Epistula ad Carpianum
Encyclopedia
The Epistula ad Carpianum (Epistle to Carpian) is the title traditionally given to a letter from Eusebius of Caesarea
to a Christian named Carpianus.
In this letter, Eusebius explains his ingenious system of Gospel harmony
, the Eusebian Canons (tables) that divide the four Canonical gospels, and describes the purpose of these canons, ten in number. Eusebius explains that Ammonius the Alexandrian
had made a system in which he placed sections of the gospels of Marc, Luke and John next to their parallel sections in Matthew. Unfortunately, this disrupted the normal text order of the gospels of Marc, Luke and John. So Eusebius used a system in which he placed the references to the parallel texts in ten tables or 'canons'. By using these tables, the parallel texts could easily be looked up, but it also remained possible to read a gospel in its normal order. (The number of sections was: Matthew 355, Mark 236, Luke 342, John 232 – together 1165 sections). The number of each "Ammonian section" is written in the margin of a manuscript, and underneath these numbers, another number was written in coloured ink. The coloured numbers referred to one of the ten Eusebian canons, in which the reference numbers were to be found of the parallel sections in the other gospels.
An English translation:
The copy of this letter appears with the canon tables on the opening folios of many Gospel manuscripts (e.g. 021
, 65
, 108
, 109
, 112
, 113
, 114
, 117
, etc.). The epistle is also given in modern editions of Greek New Testament.
Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea also called Eusebius Pamphili, was a Roman historian, exegete and Christian polemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314. Together with Pamphilus, he was a scholar of the Biblical canon...
to a Christian named Carpianus.
In this letter, Eusebius explains his ingenious system of Gospel harmony
Gospel harmony
A Gospel harmony is an attempt to merge or harmonize the canonical gospels of the Four Evangelists into a single gospel account, the earliest known example being the Diatesseron by Tatian in the 2nd century. A gospel harmony may also establish a chronology for the events of the life of Jesus...
, the Eusebian Canons (tables) that divide the four Canonical gospels, and describes the purpose of these canons, ten in number. Eusebius explains that Ammonius the Alexandrian
Ammonius of Alexandria (Christian)
Ammonius of Alexandria was a Christian philosopher who lived in the 3rd century. He is not to be confused with Ammonius Saccas, the Neoplatonist philosopher, also from Alexandria....
had made a system in which he placed sections of the gospels of Marc, Luke and John next to their parallel sections in Matthew. Unfortunately, this disrupted the normal text order of the gospels of Marc, Luke and John. So Eusebius used a system in which he placed the references to the parallel texts in ten tables or 'canons'. By using these tables, the parallel texts could easily be looked up, but it also remained possible to read a gospel in its normal order. (The number of sections was: Matthew 355, Mark 236, Luke 342, John 232 – together 1165 sections). The number of each "Ammonian section" is written in the margin of a manuscript, and underneath these numbers, another number was written in coloured ink. The coloured numbers referred to one of the ten Eusebian canons, in which the reference numbers were to be found of the parallel sections in the other gospels.
Text
The text of this epistle in koine Greek is:An English translation:
The copy of this letter appears with the canon tables on the opening folios of many Gospel manuscripts (e.g. 021
Codex Campianus
Codex Campianus designated by M or 021 , ε 72 , is a Greek uncial manuscript of the New Testament, dated palaeographically to the 9th century...
, 65
Minuscule 65
Minuscule 65 , ε 135 , formerly known as Ussher 2, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. The manuscript has complex contents, it has marginalia.- Description :The codex contains a complete text of the...
, 108
Minuscule 108
Minuscule 108 , A144 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Paleographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. It has complex contents with some marginalia.- Description :...
, 109
Minuscule 109
Minuscule 109 , ε 431 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. It is dated by a colophon to the year 1326. The manuscript has complex contents.- Description :...
, 112
Minuscule 112
Minuscule 112 , ε 146 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. The manuscript has complex contents ad full marginalia....
, 113
Minuscule 113
Minuscule 113 , ε 134 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Paleographically it has been assigned to the 11th century....
, 114
Minuscule 114
Minuscule 114 , ε 1018 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. It has marginalia.- Description :...
, 117
Minuscule 117
Minuscule 117 , ε 506 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on paper leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 15th century. It has full marginalia.- Description :...
, etc.). The epistle is also given in modern editions of Greek New Testament.