Minuscule 251
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| New Testament manuscript | |
| Text | Gospels |
|---|---|
| Date | 12th century |
| Script | Greek |
| Now at | Russian State Library |
| Size | 21.7 cm by 16 cm |
| Type | mixed / Byzantine |
| Category | none |
Minuscule 251 is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament Gospels, written on parchment. It is designated by the siglum 251 in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts, and ε 192 in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts.[1] Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been dated to the 12th century.[2] The manuscript has complex contents.
The manuscript is a codex (precursor to the modern book format), containing the complete text of the four Gospels on 273 parchment leaves (sized 21.7 cm by 16 cm).[3] The text is written in one column per page and 23 lines per page.[2][3]
The text is divided according to the Ammonian sections, whose numbers are given in the margin, but without references to the Eusebian Canons.[4]
It contains the Epistle to Carpian,[5] the Eusebian Canon tables,[5] with the tables of contents (known as κεφαλαια) placed before each Gospel.[4][5] It has pictures.[4][5] The text has some affinities with Minuscule 59.[4]
Text
The Greek text of the codex is considered to be a representative of the Byzantine text-type, but with several non-Byzantine elements. Textual critic Hermann von Soden lists it under the textual sub-group II. Biblical scholar Kurt Aland did not assign it to any Category of his New Testament manuscript classification system.[6]
According to the Claremont Profile Method (a specific analysis of textual data), it belongs to the textual cluster 1229.[7] Its Greek text has several affinities to the readings seen in Codex Tischendorfianus IV (Γ).
History
The earliest history of the manuscript is unknown. It once belonged to Auxentius.[4] Theophilus Zagoloras sent it to one of the monasteries at Mount Athos in A.D. 1400.[4][5] It was brought to Moscow in 1655, by the monk Arsenius, on the suggestion of the Patriarch Nikon, during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov (1645-1676).[4]
The manuscript was collated by scholar Christian F. Matthaei.[5] It was examined by Matthaei and Franz Delitzsch.[4] The manuscript is currently dated by the INTF to the 12th century.[3] It is presently housed at the Russian State Library (shelf number Φ 181. 9 (Gr. 9)) in Moscow.[2][3]