Please Support the Bible Translation Work of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

$5.00

The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

The Codex Laudianus, known in the scholarly world as Ea or 08, and by von Soden as α 1001, bears the name of its one-time owner, Archbishop William Laud. This remarkable document is a bilingual manuscript, presenting the New Testament’s Acts of the Apostles in both Latin and Greek. Crafted with careful attention to detail, the text is written in a distinct uncial script that dates back to the 6th century. The unique feature of this manuscript lies in its side-by-side Latin and Greek text, providing a fascinating window into early Christian scriptural traditions and the linguistic interplay between these two foundational languages of the Western Church. The preservation and study of such a manuscript not only enrich our understanding of early Christian texts but also highlight the enduring significance of these ancient works in the broader narrative of religious and cultural history.

Content

Acts (in Latin and Greek)

Date

Sixth century C.E.

Physical Features

The Codex Laudianus, also known as Ea or 35 in the catalog, stands out as a bilingual manuscript, showcasing the text of the Book of Acts in both Greek and Latin. The layout features parallel columns, with Latin taking precedence on the left side. This codex comprises 227 parchment pages, each measuring approximately 27 by 22 centimeters (10.6 by 8.7 inches), and it holds nearly the entire Book of Acts, except for a section from 26:29 to 28:26.

What makes this manuscript especially notable is its presentation of the text in columns, with each column containing 24 or more lines. However, these aren’t your typical lines of text; they’re exceptionally short, sometimes only stretching to one to three words. This unique arrangement, known as colonmetric writing, is structured to mirror the natural pauses in speech or thought, offering a unique glimpse into ancient reading practices. Notably, the Codex Laudianus is recognized as the oldest manuscript to include Acts 8:37, marking a significant point of interest for scholars and enthusiasts of biblical texts.

Textual Character

The Codex Laudianus, also known by its catalog number Ea or 35, holds a special place among New Testament manuscripts, especially for its presentation of the Book of Acts. Its text is a fascinating blend, showing affiliations with different ancient text-types. While it often aligns with the Byzantine text tradition, which is the most widespread among Greek New Testament manuscripts, it also contains readings that match the Western text-type, as seen in Codex Bezae (D), and occasionally the Alexandrian text-type, known for its early and often more original readings.

Kurt Aland, a renowned scholar in the field of New Testament textual criticism, analyzed the Codex Laudianus’ text. He found that it matches the Byzantine text-type in 36 instances and agrees with it again in 21 cases when the Byzantine and Alexandrian texts coincide. Against the Byzantine text, it sides with the Alexandrian text 22 times. The codex also offers 22 unique readings, setting it apart from other manuscripts. Aland categorized it in Category II, indicating manuscripts of a special quality with significant early text but showing some later modifications.

One of its most notable features is the inclusion of Acts 8:37, a verse about the Ethiopian’s confession of faith, which is absent in many Greek manuscripts but found in several others such as 323, 453, 945, 1739, 1891, and 2818.

The manuscript also provides unique readings in several passages:

In Acts 12:25, it supports the reading “from Jerusalem to Antioch,” aligning with a minority textual tradition as opposed to the Majority Text’s “to Jerusalem.”
In Acts 16:10, the codex uses “θεος” (God), sharing this reading with significant manuscripts like P74, Sinaiticus, and Alexandrinus, while others use “κυριος” (Lord).
Acts 18:26 is another instance where it offers a unique reading, “την οδον του κυριου” (the way of the Lord), along with a few other sources.
For Acts 20:28, it reads “του κυριου” (of the Lord), joining an important group of manuscripts that include Papyrus 74 and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, among others.

These textual variations highlight the Codex Laudianus’ value in understanding the diverse textual history of the New Testament, providing insights into how these sacred texts were transmitted, read, and understood in the early Christian communities.

History of Codex Laudianus

The Codex Laudianus, also known as Ea or 35, holds a fascinating spot in the annals of biblical manuscripts, particularly for its contributions to the study of the Acts of the Apostles. This ancient text, likely crafted in Sardinia during the Byzantine reign after 534, found its way into English possession before 716, utilized by the venerable Bede in his thorough examination of the Acts.

Page from Codex Laudianus (Acts 15:22-24)

The journey of this manuscript to England remains shrouded in mystery, possibly brought over by Theodore of Tarsus, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in 668, or perhaps by Ceolfrid, the Abbot of Wearmouth and Jarrow, in the early eighth century. Its English home was likely one of the significant northern monasteries, from where it ventured back to the continent with English missionaries in the 8th century, ultimately finding a resting place in Hornbach Abbey in the Rhineland.

The tumultuous times of the Thirty Years’ War saw the Codex entering the collection of William Laud, who generously donated it to the Bodleian Library in Oxford in 1636. There, under the catalog number MS. Laud Gr. 35, it remains a prized piece of the collection.

The Codex Laudianus has attracted scholarly attention over the centuries. Thomas Hearne was the first to publish its text in 1715, albeit in a form that left much to be desired. His work was followed by more accurate transcriptions from Hansell in 1864 and the renowned Constantin von Tischendorf in 1870.

Esteemed scholars like Johann Jakob Griesbach, Ropes, Motzo, Poole, Clark, Lagrange, and Walther have all examined this manuscript, each contributing to our understanding of its value and significance. Through their studies, the Codex Laudianus continues to shed light on the intricate history of biblical text transmission, offering insights into the early Christian church and the enduring legacy of the Scriptures.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).