Categories of New Testament manuscripts
| Part of a series on the |
| Bible |
|---|
 |
Outline of Bible-related topics Bible portal |
New Testament manuscripts in Greek are categorized into five groups,[1] according to a scheme introduced in 1981 by Kurt and Barbara Aland in The Text of the New Testament.[2] The categories are based on how each manuscript relates to the various text-types.[2]: 381 Generally speaking, earlier Alexandrian manuscripts are category I, while later Byzantine manuscripts are category V.[2]: 381–382 Aland's method involved considering 1000 passages where the Byzantine text differs from non-Byzantine text. The Alands did not select their 1000 readings from all of the NT books; for example, none were drawn from Matthew and Luke.[3]
Description of categories
The Alands' categories do not simply correspond to the text-types; all they do is demonstrate the 'Byzantine-ness' of a particular text; that is, how much it is similar to the Byzantine text-type, from least (Category I) to most similar (Category V). Category V can be equated with the Byzantine text-type, but the other categories are not necessarily representative of a text-type. Even though most texts in Category I agree with the Alexandrian text-type, they are not necessarily Alexandrian themselves; they are just very non-Byzantine.[4][2]: 381–382
The Alands introduced the following categories (Aland & Aland category description according to the 1989 English translation, p. 106, between quotation marks):[4][5]
- Category I: "Manuscripts of a very special quality which should always be considered in establishing the original text."[4][5] This category includes almost all manuscripts before the 4th century.[4] These manuscripts have almost no Byzantine influence, and often agree with the Alexandrian text-type (but are not necessarily Alexandrian themselves, for example 𝔓45, 𝔓46, Codex Vaticanus (B), and minuscule 1739).[4] Some 4th-century and earlier papyri and uncials are in this category, as are manuscripts of the Alexandrian text-type. The Alands say the manuscripts in this category are important when considering textual problems, and in their opinion "presumably [represent] the original text".[1][2]: 383 [6]
- Category II: "Manuscripts of a special quality, but distinguished from manuscripts of Category I by the presence of alien influences."[4][5] The manuscripts in this category are similar to category I manuscripts, and are important in textual consideration of the autograph. However, the texts usually contain some alien influences, such as those found in the Byzantine text-type. Egyptian texts fall in this category.[1][5][2]: 383
- Category III: "Manuscripts of a distinctive character with an independent text... particularly important for the history of the text."[4][5] The manuscripts in category III are important when discussing the history of the textual traditions and to a lesser degree for establishing the original text. The manuscripts usually contain independent readings, and have a distinctive character. ƒ1 and ƒ13 are examples of manuscript families that fall within this category. Manuscripts of this category usually present mixed or eclectic text-type.[1][2]: 383
