Minuscule 640

Minuscule 640 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), Ο^{πρ 262} (von Soden),[1] is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically to the 11th century. The manuscript is very fragmentary.[2] Scrivener labeled it by 230^a, Gregory by 203^a.[3]

Minuscule 640

New Testament manuscript papyri uncials minuscules lectionaries
Text	Epistle of James 1:1-23
Date	11th century
Script	Greek
Now at	British Library
Size	24.3 cm by 19.6 cm
Type	Byzantine text-type
Category	V
Hand	very minute
Note	wonderful beauty

Description

The codex contains the text of the Epistle of James 1:1-23 on 2 parchment leaves (size 24.3 cm by 19.6 cm). The text is written in one column per page, 17 lines per page for biblical text, and 37-45 lines per page for a commentary.[2] The manuscript is of wonderful beauty.[3]

It contains the illuminated head-pieces, the κεφαλαια at the top of the pages, with a commentary on three sides of the text in a very minute hand.[3][4]

Text

The Greek text of the codex is a representative of the Byzantine text-type. Kurt Aland placed it in Category V.[5]

History

The manuscript is dated by the INTF to the 11th century.[6]

The manuscript was presented by Harris from Alexandria to the British Museum.[3] The manuscript was added to the list of New Testament manuscripts by Scrivener (230^a) and Gregory (203^a). Gregory saw the manuscript in 1883.[4] In 1908 Gregory gave the number 640 to it.[1]

The manuscript currently is housed at the British Library (Add MS 19392A).[2][6]

See also

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

References

1. Gregory, Caspar René (1908). Die griechischen Handschriften des Neuen Testament. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs'sche Buchhandlung. p. 70.
2. K. Aland, M. Welte, B. Köster, K. Junack, "Kurzgefasste Liste der griechischen Handschriften des Neues Testaments", Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York 1994, p. 85.
3. Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose; Miller, Edward (1894). A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament. 1 (4th ed.). London: George Bell & Sons. p. 300.
4. Gregory, Caspar René (1900). Textkritik des Neuen Testaments. 1. Leipzig. p. 280.
5. Aland, Kurt; Aland, Barbara (1995). The Text of the New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism. Erroll F. Rhodes (trans.). Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-8028-4098-1.
6. Handschriftenliste at the Münster Institute

Further reading

• Gregory, Caspar René (1900). Textkritik des Neuen Testaments. 1. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs. p. 280.