Codex Chisianus 45
(also ''Codex Chigianus 45'';
Vatican Library
The Vatican Apostolic Library (, ), more commonly known as the Vatican Library or informally as the Vat, is the library of the Holy See, located in Vatican City, and is the city-state's national library. It was formally established in 1475, alth ...
, Chigi R. VII 45;
numbered 88 in Rahlfs
Septuagint manuscripts, 87 in
Field's ''Hexapla''
) is a biblical manuscript variably dated to the 10th century or the early 14th century
or early 14th-century
biblical manuscript, first edited in 1772.
Description
Codex Chisianus 45 is a significant manuscript for the study of the Septuagint, particularly for its preservation of the Old Greek (OG) text of the Book of Daniel. The OG text of Daniel largely disappeared from Greek tradition by the end of the 4th century, having been superseded by Theodotion's revision, which was endorsed by prominent figures such as
Jerome
Jerome (; ; ; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was an early Christian presbyter, priest, Confessor of the Faith, confessor, theologian, translator, and historian; he is commonly known as Saint Jerome.
He is best known ...
. The OG version survived primarily in Codex Chisianus 45, which was the sole known Greek manuscript of this version until the 1931 discovery of
Papyrus 967
Papyrus 967 (also signed as TM 61933, LDAB 3090) is a 3rd-century CE biblical manuscript, discovered in 1931. It is notable for containing fragments of the original Septuagint text of the Book of Daniel, which was completely superseded by a revise ...
(
Chester Beatty IX/X).
The text of Codex Chisianus 45 is known for its substantial deviations from the Masoretic Text (MT) of Daniel. These deviations include transpositions, expansions, abridgements, and modifications that occasionally alter the prophetic messages. Irish scholar
John Gwynn, writing in 1911, offered a critical assessment of the translation of Daniel found in Codex Chisianus, remarking:
Indeed, the greater part of this Chisian Daniel cannot be said to deserve the name of a translation at all. It deviates from the original in every possible way; transposes, expands, abridges, adds or omits, at pleasure. The latter chapters it so entirely rewrites that the predictions are perverted, sometimes even reversed, in scope.
The authenticity of the Greek text in Codex Chisianus has been corroborated by the
Syro-Hexaplar Codex (dated 616/7), which contains a Syriac translation of Origen's recension. Originally housed in the
Chigi Library in
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
, Codex Chisianus 45 was transferred to the Vatican Library in 1922, where it remains today.
The manuscript's dating has been subject to scholarly debate, with some sources placing it in the 10th century and others, including the Göttingen Septuaginta project, dating it to the early 14th century.
See also
*
Susanna (Book of Daniel)
References
External links
*
{{Book of Daniel
9th-century manuscripts
Book of Daniel
Early versions of the Bible
Septuagint manuscripts