vatican gregory von oldest extant manuscripts old new testament great named place conservation kept 15th century written leaves letters dated 4th century manuscript known western scholars result correspondence portions scholars numerous errors process relationship latin unclear scholars initially unaware value changed 19th century completed point scholars realised text differed significantly current scholars consider best greek texts competitor discovery text extensively edition original greek widely sold editions largely based text contents originally contained virtually complete copy lacking prayer original leaves containing genesis leaves lost replaced pages later hand 15th century kings lost tear pages order old testament books follows genesis chronicles normal job wisdom minor order differs followed extant contains acts general lacking revelation missing leaves supplemented 15th century hand separately possibly books included end possible revelation included verses later manuscripts text lacks passages matthew mark mark book mark ends verse consistent text type luke john john acts romans peter phrases later manuscripts include matthew curse good hate loves son daughter worthy matthew mother matthew baptised baptism baptised mark joined wife mark omitted arm added later luke said know manner spirit son man came destroy men lives save omitted old version luke deliver evil omitted omission supported manuscripts formula arm luke jesus said father forgive know omission supported manuscripts formula additions matt contains added text took spear piercing came water blood reading derived john occurs manuscripts text type description manuscript volume arranged sheets leaves similar unlike arrangement sheets number found margin originally composed leaves appears leaves lost currently old testament consists sheets sheets fine thin actual size pages original bigger written columns page lines page letters line books columns page judges kings lines column chronicles lines column manuscript manuscripts written columns page greek written way comprises single volume containing thin delicate leaves lettering small neat ornamentation capitals greek written continuously small neat writing letters word separated line appears long word rare accents added later hand blank spaces initial markings marked inverted enlarged initials stops accents divisions chapters sections found later manuscripts text divided according references divided peculiar numbered sections matthew luke john system found manuscripts system divisions acts catholic differ apparatus acts sections system according system sections peter leading conclusion system divisions dates prior time came commonly regarded canonical chapters numbered continuously regarded comprising book text type type text varies received text rejected book judges text differs substantially majority manuscripts agrees version alexandria job additional half verses versions text considered critics substantially edition completed issued independent work apart versions associated greek text representative text type placed category luke john found agree closely text formula dated beginning 3rd century years older purported demonstrate earlier descend accurately earlier text biblical books reputation held biblical scholars strongly suggests copied egypt distinctly western element notable readings judges reads son reads son reads matthew lacks word cause reading supported formula manuscripts version matthew day day singular reading second singular reading word desert omitted manuscripts luke variant opened book manuscripts pal variant book supported manuscripts luke reading supported formula arm luke things thing john contains unique variant variant supported manuscript majority manuscripts place manuscripts john father instead god acts island reading supported formula old latin version romans reading supported singular readings revealed universe word power rest manuscripts universe word power early history uncertain rome southern italy alexandria suggested origin argument rome rests mainly certain proper names western latin influence second argument chapter division acts similar found greek manuscript present manuscripts latin robinson argument suggesting system chapter divisions introduced result studies according copied manuscript line length letters line large typically letters long suggested manuscript originated alexandria noteworthy section shows copied manuscript placed arrangement occurs version connection egypt indicated according order fact titles books contain letters character particularly titles frequently ends lines space according similarity text significant portions versions greek style writing notably forms titles point egypt alexandria time manuscript possession supplement text similar manuscripts believes mentor constantinople book brought rome constantinople time fall byzantine_empire according decorative initials added manuscript middle ages reminiscent decoration 10th century poor execution gives impression added 11th 12th century likely 12th century light way appear connection notes hand beginning book daniel argued emperor constantine ordered produce similarity text version including letter formation parallels canon suggest egyptian origin manuscript dated half 4th century likely slightly older 4th century argument support time new canon tables slightly archaic style complete absence ornamentation according manuscript written appear written entire view accepted contested examined thoroughly contested theory instead asserting worked wrote wrote genesis kings pages pages wrote kings pages daniel pages worked manuscript contemporary 10th 11th century theory proposed rejected later scholars according