Francis Karl Alter
Encyclopedia
Francis Karl Alter (1749–1804), a Jesuit, born in Silesia
, and professor of Greek at Vienna
, was an editor of the Greek text of the New Testament
. His edition was different from those of Mill
, Wettstein
, and Griesbach
, because he used only the manuscripts housed at the Imperial Library
at Vienna. It was the first edition of the Greek New Testament that contained evidence from Slavic manuscripts.
Alter used twelve manuscripts of the Gospel
s (U
, 3
, 76
, 77
, 108
, 123
, 124
, 125
, 219
, 220
, 224
, 225
), six of the Acts
(3, 43a
, 63a
, 64a
, 66a
, 67a
), seven of the Pauline epistles
(3, 49p
, 67p
, 68p
, 69p
, 70p
, 71p), three of the Apocalypse
(34r
, 35r, 36r), and two Evangelistaria (ℓ 45
, ℓ 46
). He also used readings from the Coptic Bohairic version (edited by David Wilkins
in 1716), four Slavonic codices and one Old Latin codex (i
). Most of these Vienna codices were also examined by Andrew Birch
.
Marsh gave this opinion:
It was not the Textus Receptus
, and it was not an important edition for textual criticism, but Alter's comparison of Slavic and Greek texts did provide material for future textual criticism.
Alter also edited Homer
's Iliad
(1789) and Odyssey
(1794) and wrote an essay on Georgian
literature (1798).
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, and professor of Greek at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, was an editor of the Greek text 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....
. His edition was different from those of Mill
John Mill
John Mill was an English theologian. He is noted for his critical edition of the Greek New Testament which included notes on many variant readings.-Biography:...
, Wettstein
Johann Jakob Wettstein
Johann Jakob Wettstein was a Swiss theologian, best known as a New Testament critic.-Youth and study:...
, and Griesbach
Johann Jakob Griesbach
Johann Jakob Griesbach , German biblical textual critic, was born at Butzbach, a small town in the state of Hesse, where his father, Konrad Kaspar , was pastor...
, because he used only the manuscripts housed at the Imperial Library
Austrian National Library
The Austrian National Library , is the largest library in Austria, with 7.4 million items in its collections. It is located in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna; since 2005 some of the collections are located in the baroque Palais Mollard-Clary...
at Vienna. It was the first edition of the Greek New Testament that contained evidence from Slavic manuscripts.
Alter used twelve manuscripts of the Gospel
Gospel
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 (U
Codex Nanianus
Codex Nanianus, designated by siglum U or 030 , ε 90 , is a Greek uncial manuscripts of the New Testament on parchment, dated palaeographically to the 9th century. The manuscript has complex contents, with full marginalia . The codex is named after its last owner...
, 3
Minuscule 3
Minuscule 3 , δ 253 . It is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on a parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century...
, 76
Minuscule 76
Minuscule 76 , δ 298 , known as Codex Caesar-Vindobonensis, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 14th century. Formerly it was assigned by 49p. It has complex contents, and full marginalia...
, 77
Minuscule 77
Minuscule 77 , A143 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. It has complex contents and full marginalia....
, 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 :...
, 123
Minuscule 123
Minuscule 123 , ε 174 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on a parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. It has complex contents with some marginalia....
, 124
Minuscule 124
Minuscule 124 , ε 1211 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on 188 thick parchment leaves . Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century. It has marginalia....
, 125
Minuscule 125
Minuscule 125 , ε 1028 . It is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on a parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century...
, 219
Minuscule 219
Minuscule 219 , ε 385 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Paleographically it has been assigned to the 13th century. It has marginalia.- Description :...
, 220
Minuscule 220
Minuscule 220 , ε 457 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Paleographically it has been assigned to the 13th century. It has complex contents. It has marginalia.- Description :...
, 224
Minuscule 224
Minuscule 224 , ε 1212 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Paleographically it has been assigned to the 12th century. It has marginalia.- Description :...
, 225
Minuscule 225
Minuscule 225 , ε 1210 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. It is dated by a colophon to the year 1192. It was adapted for liturgical use.- Description :...
