Page:The four Gospels - translated from the Latin Vulgate, and diligently compared with the original Greek text, being a revision of the Rhemish translation (IA TheFourGospelsTranslated).pdf/23

 EXPLANATIONS.

G. is put for the common Greek text.

P. for the Protestant version, authorized by King James.

G. P. marks the places in which they harmonize.

Cath. for “A Catholic.” Both denote the version ascribed to Dr. Lingard.

Lit. for Literally.

A BRIEF NOTICE OF MANUSCRIPTS.

The Alexandrian manuscript, now preserved in the British Museum, is supposed to have been written at Alexandria in the fifth century.

The Vatican manuscript is proved by Hug to belong to the middle of the fourth century. The internal value of its readings is probably superior to the former.

The Ephrem manuscript, a palimpsest, so called from the works of St. Ephrem the Syrian, having been written over the original writing, which has been restored, probably belongs to the sixth century. It is in many places illegible, and has numerous chasms.

The Cambridge manuscript, presented to the University by Beza, contains the four gospels, and the Acts, with a fragment of the epistles, and belongs probably to the seventh century.

The Dublin manuscript preserved in Trinity College, Dublin, belongs to the sixth century. It exhibits the gospel of St. Matthew, but in a very imperfect state.

Uncial manuscripts are those written in capital letters, as was usual before the tenth century.

Cursive characters were employed since that period.

ANCIENT VERSIONS.

The Syriac version, called the Peshito, or simple, was made probably in the first century. A revision of it is known as the Karkaphensian recension, this name signifying mountainous, as it was used in a monastery about Mount Sagara. The Peshito is of great value.

The Philoxenian version in the Syriac language, takes its name from Philoxenus, or Xenayas, Bishop of Mabug, or Hierapolis in Syria, under whose direction it was executed about the year 508. Only a few fragments of it have been yet discovered. The name is given by mistake to the Harclean version made by Thomas of Harkel, or Heraclea, in Syria, Bishop of Mabug, about the year 616.

Another Syriac version of the Gospels for the Sundays and festivals is called the Jerusalem, or Palæstino-Syriac version. It was probably made in the fifth century.