identical insufficient evidence assertion agreed writing style similar evidence accept identity identity tradition stands dispute original writing later usually dated 10th 11th century beauty original script accents breathing marks added later hand enlarged initials divisions chapters sections found later manuscripts different system division peculiar manuscript plenty faults especially exchange exchange frequent manuscript contains unusual small horizontally aligned double dots called called margin columns scattered clearly found text date markings disputed scholars discussed link seen left margin column image reflected meaning resolution pointed places ending gospel mark meaning recognized discovered studying section suggested indicate lines variant known person wrote mark places uncertainty observed especially section containing indicate variant western manuscripts placed manuscripts manuscripts page text contains interesting marginal note fool leave old reading change suggest recognized problem manuscript believed housed 6th century unique divisions chapters acts came italy probably constantinople discussion manuscript housed founded pope nicholas long known appearing library earliest catalog shelf number catalog catalog described column bible 16th century western scholars aware manuscript consequence correspondence consulted contained supplied john john cross checked places differed supplied readings supported list readings lost consequently acquired reputation old greek manuscript agreed later scholars realise text differed text found known early greek manuscripts housed french librarian vatican published found copy paris imperfect revised revised published stirred mill claim variants wanted reconstruct text early form felt manuscripts oldest best world understood necessity use manuscripts reconstruct older form apparent assumed manuscript readings greek manuscripts latin single presumed existed time required unfortunately text abandoned project copenhagen edited variants acts book revelation incomplete included variants manuscripts false mill cite incorrectly gave example luke israel instead jerusalem reading found housed vatican library shelf number 19th century scholar allowed study edit scholars value fact suspected latin tradition wrote latino written latin western world believe value having manuscript liked know readings thought help difficult decisions according authority whatsoever hoc produced list manuscripts received symbol age took second position list received etc discovery designated produced list manuscripts assigned text list second edition greek added witness text mark luke john believed half matthew represented western text type editions text napoleon brought manuscript victory trophy paris returned time paris german scholar saw examined worthy treasures vatican perceive need new cardinal prepared edition appear years death considered unsatisfactory issued volumes volumes volume supplemented acts supplemented text text mark verses included matthew mark luke john peter john supplemented popular greek printed editions number errors high attention paid distinguish readings hand versus detailed examination manuscript characteristics consequence edition deemed inadequate critical purposes improved edition published source permitted verses saw allowed observe points overlooked saw restrictions impossible examine particular readings let open searching pockets pen ink paper time kept constant conversation latin looked passage long book hand left rome months object large 19th century authorities scholars wished study detail wrote published thoroughly commented probably oldest large manuscript existence glory great vatican library rome legitimate sources deep interest added romantic curiosity excited jealous official guardians honest zeal safe preservation degenerated species strange making proper use treasure scarcely permit gaze guarded papal authorities ordinary visitors red morocco binding history history miniature jealousy permitted examine hour half consulting different passages defender corrupt documents extant felt clearly exhibits fabricated text result arbitrary reckless widely respected false witnesses matthew verified doubtful passages imperfect published editions complete errors began work met unexpected received special order cardinal verify passages license interpreted librarian mean book use secretary cure continued work reason clearly appear authorities continual obstacles way wished study detail published text basis edition perfect edition manuscript appeared published edition entire volumes volume volume appeared photographic entire manuscript published volumes text published milan result widely available exact scale form pages original manuscript complete distinctive individual shape page including holes additional volume gold silver impressions pages copy available online importance important manuscripts text leading example text type edition original greek basis text critical editions published closer text exception editions closer editions remain close character text means basis translation according commonly accepted opinion critics important witness text acts catholic stature equal includes western readings value text somewhat unfortunately manuscript complete notes far significant editions milan character allies study indictment london volumes salt_lake_city del del miller observations special attention miller points notes uses website originality text critical symbols special attention response combination bar plus special meaning christian les points des journal theological studies vol study origins manuscripts tradition sources oxford manuscripts introduction greek new_york oxford
Codex Vaticanus