Minuscule 447 Explained

Minuscule 447 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), ε 508 (in the Soden numbering),^[1] is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 15th century.^[2]

Description

The codex contains a complete text of the four Gospels on 329 parchment leaves . It is written in one column per page, in 25 lines per page.^[2] Three paper fly-leaves were added in modern time. The headpieces are decorated in red and black ink, or black and brown ink. The initial letters in red.^[3]

The text is divided according to the Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: κεφαλαια (chapters), whose numerals are given at the margin, and the Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: τιτλοι (titles of chapters) at the top of the pages. There is also a division according to the smaller Ammonian Sections (in Mark 240, 16:9), with references to the Eusebian Canons (written below Ammonian Section numbers).

It contains the Eusebian Canon tables (in red), prolegomena, lists of the Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: κεφαλαια (tables of contents) before each Gospel, ornamentations, lectionary markings at the margin (for liturgical use), Synaxarion, Menologion, subscriptions at the end of each Gospel, Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [[Stichometry|στιχοι]], prolegomena to Paul.^{[4] [5]} It is well written.^[5]

Text

The Greek text of the codex is a representative of the Byzantine text-type. Hermann von Soden classified it to the textual family K^x. Aland did not place it in any Category.^[6] According to the Claremont Profile Method it represents textual family Family K^x in Luke 1 and M27 in Luke 10 and Luke 20. It is close to 1014 in Luke 10 and Luke 20.^[7]

History

The manuscript was written by Gerardos, a scribe. John Gibson, a dealer, sold it to Edward Harley on 13 February 1723/1724.^[3] In 1753 it was purchased along with other manuscripts of collection by the British Museum.^[3]

The manuscript was added to the list of New Testament manuscripts by Scholz (1794-1852).^[8] Scholz examined only Mark 5. C. R. Gregory saw it in 1883.^[4] The manuscript was rebound in 1965.^[3]

It is currently housed at the British Library (Harley MS 5784).^[2]

See also

• List of New Testament minuscules
• Biblical manuscript
• Textual criticism

Further reading

• Cyril Ernest Wright, Fontes Harleiani: A Study of the Sources of the Harleian Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum (London: British Museum, 1972), p. 162.
• Repertorium der griechischen Kopisten 800-1600, ed. by Ernst Gamillscheg and Dieter Harlfinger, Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Byzantinistik, 3-1, ed. by Herbert Hunger (Vienna: Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1981-), I: Handschriften aus Bibliotheken Grossbritanniens, 3 vols, no. 80.
• Summary Catalogue of Greek Manuscripts (London: British Library, 1999-), I, p. 191.

External links

• Harleian 5784 at the British Library

Notes and References

1. Book: Gregory, Caspar René. Caspar René Gregory. Die griechischen Handschriften des Neuen Testament. 1908. J. C. Hinrichs'sche Buchhandlung. Leipzig. 64.
2. Book: Aland, K. . Kurt Aland . M. Welte . B. Köster . K. Junack . Kurzgefasste Liste der griechischen Handschriften des Neues Testaments . . 1994 . Berlin, New York . 74 . 3-11-011986-2 .
3. http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=3426&CollID=8&NStart=5784 Harleian 5784
4. Book: Gregory, Caspar René . Caspar René Gregory . Textkritik des Neuen Testaments . J.C. Hinrichs . 1900 . Leipzig . 1 . 191 .
5. Book: Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose . Frederick Henry Ambrose Scrivener . Edward Miller . . . 2005. 1894 . London . 4 . 1 . 239 .
6. Book: Aland, Kurt . Kurt Aland . Aland . Barbara . Barbara Aland . Erroll F.. Rhodes . The Text of the New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism . . 1995 . Grand Rapids . 139 . limited . 978-0-8028-4098-1.
7. Book: Wisse, Frederik . The Profile Method for the Classification and Evaluation of Manuscript Evidence, as Applied to the Continuous Greek Text of the Gospel of Luke . . 1982 . Grand Rapids . 60 . 0-8028-1918-4 . registration .
8. Book: Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose . Frederick Henry Ambrose Scrivener . A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament . 1894. 2005 . London . 1 . 225 .