On Recently Discovered Uncial MSS of the Apocalypse: Correction
• 2 min. read • grade level: 10
The Editor of the Bible Treasury wrote lately to Professor Tischendorf, pointing out a discrepancy between his written report (in February, 1860) of Rev. 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9) in the Sinai MS. and the printed text of the same verse, just edited by him; the former omitting, and the latter giving, ἡμᾶς. The Professor replies (in a letter dated Leipzic, Sep. 8, 1863), expressing his great regret that pressure of labor at the time of his report exposed him to oversight, and confirming the representation made in his edition of the New Testament printed from the Cod. Sinait. The reader, however, will bear in mind that the mistake, now rectified by the learned critic, had no influence on the text of “the Revelation, edited in Greek,” the reported readings having come too late for insertion save in the Introduction (pp. 15-18).
Professor T. adds the important information, that at his last visit to St. Petersburg he has found an Uncial Palimpsest, of about the eight or ninth century, and of good character otherwise, which contains the Acts, the Pauline, and the Catholic Epistles, with the Apocalypse. This, as a whole, he hopes to give next year in his “Monumenta.” The following are a few of its readings, as communicated to me: Rev. 1:1818I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18), αἰωνων, without ἀμηυ (like A. C. 36, 38, Erasmus); 2:2, κοπον without σου, omitting εἰμηυ also; 2:9, την θλιψιν, without τα ἐργα σου. Like C., it has Ἰουδαιων, 2:13, που, without τα ἐργα σου. Besides, it has neither και nor ἐν αἱς. In chap. 4:13, it reads ὁμοιος (sec.), with A., &c. In chap. 4:4, it omits ἐν; 7:8 has Βενιαμειν; 11:6, τμν ἐξουσιαν; 11:10, εὐφραινονται; 11:12, ἀναβατε; 11:18, φθειροντας, as Erasmus edited; 12:6, τρεφουσιν, with C.; 12:10, αὐτους; 14:4, οὑτοι (sec.), without εἰσιν, like A. C. 28, Erasmus; 14:13, ἐν χριστω, like C. He adds, 17:2, ἐχοντα; but I do not understand it, and suspect some mistake.