- Category IV: "Manuscripts of the D text."[4][5] Category IV contains the few manuscripts that follow the text of the Codex Bezae (D). These texts are of the Western text-type.[1][2]: 383
- Category V: "Manuscripts with a purely or predominantly Byzantine text."[4][5] This category may be equated with the Byzantine text-type.[4] Byzantine and mostly Byzantine texts fall under this category.[4][1][2]: 383
- Uncategorised: Some manuscripts studied by the Alands were not categorised, for example because they were too short to determine which group they belonged to, or fell somewhere in between.[4][5] The unclassified manuscript could be representative of the Western text-type, the "Caesarean text-type" (a term proposed by certain scholars to denote a consistent pattern of variant readings of the four Gospels), or anything else.[4]
Distribution of Greek manuscripts by century and category
The following table is derived from the Alands' The Text of the New Testament.[7][a]
| Century and approximate year (AD) | I | II | III | IV | V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd
(c. 150) |
𝔓52, 𝔓90, 𝔓104 | ||||
| 2nd / 3rd
(c. 200) |
𝔓32, 𝔓46, 𝔓64+67, 𝔓66, 𝔓77, 0189, | ||||
| 3rd
(c. 250) |
𝔓1, 𝔓4, 𝔓5, 𝔓9, 𝔓12, 𝔓15, 𝔓20, 𝔓22, 𝔓23, 𝔓27, 𝔓28, 𝔓29, 𝔓30, 𝔓39, 𝔓40, 𝔓45, 𝔓47, 𝔓49, 𝔓53, 𝔓65, 𝔓70, 𝔓75, 𝔓80, 𝔓87, 0220 | 0212 | 𝔓48, 𝔓69 | ||
| 3rd / 4th
(c. 300) |
𝔓13, 𝔓16, 𝔓18, 𝔓37, 𝔓72, 𝔓78, 𝔓115, 0162 | 𝔓38, 0171 | |||
| 4th
(c. 350) |
𝔓10, 𝔓24, 𝔓35, 01, 03 | 𝔓6, 𝔓8, 𝔓17, 𝔓62, 𝔓71, 𝔓81, 𝔓86, 0185 | 𝔓88, 058 (?), 0169, 0188, 0206, 0207, 0221, 0228, 0231, 0242 | ||
| 4th / 5th
(c. 400) |
057 | 𝔓19, 𝔓51, 𝔓57, 𝔓82, 𝔓85, 0181, 0270 | 𝔓21, 𝔓50, 059, 0160, 0176, 0214, 0219 | ||
| 5th
(c. 450) |
02 (except Gospels), 0254 | 𝔓14, 04, 016, 029, 048, 077, 0172, 0173, 0175, 0201, 0240, 0244, 0274 | 02 (Gospels), 032, 062, 068, 069, 0163, 0165 (?), 0166, 0182, 0216, 0217, 0218, 0226, 0227, 0236, 0252, 0261 | 05 | 026, 061 |
| 5th / 6th
(c. 500) |
𝔓56, 071, 076, 088, 0232, 0247 | 𝔓54, 𝔓63, 072, 0170, 0186, 0213 | |||
| 6th
(c. 550) |
𝔓33+58, 06, 08, 073, 081, 085, 087, 089, 091, 093 (1 Peter), 094, 0184, 0223, 0225, 0245 | 𝔓2, 𝔓36, 𝔓76, 𝔓83, 𝔓84, 06, 015, 035, 040, 060, 066, 067, 070, 078, 079, 082, 086, 0143, 0147, 0159, 0187, 0198, 0208, 0222, 0237, 0241, 0251, 0260, 0266 | 022, 023, 024, 027, 042, 043, 064, 065, 093 (Acts), 0246, 0253, 0265 (?) | ||
| 6th / 7th
(c. 600) |
𝔓26 | 𝔓43, 𝔓44, 𝔓55, 083 | 𝔓3, 0164, 0199 | ||
| 7th
(c. 650) |
𝔓74, 098 | 𝔓11, 𝔓31, 𝔓34, 𝔓79, 0102, 0108, 0111, 0204, 0275 | 𝔓59, 𝔓68, 096, 097, 099, 0106, 0107, 0109, 0145, 0167, 0183, 0200, 0209, 0210, 0239, 0259, 0262 | 𝔓73, 0103, 0104, 0211 | |
| 7th / 8th
(c. 700) |
𝔓42, 𝔓61 | 𝔓60 | |||
| 8th
(c. 750) |
019, 0101, 0114, 0156, 0205, 0234 | 𝔓41, 095, 0126, 0127, 0146, 0148, 0161, 0229, 0233, 0238, 0250, 0256 | 07, 047, 054 (?), 0116, 0134 | ||
| 8th / 9th
(c. 800) |
044 (Catholic epistles) | 044 (except Catholic epistles) | |||
| 9th
(c. 850) |
33 (except Gospels) | 010, 038, 0155, 0271, 33 (Gospels), 892, 2464 | 012, 025 (except Acts, Rev), 037, 050, 0122, 0128, 0130, 0131, 0132, 0150, 0269, 565 | 09, 011, 013, 014, 017, 018, 020, 021, 025 (Acts, Rev), 030, 031, 034, 039, 041, 045, 049, 053 (?), 063, 0120, 0133, 0135, 0136 (?), 0151, 0197, 0248, 0255, 0257, 0272, 0273 (?), 461 | |
