Codex Regius (New Testament)

The manuscript is a codex (precursor to the modern book) containing an almost complete text of the four Gospels on 257 thick parchment leaves ({{× | 23.5 | 17}}). The following portions are missing due to the loss of several leaves/pages: Matt 4:22-5:14, 28:17-20, Mark 10:16-30, 15:2-20, and John 21:15-25.{{Cite book | first=Frederick Henry Ambrose | last=Scrivener | author-link=Frederick Henry Ambrose Scrivener | author2=Edward Miller | title=A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament | edition=4 | volume=1 | pages=137–138 | year=1894 | publisher=George Bell & Sons | location=London}}

The text is written in two columns per page, 25 lines per page, in large but not rounded uncial letters using black and brown ink.{{Cite book | first=William Henry Paine | last=Hatch | title=The Principal Uncial Manuscripts of the New Testament | page=Plate 39 (XXXIX) | year=1939 | publisher=University of Chicago Press | location=Chicago | url=https://archive.org/details/principaluncialm0000hatc/page/112/mode/2up | url-access=limited}} It has breathing marks (utilised to designate vowel emphasis), and accents (used to indicate voiced pitch changes) often added wrongly.{{Cite book | first=Caspar René | last=Gregory | author-link=Caspar René Gregory | title=Textkritik des Neuen Testaments | volume=1 | page=55 | year=1900 | publisher=J.C. Hinrichs | location=Leipzig | url=https://archive.org/stream/textkritikdesne00greggoog#page/n673/mode/2up | language=German }} Initials for the ekthesis (offset letters to the left of the main margin, marking start of paragraphs) are ornamented and written in red, green, blue and yellow ink.{{r|hatch}} Scrivener describes it as "carelessly written by an ignorant scribe".{{r|Scrivener}} According to him the letter φ (phi) is enormously large, and the letter α (alpha) presents the last stage of the uncial script.{{r|Scrivener}} He also surmises it was badly written by the copyist, who was probably more Egyptian rather than Greek, who had a tendency for writing Coptic rather than Greek letters.{{r|Scrivener}} Quotations from the Old Testament are indicated.{{r|hatch}} Decorated headpieces are present for each Gospel.{{r|hatch}}

The text is divided according to the chapters (known as {{lang|grc|κεφαλαια}} / kephalaia), whose numbers are given in the margin, and their titles (known as {{lang|grc|τιτλοι}} / titloi) written at the top of the pages.{{r|hatch}} It also contains the table of contents (also known as {{lang|grc|κεφαλαια}}) before each Gospel except John.{{r|hatch}} There is also another division according to the Ammonian sections, with references to the Eusebian Canons (early systems of dividing the four Gospels into different sections) in the margin.{{r|hatch}} Lectionary markings are contained in the margin for liturgical readings (these being dates in the yearly Church calendar where specific passages are read).{{r|Gregory|Scrivener|hatch}}

It has John 7:53-8:11 omitted, and there are two endings to the Gospel of Mark (as in codices Ψ 099 0112 Minuscule 274 579 Lectionary 1602), a shorter one appearing before the traditional verses 16:9-20.{{r|hatch}}{{Cite book | first1=Bruce Manning | last1=Metzger | author-link1=Bruce M. Metzger | first2=Bart D. | last2=Ehrman | author-link2=Bart D. Ehrman | title=The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration | edition=4th | page=77 | year=2005 | publisher=Oxford University Press | location=Oxford | isbn=0-19-516667-1 | url=https://archive.org/details/TheTextOfNewTestament4thEdit/page/n3/mode/2up}}

The text of this "shorter" ending is translated as follows:

But they [the women] reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.{{r|metz-ehrman}}

The Greek text of this codex is considered a representative of the Alexandrian text-type in its late stadium.{{Cite book | first=Carlo Maria | last=Martini | author-link=Carlo Maria Martini | title=La Parola di Dio Alle Origini della Chiesa | page=153 | year=1980 | publisher=Biblical Institute Press | location=Rome | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5pZyQmwXhdsC&pg=PA153&lpg }} The text-types are groups of different New Testament manuscripts which share specific or generally related readings, which then differ from each other group, and thus the conflicting readings can separate out the groups. These are then used to determine the original text as published; there are three main groups with names: Alexandrian, Western, and Byzantine.{{r|metz-ehrman|pp=205-230}} It contains a large number of Byzantine readings in the Gospel of Matthew (specifically in 1:1–17:26). Textual critic Kurt Aland placed it in Category II of his New Testament classification system.{{r|Aland}} Category II manuscripts are described as being manuscripts "of a special quality, i.e., manuscripts with a considerable proportion of the early text, but which are marked by alien influences. These influences are usually of smoother, improved readings, and in later periods by infiltration by the Byzantine text."{{r|Aland|p=335}} According to scholar Frederik Wisse, who examined Luke 1; 10; 20, the text is a "core member" of the Alexandrian text.{{Cite book | first=Frederik | last=Wisse | title=The Profile Method for the Classification and Evaluation of Manuscript Evidence, as Applied to the Continuous Greek Text of the Gospel of Luke | page=52 | year=1982 | publisher=William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company | location=Grand Rapids | isbn=0-8028-1918-4 | url=https://archive.org/details/profilemethodfor00wiss/page/63 | url-access=registration}} It was noted in the 19th century that there is strong resemblance to Codex Vaticanus (B), to the citations of Origen, and to the marginal readings of the Harklean Syriac.{{r|Scrivener}}

