Study of the Gospels in Codex Alexandrinus

W. Andrew Smith, Ph.D. (2013), University of Edinburgh, is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Shepherds Theological Seminary.

• IntroductionObjectiveOverview of the Following ChaptersManuscript Page NotationA Note on the Manuscript ImagesChapter 1. Codex HistoryCodicology and the History of Codex Alexandrinus1627 to PresentCodex History Prior to 1627Chapter 2. CodicologyThe CodexMaterialsComposition and BindingDimensions and FormattingContentsOrdering of the New Testament BooksNumberingClosing Remarks on the Codicology of AlexandrinusChapter 3. Palaeography and Paratextual Features of the GospelsThe HandsUse of ColorSuperscriptions, Subscriptions, and Tailpiece DesignsEusebian ApparatusKephalaia and TitloiConclusionChapter 4. ScribesOverview of the Scribal HandsUnit DelimitationNomina SacraOther Abbreviations and LigaturesOrthographyConclusionsConclusionCreation of the CodexThe Eusebian Apparatus and Use of NumbersPalaeography and Statistical AnalysisUpdating the Alexandrinus Knowledge BaseFinal WordsAppendix A. Tables of ConcordanceAppendix B. Orthographic DataAppendix C. Statistical AnalysisAppendix D. Eusebian Apparatus DataAppendix E. Unit Delimitation DataWorks Cited

'It is rare to find in a published university PhD thesis a mature work of scholarship. But this is my judgement of Smith's book. [...] Not surprisingly, footnoting, bibliography and indexing are of the highest order [...] With Smith as a trusty guide, any further studies of Alexandrinus are well served.'J. K. Elliott, University of Leeds, Novum Testamentum 58, 2016.'Smith’s judicious study not only stands up well among other seminal works dealing with Codex Alexandrinus, [...] it further serves to thoughtfully advance their insights, and in so doing will both encourage a renewed interest in, and establish itself as indispensable to, the further study of this remarkable manuscript.'Kent D. Clarke,Trinity Western University, Religious Studies Review · VOLUME 42 · NUMBER 2 · JUNE 2016'This is an extremely well-executed study, accompanied by illustrations and rich in data. [...] it is likely to be consulted as a standard reference work for those who engage in further study of Codex Alexandrinus. This volume will be welcomed by New Testament text critics and those who study the Gospels more widely.'Paul Foster, University of Edinburgh, Expository Times 126(12), 2015'This book is not only valuable due to its originality as the first detailed study of Codex Alexandrinus available. It can also serve as a role model for studies of other manuscripts because its method are sound, its analyses are meticulous, and it deals with physical features of a manuscript, so that the manuscript is assessed for what it is: a physical (and in most cases archaeological) object.'Thomas J. Kraus, University of Zurich, TC: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism 20, 2015.'W. Andrew Smith is to be commended for his excellent and meticulous study [...] This book is to be recommended to anyone who studies New Testament manuscripts. Those who study Codex Alexandrinus will find this work to be essential.'Elijah Hixson, University of Edinburgh, Fides et Humilitas 2, 2015.'Now, at long last, we finally have the first fruits of meticulous and well-documented research into A's codicology and palaeography. It is to be hoped that Smith's splendid and inaugural work, examining the codex qua codex, will encourage others to undertake comparable studies on the rest of this manuscript. Smith's published thesis sets a gold standard that others may model their research on.'J. K. Elliott, University of Leeds, Theologische Literaturzeitung 141, 2016.