| 9th / 10th
(c. 900) |
1841 | 0115, 1424 (Mark) | 1424 (except Mark), 1841 | ||
| 10th
(c. 950) |
1739 (Catholic epistles, Paul) | 0177, 0243 (?), 1739 (Acts), 1891, 2329 | 051, 075, 0105, 0121a, 0121b, 0140, 0141, 0249, 307, 1582, 1836, 1845, 1874, 1875, 1912, 2110, 2193, 2351 | 028, 033, 036, 046, 052, 056, 0142, 1874, 1891 | |
| 11th
(c. 1050) |
1175, 1243, 2344 | 81, 323, 945, 1006, 1854, 1962, 2298 | 28, 104, 181, 323, 398, 424, 431, 436, 451, 459, 623, 700, 788, 1243, 1448, 1505, 1838, 1846, 1908, 2138, 2147, 2298, 2344, 2596 (?) | 103, 104, 181 (Rev), 398, 431, 451, 459, 945, 1006, 1448, 1505, 1846, 1854, 2138, 2147, 2298 | |
| 11th / 12th
(c. 1100) |
256, 1735 | 1735, 1910 | 256 | ||
| 12th
(c. 1150) |
1241 (Catholic epistles) | 36, 1611, 2050, 2127 | 1 (Gospels), 36, 88, 94 (?), 157, 326, 330, 346, 378, 543, 610, 826, 828, 917, 983, 1071, 1241 (Gospels, Acts, Paul), 1319, 1359, 1542b, 1611, 1718, 1942, 2030, 2412, 2541, 2744 | 1 (except Gospels), 180, 189, 330, 378, 610, 911, 917, 1010, 1241, 1319, 1359, 1542b (?), 2127, 2541 | |
| 12th / 13th
(c. 1200) |
1573 | 1573 (?) | |||
| 13th
(c. 1250) |
2053, 2062 | 442, 579, 1292, 1852 | 6 (Catholic epistles, Paul), 13, 94, 180, 206, 218 (epistles), 263, 365, 441, 614, 720, 915, 1398, 1563, 1641, 1852, 2374, 2492, 2516, 2542, 2718 (?) | 6 (Gospels, Acts), 94 (?), 180, 206, 218 (except epistles), 263, 365, 597, 720, 1251 (?), 1292, 1398, 1642, 1852, 2374, 2400, 2492 (?), 2516 | |
| 13th / 14th
(c. 1300) |
1342 | ||||
| 14th
(c. 1350) |
2427 | 1067, 1409, 1506, 1881 | 5, 209, 254, 429 (except Paul), 453, 621, 629, 630, 1523, 1534, 1678 (?), 1842, 1877, 2005, 2197, 2200, 2377 | 5 (?), 189, 209, 254, 429 (Paul), 1067, 1409, 1506, 1523, 1524, 1877, 2200 | |
| 14th / 15th
(c. 1400) |
2495 | ||||
| 15th
(c. 1450) |
322 | 69, 205, 322, 467, 642, 1751, 1844, 1959, 2523, 2652 | 69, 181, 205, 429 (Rev.), 467, 642, 886, 2523, 2623, 2652 (?) | ||
| 16th
(c. 1500) |
61 (epistles, Rev), 522, 918, 1704, 1884 | 61 (Gospels, Acts), 522, 918, 1704 | |||
| 16th / 17th and later
(c. 1550–) |
849, 2544 (Paul) | 2544 (except Paul) |
Number of manuscripts by century and category
| Century | Category I | Category II | Category III | Category IV | Category V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| II | 3 | ||||
| II/III | 6 | ||||
| III | 25 | 1 | 2 | ||
| III/IV | 8 | 2 | |||
| IV | 5 | 8 | 10 | ||
| IV/V | 1 | 7 | 7 | ||
| V | 2 | 16 | 19 | 1 | 2 |
| V/VI | 6 | 6 | |||
| VI | 15 | 31 | 12 | ||
| VI/VII | 1 | 4 | 3 | ||
| VII | 2 | 8 | 17 | 4 | |
| VII/VIII | 2 | 1 | |||
| VIII | 6 | 12 | 5 | ||
| VIII/IX | 1 | 1 | |||
| IX | 3 | 7 | 12 | 5 | |
| IX/X | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| X | 1 | 5 | 18 | 10 | |
| XI | 3 | 7 | 24 | 16 | |
| XI/XII | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||
| XII | 1 | 5 | 24 | 16 | |
| XII/XIII | 1 | 1 | |||
| XIII | 2 | 4 | 21 | 18 | |
| XIII/XIV | 1 | ||||
| XIV | 1 | 4 | 17 | 12 | |
| XIV/XV | 1 | ||||
| XV | 1 | 11 | 9 | ||
| XVI | 5 | 4 | |||
| XVI/XVII | 2 | 1 |
Limitations
