Codex

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a roll or volume, especially used in compound terms, as Codex Justinianus, Code of Justinian, Codex Theodosianus, Code of Theodosius. In Biblical criticism, a manuscript of any portion of the New or Old Testament, especially of the former. The original manuscripts of the two Testaments have been lost. In our inability to obtain them for purposes of consultation, it is needful to fall back on other copies as few removes as possible from the original. When in copying the Scriptures the ancient transcribers detected an error committed by some one of their predecessors, they did not simply erase it, but placed it as an erratum on the margin of their copy. As further transcriptions were made fresh errata were similarly noted, till at length the margin became greatly crowded. In attempting to re- ( store the original text great value is attached to the acquisition of any manuscripts made in one of the earliest centuries, from the power it gives one eliminating errata belonging to subof sequent periods. Manuscripts are divided into two classes: uncials, written in capitals and with no spaces between the words, and cursives, written more in conformity with modern practice. When the New Testament was rendered into English for the authorized version of the Scriptures, the Greek text used, that of Erasmus and Robert Stephens, was based on MSS. more modern than the 10th century. Now, some of much earlier date are available, prominent 1 among which are the five noted below: Codex A (called also Codex Alexandrinus). - The Alexandrian, or Alexandrine, MS. of the New Testament; a MS. sent by the Patriarch of Constantinople as a present to the English King Charles I., and believed to belong to the middle of the 5th century. A correct edition of it was printed in 1860. Codex B (called also Codex Vaticanus). The Vatican codex, or MS.; so named because preserved in the Vatican; a very valuable MS., belonging, it is thought, to the middle of the 4th century, if not even older, it was discovered in the latter part of the 14th century. Codex C. The Ephraem manuscript, so called because some of the compositions of Ephraem the Syrian had been written over it. It is supposed to be dated at least as early in the 5th century as Codex A. Codex D. The manuscript of Beza, called after this eminent reformer, who presented it to the University of Cambridge in 1581. It is supposed to belong to the 6th century. Codex Aleph or Codex Sinaiticus: The Sinaitic codex, or manuscript; so called because Tischendorf, rf, its its discoverer, discov ob tained it from the monastery of St. Katherine on Mount Sinai; the year of the great acquisition was 1859; dating, it is supposed, from the middle of the 4th century. An edition of it was published in 1865.