British Library, Add MS 14459,
Syriac manuscript
A manuscript (abbreviated MS for singular and MSS for plural) was, traditionally, any document written by hand or typewritten, as opposed to mechanically printed or reproduced in some indirect or automated way. More recently, the term has ...
of the
New Testament
The New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus, as well as events relating to Christianity in the 1st century, first-century Christianit ...
, on a parchment. It is dated by a
colophon to the year 528-529 or 537-538 (partially illegible colophon). It is one of the oldest manuscript of
Peshitta
The Peshitta ( ''or'' ') is the standard Syriac edition of the Bible for Syriac Christian churches and traditions that follow the liturgies of the Syriac Rites.
The Peshitta is originally and traditionally written in the Classical Syriac d ...
and the earliest dated manuscript containing two of the Gospels in Syriac (folios 67-169).
Bruce M. Metzger
Bruce Manning Metzger (February 9, 1914 – February 13, 2007) was an American biblical scholar, Bible translator and textual critic who was a longtime professor at Princeton Theological Seminary and Bible editor who served on the board of the ...
, ''The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission and Limitations'' (Oxford University Press 1977), p. 51. The manuscript is bound with another (folios 1-66) dated to the 5th century.
Bruce M. Metzger
Bruce Manning Metzger (February 9, 1914 – February 13, 2007) was an American biblical scholar, Bible translator and textual critic who was a longtime professor at Princeton Theological Seminary and Bible editor who served on the board of the ...
, ''The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission and Limitations'' (Oxford University Press 1977), p. 50.
Folios 1-66
It contains the text of the
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament of the Bible and one of the three synoptic Gospels. It tells the story of who the author believes is Israel's messiah (Christ (title), Christ), Jesus, resurrection of Jesus, his res ...
(beginning with 6:20) and
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel of Mark is the second of the four canonical Gospels and one of the three synoptic Gospels, synoptic Gospels. It tells of the ministry of Jesus from baptism of Jesus, his baptism by John the Baptist to his death, the Burial of Jesus, ...
on folios 1-66. It is written in a beautiful, Edesene
Estrangela hand. The manuscript was described by
Wright
Wright is an occupational surname originating in England and Scotland. The term 'Wright' comes from the circa 700 AD Old English word 'wryhta' or 'wyrhta', meaning worker or shaper of wood. Later it became any occupational worker (for example, a ...
and Gwilliam.
[G. H. Gwilliam, ''Studia Biblica et ecclesiastica'', Vol. 1, Oxford 1885, pp. 151-171] It is dated to the 5th century.
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. Based in London, it is one of the largest libraries in the world, with an estimated collection of between 170 and 200 million items from multiple countries. As a legal deposit li ...
(Add MS 14459, folios 1-66) in London.[
]
Folios 67-169
It contains the text of the Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of Luke is the third of the New Testament's four canonical Gospels. It tells of the origins, Nativity of Jesus, birth, Ministry of Jesus, ministry, Crucifixion of Jesus, death, Resurrection of Jesus, resurrection, and Ascension of ...
and Gospel of John
The Gospel of John () is the fourth of the New Testament's four canonical Gospels. It contains a highly schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven "Book of Signs, signs" culminating in the raising of Lazarus (foreshadowing the ...
, on folios 67-169 (20.3 by 12.7 cm). Written in one column per page, in 25-27 lines per page.[William Wright, ''Catalogue of the Syriac manuscripts in the British Museum'' (2002), p. 67.][ Folio 74 is a palimpsest leaf from the 9th or the 10th century. Probably it was added by the same hand who retouched folios 162 and 163. The more ancient text of the folio is of Matthew 3:6-9.11-13; 3:16-4:1; 4:4-6, according to Peshitta version.][
Many lessons have been noted on the margin by later hand, sometimes in barbarous Greek.][
The manuscript was described by Wright.][
The manuscript is housed at the ]British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. Based in London, it is one of the largest libraries in the world, with an estimated collection of between 170 and 200 million items from multiple countries. As a legal deposit li ...
(Add MS 14459, folios 67-169) in London.[
]
See also
* List of the Syriac New Testament manuscripts
* Syriac versions of the Bible
Syriac is a dialect of Aramaic. Portions of the Old Testament were written in Aramaic and there are Aramaic phrases in the New Testament. Syriac translations of the New Testament were among the first and date from the 2nd century. The whole Bible ...
* Biblical manuscript
A biblical manuscript is any handwritten copy of a portion of the text of the Bible. Biblical manuscripts vary in size from tiny scrolls containing individual verses of the Jewish scriptures (see '' Tefillin'') to huge polyglot codices (multi- ...
* British Library, Add MS 14466
* British Library, Add MS 14479
References
{{refend
Further reading
* William Wright, ''Catalogue of the Syriac manuscripts in the British Museum'' (1870, reprint: Gorgias Press
Gorgias Press is a US-based independent academic publisher specializing in the history and religion of the Middle East and the larger pre-modern world.
History
Founded in 2001 by Christine and George Kiraz, the press is based in Piscataway, N ...
2002), pp. 67-68.
External links
William Wright, ''Catalogue of the Syriac manuscripts in the British Museum''
Peshitta manuscripts
5th-century biblical manuscripts
6th-century biblical manuscripts
Add. 14459