This system of classification would seem to prefer manuscripts which coincide more or less with the critical text of the Nestle-Aland and UBS Greek New Testaments, of which there are many supposedly Alexandrian manuscripts in Category I.[2] Some manuscripts are placed in Category V because they are considered too "brief" to classify.[2]: 382, 385 The Alands consider Uncial 055 unclassifiable because it is a commentary, and not exactly an "Uncial" manuscript.[1]: 119 Accordingly 𝔓7, 𝔓89, Uncial 080, Uncial 0100, Uncial 0118, 0174, 0230, 0263, 0264, 0267, 0268 are considered by the Alands to be too brief to classify.[1]: 96, 102, 120–127 Uncial 0144 and 0196 are not accessible. The Alands do not classify 𝔓25, stating this is due to the Diatessaric character of text (i.e. the four Gospels combined into a single narrative).[1]: 97
𝔓5 was classified to Category I, but it is not a representative of the Alexandrian text-type. According to biblical scholar Philip Comfort it is "a good example of what Kurt and Barbara Aland call "normal" (i.e. a relatively accurate text manifesting a normal amount of error and idiosyncrasy).[8]
Waltz stated:
As a classification scheme, [Aland & Aland's] attempt was at once a success and a failure. A success, in that it has conveniently gathered data about how Byzantine the various manuscripts are. A failure, because it has not been widely adopted, and in any case does not succeed in moving beyond Byzantine/non-Byzantine classification.[4]
See also
- List of New Testament papyri
- List of New Testament uncials
- List of New Testament minuscules
- List of New Testament lectionaries
- Textual variants in the New Testament
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Aland, Kurt; Aland, Barbara (1995). The Text of the New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism. Erroll F Rhodes (trans.) (2 ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B Eerdmans. pp. 106, 332–336. ISBN 0-8028-4098-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ehrman, Bart D. (1989). "A Problem of Textual Circularity: The Alands on the Classification of New Testament Manuscripts". Biblica. 70 (3): 377–88. JSTOR 42707499.
- ^ Wisse, Frederik (1982). The Profile Method for the Classification and Evaluation of Manuscript Evidence, as Applied to the Continuous Greek Text of the Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 21. ISBN 0-8028-1918-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Waltz, Robert B. (2013). The Encyclopedia of New Testament Textual Criticism. pp. 116–133. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Epp, Eldon Jay (1989). "New Testament Textual Criticism Past, Present, and Future: Reflections on the Alands' 'Text of the New Testament". The Harvard Theological Review. 82 (2): 225. doi:10.1017/S0017816000016138. JSTOR 1509645. S2CID 248819828.
- ^ Metzger, Bruce Manning; Ehrman, Bart D. (2005). The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 237. ISBN 0-19-516667-1.
- ^ Aland, Kurt; Aland, Barbara (1995). The Text of the New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. pp. 159–162. ISBN 978-0-8028-4098-1. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ Comfort, Philip Wesley; Barrett, David (2001). The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts. Tyndale House Publishers. pp. 73–74. ISBN 0-8423-5265-1.