), six of the Acts
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
(3, 43a
Minuscule 76
Minuscule 76 , δ 298 , known as Codex Caesar-Vindobonensis, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 14th century. Formerly it was assigned by 49p. It has complex contents, and full marginalia...
, 63a
Minuscule 404
Minuscule 404 , α 467 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Paleographically it has been assigned to the 13th century...
, 64a
Minuscule 421
Minuscule 421 , α 259 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. It is dated to year ca. 1300.Formerly it was designated by 64a and 69p...
, 66a
Minuscule 424
Minuscule 424 , Ο12 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century.Formerly it was designated by 66a and 67p....
, 67a
Minuscule 425
Minuscule 425 , α 457 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. It is dated by a colophon to the year 1330.Formerly it was designated by 67a.- Description :...
), seven of 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...
(3, 49p
Minuscule 76
Minuscule 76 , δ 298 , known as Codex Caesar-Vindobonensis, is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 14th century. Formerly it was assigned by 49p. It has complex contents, and full marginalia...
, 67p
Minuscule 424
Minuscule 424 , Ο12 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century.Formerly it was designated by 66a and 67p....
, 68p
Minuscule 404
Minuscule 404 , α 467 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Paleographically it has been assigned to the 13th century...
, 69p
Minuscule 421
Minuscule 421 , α 259 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. It is dated to year ca. 1300.Formerly it was designated by 64a and 69p...
, 70p
Minuscule 425
Minuscule 425 , α 457 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. It is dated by a colophon to the year 1330.Formerly it was designated by 67a.- Description :...
, 71p), three of the Apocalypse
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"...
(34r
Minuscule 424
Minuscule 424 , Ο12 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century.Formerly it was designated by 66a and 67p....
, 35r, 36r), and two Evangelistaria (ℓ 45
Lectionary 45
Lectionary 45, designated by siglum ℓ 45 . It is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 10th century.- Description :...
, ℓ 46
Lectionary 46
Lectionary 46, designated by sigla ℓ 46 , is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on purple parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 9th century. Formerly it was known as Codex Vindobonensis 2.- Description :The codex contains 19 lessons from the Gospels , on 182 purple...
). He also used readings from the Coptic Bohairic version (edited by David Wilkins
David Wilkins (orientalist)
David Wilkins , originally named Wilke or Wilkius, was a Prussian orientalist, born in Memel, who settled in England. His 1716 publication of the Coptic New Testament was the editio princeps.-Life:...
in 1716), four Slavonic codices and one Old Latin codex (i
Codex Vindobonensis Lat. 1235
The Codex Vindobonensis Lat. 1235, designated by i or 17 , is a 6th century Latin Gospel Book. The manuscript contains 142 folios . The text, written on purple dyed vellum in silver ink , is a version of the old Latin. The Gospels follow in the Western order.It has numerous lacunae...
). Most of these Vienna codices were also examined by Andrew Birch
Andrew Birch
Andrew Birch was a professor from Copenhagen. Birch was sent in 1781–1783 by the king of Denmark, Christian VII, to examine manuscripts in Italy, Germany, and other European countries.- Life :...
.
Marsh gave this opinion:
- "The text of this edition is neither the common text nor a revision of it, but a mere copy from a single manuscript, and that not a very ancient one".
It was not the Textus Receptus
Textus Receptus
Textus Receptus is the name subsequently given to the succession of printed Greek texts of the New Testament which constituted the translation base for the original German Luther Bible, the translation of the New Testament into English by William Tyndale, the King James Version, and for most other...
, and it was not an important edition for textual criticism, but Alter's comparison of Slavic and Greek texts did provide material for future textual criticism.
Alter also edited Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's Iliad
Iliad
The Iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles...
(1789) and Odyssey
Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
(1794) and wrote an essay on Georgian
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
literature (1798).
Works
- Novum Testamentum Graecum, ad Codicem Vindobonensem Graece expressum: Varietam Lectionis addidit Franciscus Carolus Alter, 2 vols. 8vo, Vienna, 1786-1787.