Minuscule 15

Minuscule 15
New Testament manuscript
TextGospels
Date12th century
ScriptGreek
Now atBibliothèque nationale de France
Size18.2 cm by 14.3 cm
TypeByzantine text-type
CategoryV
NoteFull marginalia

Minuscule 15 is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament Gospels, written on parchment. It is designated by the siglum 15 in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts, and as ε 283 in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts. Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it is assigned to the 12th century. It has liturgical books and full marginal notes.

Description

The manuscript is a codex (precursor to the modern book format), containing the complete text of the four Gospels, written on 225 parchment leaves, sized 18.2 cm by 14.3 cm. The text is written in one column per page, 23-24 lines per page. It was written in neat, and regular letters. The first three pages are written in gold ink, with "exquisite miniatures", four on page two, four on page three.

The text is divided according to the chapters (known as κεφαλαια / kephalai), whose numbers are given in the margin, with their titles (known as τιτλοι / titloi) at the top of the pages. There is also a division according to the Ammonian Sections, with references to the Eusebian Canons which are written below Ammonian Section numbers (both early divisions of the Gospels into sections). The copyist has included what is known as the 'iota adscriptum' to the main text.

It contains Prolegomena (introductions), Epistle to Carpainus, Eusebian Canon tables, tables of contents (also known as κεφαλαια) before each Gospel, lectionary equipment at the margin (for liturgical use), and pictures. It also contains liturgical books with hagiographies: the synaxarion and Menologion (lists of Saint's days and lives).

Text

The Greek text of the codex is considered to be a representative of the Byzantine text-type. Textual critic Hermann von Soden classified it to Ak (the Byzantine commentated text). Biblical scholar Kurt Aland placed it in Category V of his New Testament manuscript classification system. According to the Claremont Profile Method (a specific analysis of textaul data), it belongs to the textual family Kx in Luke 1 and Luke 20. In Luke 10 no profile was made.

In the margin of Mark 16:8 it has a scholion which questions the authenticity of the remains verses of the Gospel: εν τισι των αντιγραφων, εως ωδε πληρουται ο ευαγγελιστης. εν πολλοις δε, και ταυτα φερεται (It certain copies, the Gospel is present up to here. But in many others, also these [verses] are included). The text of the pericope John 7:53-8:11 is omitted.

History

The earliest history of the manuscript is unknown. It was brought to Paris by Catherine de' Medici. It was in private hands, and became one of the manuscripts used by Ludolph Kuster in his revised reprint of John Mill's Novum Testamentum Graecum (Paris 8).

Biblical scholar Johann M. A. Scholz examined a bigger part of Matthew, Mark and John in the codex. It was examined and described by biblical scholars Dean Burgon and Paulin Martin. C. R. Gregory saw the manuscript in 1884.

Scholz dated it to the 10th century, Gregory to the 12th century. It is currently dated by the INTF to the 12th century.

The codex is presently located at the National Library of France (shelf number Gr. 64) in Paris.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gregory, Caspar René (1908). Die griechischen Handschriften des Neuen Testament [The Greek Manuscripts of the New Testament]. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs. p. 48.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Aland, Kurt; M. Welte; B. Köster; K. Junack (1994). Kurzgefasste Liste der griechischen Handschriften des Neues Testaments [A Concise List of the Greek Manuscripts of the New Testament] (in German) (2 ed.). Berlin, New York: Walter de Gruyter. p. 47. ISBN 3-11-011986-2.
  3. 1 2 3 "Liste Handschriften: Minuscule 15". Münster: Institute for New Testament Textual Research. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  4. 1 2 3 Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose; E. Miller (1894). A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament. Vol. 1 (4 ed.). London: George Bell & Sons. p. 193.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gregory, Caspar René (1900). Textkritik des Neuen Testamentes [Textual Criticism of the New Testament] (in German). Vol. 1. Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs. p. 132.
  6. ↑ von Tischendorf, Constantin (1859). Novum Testamentum Graece [The Greek New Testamentum] (7 ed.). Leipsig. p. CXCVI.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. 1 2 Wisse, Frederik (1982). The Profile Method for the Classification and Evaluation of Manuscript Evidence, as Applied to the Continuous Greek Text of the Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 53. ISBN 0-8028-1918-4.
  8. ↑ 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. Translated by Erroll F. Rhodes. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 138. ISBN 978-0-8028-4098-1.
  9. ↑ Jean-Pierre-Paul Martin (1883). Description technique des manuscrits grecs, relatif au Nouveau Testament, conservé dans les bibliothèques des Paris. Paris. pp. 26–28.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)