Uncial 068 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), ε 3 (Soden), is a Greek uncial manuscript of the New Testament, dated paleographically to the 5th century. Tischendorf designated it by Ib, Scrivener by Nb.[1] It has some marginalia.
The codex contains a fragments of the John 13:16-27; 16:7-19 (with lacunae), on 2 parchment leaves (26 cm by 24 cm). The text is written in two columns per page, 18 lines per page in large uncial letters.[2] [3] It has no capital letters.[1]
It is a double palimpsest, the Greek biblical text was overwritten twice in Syriac language, in the 9th century, and in the 10th or 11th century. It contains hymns of Severus in Syriac.[3] The Ammonian Sections are present, but the Eusebian Canons absent. It contains breathing and accents.[3] It has itacistic errors (e.g. κρεισεως in John 16:8).
The Greek text of this codex is a representative of the Alexandrian text-type, with some non-Alexandrian readings (e.g. J 16:12). Aland placed in Category III.[2]
John 16:7-8,12-15
| valign=top | [πεμ]ψω αυτον [προ]ς υμας [και : ελθ]ων εκει [νος] ελεγξει τον [κοσ]μον περι [αμαρ]τιας και [περ]ι δικαιοσυ νης και περι κρεισεως | align=top | ετι πολλα εχω λε γειν υμιν αλλ ου δυνασθαι βαστα ζειν αρτι οταν δε ελθη εκεινος το πνα της αληθειας οδηγησει υμας εις πασαν την αληθειαν |
John 16:15-16.18-19
| valign=top | Δια τουτο ειπον οτι εκ του εμου λαμβανει και α ναγγελει υμιν μεικρον και ουκ ετι θεωρειτε με και παλιν μεικρ οκαι οψεσθαι με οτι υπαγω προς | align=top | τουτο [τι εστ<span style="text-decoration: overline">ι</span>] ο λεγει [το μικρ<span style="text-decoration: overline">ο</span>] ουκ οιδα[μεν τι] λαλει Εγνω [ο <span style="text-decoration: overline">ις</span> οτι η] θελον [αυτον ε] ρωταν και [ειπεν] αυτοις περι [του] του ζητειτε |
Currently the manuscript is dated by the INTF to the 5th century.[5]
The manuscript was found in 1847 in the monastery at Nitrian Desert and brought to London.[3] It was examined and deciphered by Tregelles and Tischendorf (about the same time).[1]