Minuscule 669 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), ε 1025 ( Soden),

Hermann von Soden Baron Hermann von Soden (16 August 1852 – 15 January 1914) was a German Biblical scholar, minister, professor of divinity, and textual theorist. Life Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 16, 1852, Soden was educated at the University of Tübinge ...

, ''Die Schriften des neuen Testaments, in ihrer ältesten erreichbaren Textgestalt / hergestellt auf Grund ihrer Textgeschichte'' (Berlin 1902), vol. 1, p. 134 known as ''Benton Gospel 3'', is a Greek

minuscule Letter case is the distinction between the letters that are in larger uppercase or capitals (more formally ''majuscule'') and smaller lowercase (more formally '' minuscule'') in the written representation of certain languages. The writing system ...

manuscript A manuscript (abbreviated MS for singular and MSS for plural) was, traditionally, any document written by hand or typewritten, as opposed to mechanically printed or reproduced in some indirect or automated way. More recently, the term has ...

of the

New Testament The New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus, as well as events relating to Christianity in the 1st century, first-century Christianit ...

, on parchment. It is dated palaeographically to the 11th century (or 10th century - Aland).Handschriftenliste
at the Münster Institute

Scrivener A scrivener (or scribe) was a person who, before the advent of compulsory education, could literacy, read and write or who wrote letters as well as court and legal documents. Scriveners were people who made their living by writing or copying w ...

labelled it by 902^e. The manuscript is lacunose.

Description

The codex contains the text of the four

Gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

s on 272 parchment leaves (), with some Lacunae (Matthew 1:1-27:58; Luke 1:1-2:16; John 1:1-14). The text is written in one column per page, 17 lines per page in minuscule letters. The text is divided according to the (''chapters''), and smaller the Ammonian Sections. The numbers of the are given at the margin, with their (''titles'') at the top in red. The Ammonian sections were given at the margin, with a references to the

Eusebian Canons Eusebian canons, Eusebian sections or Eusebian apparatus, also known as Ammonian sections, are the system of dividing the four Gospels used between late antiquity and the Middle Ages. The divisions into Chapters and verses of the Bible, chapters ...

. The lists of the precede

Gospel of Mark The Gospel of Mark is the second of the four canonical Gospels and one of the three synoptic Gospels, synoptic Gospels. It tells of the ministry of Jesus from baptism of Jesus, his baptism by John the Baptist to his death, the Burial of Jesus, ...

and

Gospel of Luke The Gospel of Luke is the third of the New Testament's four canonical Gospels. It tells of the origins, Nativity of Jesus, birth, Ministry of Jesus, ministry, Crucifixion of Jesus, death, Resurrection of Jesus, resurrection, and Ascension of ...

, the lists before Luke and John have not survived to the present day. The codex contains miniatures and decorated initial letters. The tables of the (''contents'') and

Synaxarion Synaxarion or Synexarion (plurals Synaxaria, Synexaria; , from συνάγειν, ''synagein'', "to bring together"; cf. etymology of '' synaxis'' and ''synagogue''; Latin: ''Synaxarium'', ''Synexarium''; ; Ge'ez: ሲናክሳሪየም(ስንክ� ...

were added by a later hand.

Text

The Greek text of the codex is a representative of the

Byzantine text-type In the textual criticism of the New Testament, the Byzantine text-type (also called Traditional Text, Ecclesiastical Text, Constantinopolitan Text, Antiocheian Text, or Syrian Text) is one of the main Textual criticism#New Testament, text types. ...

classified it to the K^x. Aland placed it in Category V. According to the

Claremont Profile Method The Claremont Profile Method is a method for classifying ancient manuscripts of the Bible. It was elaborated by Ernest Cadman Colwell and his students. Professor Frederik Wisse attempted to establish an accurate and rapid procedure for the classi ...

it belongs to the textual family Family K^x in Luke 10 and Luke 20. In Luke 1 its text is defective. The text of Luke 22:43.44 is marked by an

obelus An obelus (plural: obeluses or obeli) is a term in codicology and latterly in typography that refers to a historical annotation mark which has resolved to three modern meanings: * Division sign * Dagger * Commercial minus sign (limited g ...

(÷) and John 5:3.4 is marked by an

asterisk The asterisk ( ), from Late Latin , from Ancient Greek , , "little star", is a Typography, typographical symbol. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a star (heraldry), heraldic star. Computer scientists and Mathematici ...

(※).

History

The manuscript was written in

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

in the 10th century. The manuscript was brought to America in 1844 from

Crete Crete ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...

, by George Benton (along with Minuscule 670, and Lectionary 302). In 1913 it was presented to the

General Theological Seminary The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church (GTS) is an Episcopal Church (United States), Episcopal seminary in New York City. Founded in 1817, GTS is the oldest seminary of the Episcopal Church and the longest continuously operating ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. The manuscript was added to the list of New Testament manuscripts by Scrivener and Gregory. It was examined by

J. Rendel Harris James Rendel Harris (27 January 1852 in Plymouth, Devon – 1 March 1941) was an English biblical scholar and curator of manuscripts, who was instrumental in bringing back to light many Syriac Scriptures and other early documents. His contacts ...

. Formerly it was part of Private Collection Ch. C. Ryrie in Dallas. It was sold at auction December 5, 2016, and now is in the collection at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC.

Gallery

File:Minuscule 669 (GA) 003.JPG, The last page of Matthew and the table of the to Mark File:Minuscule 669 (GA) 166.JPG, Text of Luke 22:43-44 is marked with an obelus (÷) File:Minuscule 669 (GA) 191.JPG, Page of the codex; τιτλος at the top (in red); text of John 5:3-4 is marked with an asterisk (※)

References

External links

Images of Minuscule 669
at the

CSNTM The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts (CSNTM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to digitally preserve Greek New Testament manuscripts. Toward that end, CSNTM takes digital photographs of manuscripts at institu ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minuscule 0669 Greek New Testament minuscules 11th-century biblical manuscripts