; Omissions

{{bibleref|Matthew|12:47}}

:omit - L {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}} B 1009 ℓ 12 Codex Corbeiensis I k Curetonian GospelsSyriac Sinaiticus cop{{sup|sa}})

:incl. - Majority of manuscripts

{{bibleref|Matthew|20:23}}

:{{lang|grc|και το βαπτισμα ο εγω βαπτιζομαι βαπτισθησεσθε}} (and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with) - L {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}} B D Z Θ 085 Family 1 Family 13 it syr{{sup|s, c}} cop{{sup|sa}}{{Cite book | title=Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece | editor-first1=Kurt | editor-last1=Aland | editor1-link=Kurt Aland | editor-first2=Matthew | editor-last2=Black | editor2-link=Matthew Black | editor-first3=Carlo Maria | editor-last3=Martini | editor3-link=Carlo Maria Martini | editor-first4=Bruce M. | editor-last4=Metzger | editor4-link=Bruce Metzger | editor-first5=Allen | editor-last5=Wikgren | editor5-link=Allen Wikgren | edition=26 | year=1981 | publisher=Deutsche Bibelstiftung | location=Stuttgart | isbn=3-438-051001 }} (NA26){{rp|56}}

{{bibleref|Matthew|23:38}}

:{{lang|grc|ερημος}} (desert)

::omit - L B ℓ 184

::incl. - Majority of manuscripts

{{bibleref|Luke|9:55-56}}

:{{lang|grc|καὶ εἶπεν, Οὑκ οἴδατε οἵου πνεύματος ἑστε ὐμεῖς; ὀ γὰρ υἰὸς τοῦ ἁνθρώπου οὑκ ἦλθεν ψυχὰς ἁνθρώπων ἁπολέσαι ἁλλὰ σῶσαι}} (and He said: "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of man came not to destroy men's lives but to save them) - L {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}} B C Θ Ξ 33 700 892 1241 syr, cop{{sup|bo}}{{r|na26|p=190}}

{{bibleref|Luke|11:4}}

:{{lang|grc|αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου}} (but deliver us from evil) - L {{papyrus link|75}} {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}} B Family 1 700 vg syr{{sup|s}} cop{{sup|sa, bo}} arm geo.{{Cite book | title=The Greek New Testament | editor-first1=Kurt | editor-last1=Aland | editor1-link=Kurt Aland | editor-first2=Matthew | editor-last2=Black | editor2-link=Matthew Black | editor-first3=Carlo Maria | editor-last3=Martini | editor3-link=Carlo Maria Martini | editor-first4=Bruce Manning | editor-last4=Metzger | editor4-link=Bruce Metzger | editor-first5=Allen | editor-last5=Wikgren | editor5-link=Allen Wikgren | edition=3rd | year=1983 | publisher=United Bible Societies | location=Stuttgart | isbn=9783438051103 }} (UBS3){{rp|256}}

Other verses omitted are: {{bibleref|Mark|7:16}}, {{bibleref|Mark|9:44}}, {{bibleref|Mark|9:46}}, {{bibleref|Mark|11:26}}, {{bibleref|Luke|17:36}}, and {{bibleref|John|5:4}}.

