The Materials Used for Making a Codex Manuscript

Dr. Daniel Wallace

The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts

Please Log in to Attend this Lecture

Please log into your free account so you can attend this lecture.

Lesson

Various materials were used in creating NT manuscripts. Wallace discusses papyrus, parchments, and paper, each with advantages and disadvantages for transmitting the text faithfully.

Outline

I. PAPYRUS - 2ND THROUGH 8TH CENTURY

A. From Egypt

B. Suggests the codex was used so all four gospels could be bound together

II. PARCHMENT – 3RD THROUGH 16TH CENTURY

A. Animal skins (vellum)

1. 350 sheep for Codex Sinaiticus

2. Oldest complete NT (4 columns)

3. Write around the holes

B. Orientation

1. Recto – always the front page

2. Verso – always the back page

C. Examples

1. Sinaiticus

2. Codex 2882

3. Lectionary on paper

4. Palimpsest (“again scraped”)

5. Lectionary 2258

III. PAPER – 9TH THROUGH 16TH CENTURY (INVENTED BY THE CHINESE)

IV. SUMMARY