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A Study of the Gospels in Codex Alexandrinus: Codicology, Palaeography, and Scribal Hands
Codex Alexandrinus is one of the three earliest surviving entire Greek Bibles and is an important fifth-century witness to the Christian Scriptures, yet no major analysis of the codex has been performed in over a century. In A Study of the Gospels in Codex Alexandrinus W. Andrew Smith delivers a fresh and highly-detailed examination of the codex and its rich variety of features using codicology, palaeography, and statistical analysis. Among the highlights of this study, W. Andrew Smith's work overturns the view that a single scribe was responsible for copying the canonical books of the New Testament and demonstrates that the orthographic patterns in the Gospels can no longer be used to argue for Egyptian provenance of the codex.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published August 15, 2014
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October 3, 2023
How can it be that no one has written out a review of this book yet?
Smith does an ample job of first layout the history of how (with the data we have), we have this codex handed down to us at all. He includes some very interesting events/stories that make us thankful it was handed down to us at all.
I found the book particularly valuable as I transitioned from reading the minuscule Greek (e.g. Εν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος) to the uncial Greek: (e.g. ⲉⲛⲁⲣⲭⲏⲏⲛⲟⲗⲟⲅⲟⲥ). There is a learning curve to jumping into any of the great uncials and especially Alexandrinus. He helps the reader understand the script and the textual features in the codex. Likewise, he walks through the text-critical issues of the text handed down to us in faithful detail.
Finally, he works through what might best be called the "esoterica". These are items that are not part of the Greek text itself, but are useful to know. The markings in the margin to show where there's an OT reference or allusion are commented on. Likewise, he walks us through the codex' relationship to the Eusebian Apparatus.
I have given it 5 stars here due to the quality of the content in the book. But there are two detractions/distractions. 1) the price. You can either buy an engagement ring for your future wife, or this book—not both. 2) There's a typo on p. 202. It should read ⲇⲁⲇ (David), but instead it reads ⲁⲁⲁ.
Anyone who wants to grow from reading the UBS/NA text into reading the uncials and appreciating them should read this book.
Smith does an ample job of first layout the history of how (with the data we have), we have this codex handed down to us at all. He includes some very interesting events/stories that make us thankful it was handed down to us at all.
I found the book particularly valuable as I transitioned from reading the minuscule Greek (e.g. Εν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος) to the uncial Greek: (e.g. ⲉⲛⲁⲣⲭⲏⲏⲛⲟⲗⲟⲅⲟⲥ). There is a learning curve to jumping into any of the great uncials and especially Alexandrinus. He helps the reader understand the script and the textual features in the codex. Likewise, he walks through the text-critical issues of the text handed down to us in faithful detail.
Finally, he works through what might best be called the "esoterica". These are items that are not part of the Greek text itself, but are useful to know. The markings in the margin to show where there's an OT reference or allusion are commented on. Likewise, he walks us through the codex' relationship to the Eusebian Apparatus.
I have given it 5 stars here due to the quality of the content in the book. But there are two detractions/distractions. 1) the price. You can either buy an engagement ring for your future wife, or this book—not both. 2) There's a typo on p. 202. It should read ⲇⲁⲇ (David), but instead it reads ⲁⲁⲁ.
Anyone who wants to grow from reading the UBS/NA text into reading the uncials and appreciating them should read this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review