omitted.
There are some unusual for late mediaeval manuscripts grammar forms: ειπαν (twice only – Matthew 26:35; Luke 20:2), ηλθατε (Matthew 25:36), εξηλθατε (Matthew 26:55; Mark 14:48; Luke 7:24.25.26; 22:52), εισηλθατε (all instances), ανεπεσαν (John 6:10), παραγενομενος (Luke 14:21).
In some cases the accusatives are written with ending -αν for -α, e.g. νυκταν, θυγατεραν, χειραν. The gender is sometimes altered, verbs in -αω or -οω are formed as those in -εω (e.g. επηρωτουν, Luke 3:10; 20:27; επετιμουν, Luke 18:15; ετολμουν; ερωτουν; εμβριμουμενος and others). The augment is often omitted after Luke 11:44, but all before Luke 9, and there is a double augment in ηπηντησαν (John 4:51).
Text
Textually codex 69 is very remarkable; it belongs to Family 13Family 13
Family 13, also known Ferrar Group , is a group of Greek Gospel manuscripts, varying in date from the 11th to the 15th century, which display a distinctive pattern of variant readings — especially in placing the story of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery in the Gospel of Luke, rather than in...
, as very important member of this group—according to some scholars even the most important. The Greek text of the Gospels of this codex is representative of the Caesarean text-type
Caesarean text-type
Caesarean text-type is the term proposed by certain scholars to denote a consistent pattern of variant readings that is claimed to be apparent in certain Greek manuscripts of the four Gospels, but which is not found in any of the other commonly recognized New Testament text-types; the Byzantine...
. Aland
Kurt Aland
Kurt Aland was a German Theologian and Professor of New Testament Research and Church History. He founded the Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung in Münster and served as its first director for many years...
placed it in Category III. It was confirmed by the Claremont Profile Method.
In Pauline epistles
Pauline epistles
The Pauline epistles, Epistles of Paul, or Letters of Paul, are the thirteen New Testament books which have the name Paul as the first word, hence claiming authorship by Paul the Apostle. Among these letters are some of the earliest extant Christian documents...
and Catholic epistles its text is a Byzantine. Aland placed it in Category V. In the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
its text belongs to the Byzantine text-type, but with a large number of unique textual variants, in close relationship to the Uncial 046
Codex Vaticanus 2066
Codex Vaticanus 2066, designed by 046 , α 1070 , formerly it was known also as Codex Basilianus, previously it was designated by Br or B2. It is a Greek uncial manuscript of the New Testament written on vellum...
and Minuscule 61
Minuscule 61
Codex Montfortianus designated by 61 , and known as minuscule 61, Erasmus named it Codex Britannicus, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on paper. It is dated to the early 16th century, though a 15th century date is possible on palaeographic grounds.The manuscript is famous for...
, which appears to have been copied from it. These three manuscripts constitute a subgroup of the Byzantine text-type
Byzantine text-type
The Byzantine text-type is one of several text-types used in textual criticism to describe the textual character of Greek New Testament manuscripts. It is the form found in the largest number of surviving manuscripts, though not in the oldest...
.
The text of Christ's agony at Gethsemane
Christ's agony at Gethsemane
Christ's agony at Gethsemane is a passage in the Gospel of Luke , describing a prayer of Jesus, after which he receives strength from an angel, on the Mount of Olives prior to his betrayal and arrest...
(Luke 22:43-44) is placed after Matt 26:39. The Pericope Adulterae (John 7:53-8:11) is placed after Luke 21. It is typical for the manuscripts of the Ferrar Group
Family 13
Family 13, also known Ferrar Group , is a group of Greek Gospel manuscripts, varying in date from the 11th to the 15th century, which display a distinctive pattern of variant readings — especially in placing the story of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery in the Gospel of Luke, rather than in...
.
In 2 Cor 11:17 it reads ανθρωπον for κυριον.
In John 4:5 it reads Σιχαρ for Συχαρ.
Although there is no liturgical equipment in the codex, many of its various readings have arisen from lectionaries
Lectionary
A Lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian or Judaic worship on a given day or occasion.-History:...
.
History
Wettstein and J. Rendel HarrisJ. Rendel Harris
James Rendel Harris was an English biblical scholar and curator of manuscripts, who was instrumental in bringing back to light many Syriac Scriptures and other early documents...
dated the manuscript to the 14th century, C. R. Gregory to the 15th century. Currently it is dated by the INTF to the 15th century. Rendel Harris suggested that it was written by Emmanuel from Constantinople.
The manuscript was presented to George Neville, Archbishop of York (1465–1472). It once belonged to Richard Brinkeley, who probably got it from Convenant of Grey Friars at Cambridge (like minuscule 61
Minuscule 61
Codex Montfortianus designated by 61 , and known as minuscule 61, Erasmus named it Codex Britannicus, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on paper. It is dated to the early 16th century, though a 15th century date is possible on palaeographic grounds.The manuscript is famous for...
). Then it belonged to William Chark (or Charc), mentioned in marginal notes of codex 61
Minuscule 61
Codex Montfortianus designated by 61 , and known as minuscule 61, Erasmus named it Codex Britannicus, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on paper. It is dated to the early 16th century, though a 15th century date is possible on palaeographic grounds.The manuscript is famous for...
. Then it belonged to Thomas Hayne
Thomas Hayne
-Life:The son of Robert Hayne of Thrussington, Leicestershire, he matriculated from Lincoln College, Oxford, on 12 October 1599. He was admitted B.A. on 23 January 1605, was appointed second under-master of Merchant Taylors' School, London, in the same year, became usher at Christ's Hospital in...
, who in 1641 gave this codex with his other books to the Leicester Library.
John Mill
John Mill
John Mill was an English theologian. He is noted for his critical edition of the Greek New Testament which included notes on many variant readings.-Biography:...
was permitted to use this manuscript at Oxford, and collated it there in 1671 (as L). Another collation was made by John Jackson and William Tiffin was lent to Wettstein
Johann Jakob Wettstein
Johann Jakob Wettstein was a Swiss theologian, best known as a New Testament critic.-Youth and study:...
through César de Missy
César de Missy
César de Missy , theologian, chaplain to George III, scholar of the New Testament, and book collector.De Missy was a Prussian critic and book collector, who owned many of the volumes in this collection. He spent his life collecting manuscripts for the new edition of the New Testament. Some...
. Wettstein had observed a close affinity between this codex and minuscule 13. It was also examined by Edward Gee
Edward Gee
Edward Gee was an English churchman, known as a controversialist, and later successively Dean of Peterborough and Dean of Lincoln.- Life :...
. Tregelles re-collated it in 1852 for his edition of the Greek New Testament. Scrivener collated it again in 1855 and published his results, with a full description in the Appendix to his "Codex Augiensis". It was collated by T. K. Abbott along with three other manuscripts of the Ferrar family (marked by L). It was examined and described by and Rendel Harris. Gregory saw it in 1883.
Formerly it was held in the library of the Town Council of Leicester. The codex now is located in Leicestershire Record Office (Cod. 6 D 32/1) at Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
.
External links
[Images from Codex Leicestrensis]- Description of Codex Leicestrensis at the CSNTM
- Codex Leicestrensis at the Encyclopedia of Textual Criticism