Codex Alexandrinus

Overview

Codex Alexandrinus is an ancient handwritten manuscript of the Bible; the name refers to the manuscript itself and is not a biblical term. A codex is a book made of bound leaves. Scholars designate it by the letter "A." It contains the Old Testament in the Greek translation known as the Septuagint and the New Testament in the original Greek. It is written on parchment in uncial (capital) letters, in two columns per page. Because some leaves have been lost, Matthew survives only from about 25:6 onward. Also missing are John from late in chapter 6 to the middle of chapter 8 and 2 Corinthians from late in chapter 4 to early in chapter 12.

Background

The manuscript is generally dated to around the fifth century, though scholars disagree about where it was produced. Its name derives from its having been kept by the church in Alexandria, Egypt. Cyril Lucaris, who served as Patriarch of Alexandria before becoming Patriarch of Constantinople, sent the manuscript to the English royal court. It was originally intended as a gift for James I but is reported to have been delivered to Charles I in 1627. It is now held by the British Library in London.

The codex also includes books not found in present-day Protestant Bibles. Its Old Testament portion contains books included in the Septuagint, such as Judith, the Wisdom of Solomon, and the books of Maccabees. Following the New Testament are the Epistles of Clement, documents of the early church. As evidence of which books the church of the time read together, the manuscript is used in the study of the formation of the canon.

Significance for Biblical Studies

Codex Alexandrinus serves as important evidence in textual criticism, the discipline that compares manuscripts in order to recover the original text. Its Gospels are close to the later Byzantine text type, while the rest of its New Testament is regarded as close to the so-called Alexandrian text type. It is considered an especially important manuscript for the text of Revelation. The codex arrived in England after the publication of the King James Bible (1611) and therefore was not used in its translation.

Interpretation and Issues

• Confusion of names: "Codex Alexandrinus" refers to a single manuscript, whereas the "Alexandrian text type" refers to a type of text shared by many manuscripts. The two are distinct concepts; in fact, the Gospels of this codex are not Alexandrian in text type.
• 1 Timothy 3:16: There has long been debate over whether this manuscript originally read "he" or the abbreviation for "God" in this verse.
• Manuscripts and the translation debate: Scholars who favor the modern critical text place great weight on ancient manuscripts, including this one. Supporters of the King James Bible and the Textus Receptus on which it is based criticize modern translations that rely on Alexandrian manuscripts. In Korea as well, this issue is treated as one strand of the Bible translation debate.