Codex Floriacensis
Encyclopedia
The Codex Floriacensis, designated by h in traditional system or by 55 in the Beuron system, is a 6th century Latin
manuscript of the New Testament
. The text, written on vellum
, is a palimpsest
. Another name of the manuscript is Fleury Palimpsest or Palimpsestus Floriacensis. It is one of the eight Old-Latin manuscripts with text of Apocalypse.
s and the Pauline epistles
with numerous lacunae
. 33 parchment leaves from the original 193 have survived. The size of the pages is 24 by 18 cm.
The order of books (probably): Book of Revelation
, Book of Acts, 1-2 Peter, and 1 John.
The Latin text of the codex represents the Old-Latin version in Afra recension.
Contents
Rev 1,1-2,1; 8,7-9,12; 11,16-12,5; 12,6-14; 14,15-16,5; Acts 3,2-4,18; 5,23-7,2; 7,42-8.2; 9,4-23; 14.5-23; 17,34-18,19; 23,8-24; 26,2-27,13 l Peter 4,17-5,14; 2 Peter 1,1-2.6 1 Jo 1:8-3,20.
It contains many scribal errors. The text of Acts 28:1-13 is summarized. In Book of Acts there are only 10 differences with the text of Acts quoted in the Testimonia of Cyprian
. There are also some textual similarities with Codex Glazier
.
It is a palimpsest, the upper later text contains various treatises of Boetius and Isidore of Seville
.
According to the inscription on folio 130 it belonged in the 11th century to the famous Benedictine Abbey of Fleury
on the Loire
(hence name of the codex).
The text of the codex was examined by Constantin von Tischendorf
(text of Apocalypse), Hans von Soden examined the text of the Acts, Edgar S. Buchanan examined the text of the Apocalypse and Acts. Sabatier
collated the first three pages. Johannes Belsheim
published some fragments in 1887, and Samuel Berger published a complete text of the codex in 1889.
The codex is located in the Bibliothèque nationale de France
(Lat. 6400 G) at Paris
.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
manuscript of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. The text, written on vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
, is a palimpsest
Palimpsest
A palimpsest is a manuscript page from a scroll or book from which the text has been scraped off and which can be used again. The word "palimpsest" comes through Latin palimpsēstus from Ancient Greek παλίμψηστος originally compounded from πάλιν and ψάω literally meaning “scraped...
. Another name of the manuscript is Fleury Palimpsest or Palimpsestus Floriacensis. It is one of the eight Old-Latin manuscripts with text of Apocalypse.
Description
The manuscript contains the text of the New Testament except the four GospelGospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
s and the Pauline epistles
Pauline epistles
The Pauline epistles, Epistles of Paul, or Letters of Paul, are the thirteen New Testament books which have the name Paul as the first word, hence claiming authorship by Paul the Apostle. Among these letters are some of the earliest extant Christian documents...
with numerous lacunae
Lacuna (manuscripts)
A lacunaPlural lacunae. From Latin lacūna , diminutive form of lacus . is a gap in a manuscript, inscription, text, painting, or a musical work...
. 33 parchment leaves from the original 193 have survived. The size of the pages is 24 by 18 cm.
The order of books (probably): Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
, Book of Acts, 1-2 Peter, and 1 John.
The Latin text of the codex represents the Old-Latin version in Afra recension.
Contents
Rev 1,1-2,1; 8,7-9,12; 11,16-12,5; 12,6-14; 14,15-16,5; Acts 3,2-4,18; 5,23-7,2; 7,42-8.2; 9,4-23; 14.5-23; 17,34-18,19; 23,8-24; 26,2-27,13 l Peter 4,17-5,14; 2 Peter 1,1-2.6 1 Jo 1:8-3,20.
It contains many scribal errors. The text of Acts 28:1-13 is summarized. In Book of Acts there are only 10 differences with the text of Acts quoted in the Testimonia of Cyprian
Cyprian
Cyprian was bishop of Carthage and an important Early Christian writer, many of whose Latin works are extant. He was born around the beginning of the 3rd century in North Africa, perhaps at Carthage, where he received a classical education...
. There are also some textual similarities with Codex Glazier
Codex Glazier
Codex Glazier, designated by siglum copG67, is a Coptic uncial manuscript of the New Testament on parchment. It is dated palaeographically to the 4th or 5th century. Textually it is very close to Greek Codex Bezae.- Description :...
.
History
Gregory dated the manuscript to the 7th century, Bruce M. Metzger to the 6th century.It is a palimpsest, the upper later text contains various treatises of Boetius and Isidore of Seville
Isidore of Seville
Saint Isidore of Seville served as Archbishop of Seville for more than three decades and is considered, as the historian Montalembert put it in an oft-quoted phrase, "le dernier savant du monde ancien"...
.
According to the inscription on folio 130 it belonged in the 11th century to the famous Benedictine Abbey of Fleury
Fleury Abbey
Fleury Abbey in Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, Loiret, France, founded about 640, is one of the most celebrated Benedictine monasteries of Western Europe, which posseses the relics of St. Benedict of Nursia. Its site on the banks of the Loire has always made it easily accessible from Orléans, a center of...
on the Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
(hence name of the codex).
The text of the codex was examined by Constantin von Tischendorf
Constantin von Tischendorf
Lobegott Friedrich Constantin Tischendorf was a noted German Biblical scholar. He deciphered the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, a 5th century Greek manuscript of the New Testament, in the 1840s, and rediscovered the Codex Sinaiticus, a 4th century New Testament manuscript, in 1859.Tischendorf...
(text of Apocalypse), Hans von Soden examined the text of the Acts, Edgar S. Buchanan examined the text of the Apocalypse and Acts. Sabatier
Paul Sabatier
Paul Sabatier , was a French clergyman and historian who produced the first modern biography of St. Francis of Assisi. He is the brother of Auguste Sabatier....
collated the first three pages. Johannes Belsheim
Johannes Belsheim
Johannes Engebretsen Belsheim was a Norwegian teacher, priest, translator and biographer. He is known for his studies of biblical handwritings, including the Codex Aureus, Codex Gigas, Codex Corbeiensis I, Codex Palatinus, Codex Veronensis, and Codex Claromontanus V...
published some fragments in 1887, and Samuel Berger published a complete text of the codex in 1889.
The codex is located in the Bibliothèque nationale de France
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
(Lat. 6400 G) at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Further reading
- Hans von Soden, "Das lateinische Neue Testament in Afrika zur Zeit Cyprians" (TU XXXIII), Berlin 1909, pp. 221–242; 323-363; 550-567.
- Edgar S. Buchanan, The Four Gospels from the Codex Corbeiensis, together with fragments of the Catholic Epistles, of the Acts and of the Apocalypse from the Fleury Palimpsest. Old Latin Biblical Texts 5. Oxford, 1907.
- Samuel Berger, Un ancien texte latin des Actes des Apôtres retrouvé dans un manuscrit provenant de Perpignan [microform] (1895), pp. 16–17.
- White - Wordsworth, Old-latin Biblical Texts, Clarendon Press: Oxford 1907.