The Scribes and Correctors of Codex Vaticanus

Codex Vaticanus (Vat. gr. 1209; B[03]) is one of the oldest and most significant Greek manuscripts of the Christian Bible. Despite its preeminence, many aspects of its production and early history have been neglected and misunderstood. This book provides the first comprehensive study of the scribes and early correctors of B(03) through codicological, paleographic, paratextual, and textual analysis. In a detailed examination of the layers of production in the Greek Old and New Testaments, the volume outlines the likely process by which the fourth-century codex was copied and corrected. Further attention is given to the relationship between B(03) and other important biblical manuscripts. The results of this study challenge long-held assumptions about the number of scribes responsible for the codex’s production and offer insight into its early reception and lasting significance. The material and textual history examined here offers scholars and students alike a resource for engaging biblical manuscripts, textual criticism, and the history of the Christian Bible.