Minuscule Manuscripts.

The Minuscule Manuscripts of the New Testament.

At the beginning of the ninth century a new smaller letter type in running hand, called minuscules was developed. Do note that there was no use of both types of letter types in the same document, like we use capitals and small letters. There was no indication of capitals for instance to identify personal or proper names. Also not to indicate any connection to God like “His” word. Virtually all manuscripts made since the ninth century, were written in minuscules.

Due to its late time of origin, virtually the whole corpus of minuscules contains most of the alterations, inclusions or omissions that happened through the centuries of copying. Therefore less merit is placed on variations found in them, especially when there can be found a logic explanation for the variation. Sometimes there are clear indications that these manuscripts were copied from the same ancestor manuscript. In such a case the group don’t have individual merit, but as a group or family. Ten Copies of the same document will therefore not have more merit than say three different copies originating from three different source manuscripts.

During the late middle ages paper made from cotton, flax or hemp was introduced from China as common writing material. During that time copies of the Bible were also made on this form of paper.

Another source of Greek manuscripts is called lectionaries. The Church implemented a program of prescribed sections of Scripture to be read every Sunday during worship meetings. Due to the cost of manuscripts and the fact that not every church had a full set of New Testament documents at hand, lectionaries were copied containing the appropriate portions of Scripture for that year.  Often these lectionaries represent a much older form of text than the period in which they were written.

Herewith a table showing the distribution of the Greek manuscripts by the century:

No other written document in the world has such an extended source of antique copies to their avail with which to reconstruct the original autograph.

A source text taking all the evidence into account has the best chance to present every word as God had given it in the beginning.

God Bless.

Herman.