File:Codex Regius (John 12,13-14).JPG

; Additions

{{bibleref|Matthew|10:12}}

:{{lang|grc|λεγοντες ειρηνη τω οικω τουτω}} - L {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}}*{{sup|,2}} D W Θ Family 1 1010 it vg{{sup|cl}}

:{{lang|grc|αυτην}} - Majority of manuscripts{{r|na26|p=24}}

{{bibleref|Matthew|27:49}}

:{{lang|grc|ἄλλος δὲ λαβὼν λόγχην ἒνυξεν αὐτοῦ τὴν πλευράν, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὖδορ καὶ αἳμα}} (the other took a spear and pierced His side, and immediately came out water and blood see {{bibleref|John|19:34}}) - L {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}} B C Γ 1010 1293 vg{{sup|mss}})

:omit - Majority of manuscripts{{r|na26|p1=84|ubs3|p2=113}}

{{bibleref|John|20:31}}

:{{lang|grc|ζωην αιωνιον}} - L {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}} C* D Ψ 0100 Family 13 it vg{{sup|mss}} syr{{sup|p, h}} cop{{sup|sa}} cop{{sup|bo}}

:{{lang|grc|ζωην}} - Majority of manuscripts{{r|na26|p=317}}

; Some other readings

{{bibleref|Matthew|1:10}}

:{{lang|grc|Αμων}} - L W Family 13 Byz

:{{lang|grc|Αμως}} {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}} B C

{{bibleref|Matthew|19:16}}

:{{lang|grc|διδασκαλε}} (teacher) - L {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}} B D Family 1 Minuscule 892 1010 1365 ℓ 5 it{{sup|a, d, e, ff1}} cop{{sup|bo}} eth geo Origen, Hilary.

{{bibleref|Matt|19:29}}

:{{lang|grc|πολλαπλασιονα}} (manifold) - L B 1010

:{{lang|grc|εκατονπλασιονα}} (hundredfold) - Majority of manuscripts

{{bibleref|Luke|4:17}}

:{{lang|grc|καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ βιβλίον}} (and opened the book) - L A B W Ξ 33 892 1195 1241 ℓ 547 sy{{sup|s, h, pal}} sa bo

:{{lang|grc|καὶ ἀναπτύξας τὸ βιβλίον}} (and unrolled the book) - {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}} D{{sup|c}} K Δ Θ Π Ψ Family 1 Family 13 28 565 700 1009 1010 Byz{{Cite book | first=Bruce Manning | last=Metzger | title=A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament | edition=2 | page=114 | year=2001 | publisher=Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft | location=Stuttgart}}{{r|na26|p=164}}

{{bibleref|Luke|14:5}}

:{{lang|grc|ὄνος ἢ βοῦς}} - L {{larger|{{script|Hebr|א}}}} K X Π Ψ Family 1 Family 13 33 892 1071 ℓ 547

:{{lang|grc|υἱὸς ἢ βοῦς}} - Majority of manuscripts{{r|ubs3|p=273}}

{{bibleref|Luke|22:1}}

:{{lang|grc|ηγγισεν}} - L D

:{{lang|grc|εγγιζεν}} - Majority of manuscripts{{r|na26|p=232}}

It contains {{bibleref|Luke|22:43-44}} (the agony), omitted by other Alexandrian witnesses.

The early history of the manuscript is unknown. The text of the codex was cited by scholar Robert Estienne as η' in his Editio Regia (an early edition of the Greek New Testament). It was loosely collated by textual critic Johann Jakob Wettstein. Textual critic Johann Jakob Griesbach set a very high value on the codex. It was edited in 1846 by textual critic Constantin von Tischendorf (in the publication Monumenta sacra inedita), but with some errors.{{r|Scrivener}}

The codex is now located in the National Library of France (Gr. 62), in Paris.{{r|Aland}}{{Cite web | title=Liste Handschriften | publisher=Institute for New Testament Textual Research | location=Münster | url=http://intf.uni-muenster.de/vmr/NTVMR/ListeHandschriften.php?ObjID=20019 | access-date=16 March 2013 }}

{{Portal | Bible}}

• List of New Testament uncials
• Textual criticism

{{Reflist}}

• Constantin von Tischendorf, Monumenta sacra inedita (Leipzig 1846), pp. 15–24, 57-399.
• Henri Omont, Facsimilés des plus anciens manuscrits grecs de la Bibliothèque nationale du IVe et XIIIe siecle (Paris 1892).

{{commons category | Codex Regius of New Testament | Codex Regius (New Testament)}}

• [http://www.skypoint.com/~waltzmn/ManuscriptsUncials.html#uLe Codex Regius L (019)]: at the Encyclopedia of Textual Criticism.
• [http://biblemanuscripts.wordpress.com/manuscripts/codex-regius-019l/ Agreement L/019 with B/03, D/05, Θ/038 and majority in the Gospel of Matthew] wordpress.com.
• [https://manuscripts.csntm.org/manuscript/Group/GA_019 Digital Colour Images of Codex Regius] at the CSNTM.
• [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b53045883v/f15.image.r=Grec%2062.langFR Grec 62: Codex Regius online at the Bibliothèque nationale de France].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Regius}}

Category:Greek New Testament uncials

Category:8th-century biblical manuscripts

Category:Bibliothèque nationale de France collections