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  • Bible Manuscripts
  • Watch Tower Publications Index 1986-2025
  • Subheadings
  • Christian Greek Scriptures
  • Hebrew Scriptures
  • Hebrew Scriptures With Christian Greek Scriptures
Watch Tower Publications Index 1986-2025
dx86-25

BIBLE MANUSCRIPTS

(See also Bible Authenticity; Bible Translations; Codex; Copyists; Dead Sea Scrolls; Palimpsests)

(Note centered headings below: Christian Greek Scriptures; Hebrew Scriptures; Hebrew Scriptures With Christian Greek Scriptures)

accuracy: ijwbq article 129; w23.01 3-4; w23.02 2-3; it-1 313, 321-323, 443, 1081-1082, 1206; it-2 313-314, 317-318, 878-879; wp17.6 14; nwt 1726-1727; w09 11/1 13-14; w07 3/15 19-20; g 11/07 12-13; w98 4/1 11-12; w97 10/1 12; w97 10/15 11; ba 7-9; w95 5/15 27-28; w95 9/15 26-29; w90 7/15 29; si 319-320; w89 2/1 27-30; gm 17-22; pe 52-53; rs 63-64; w88 11/15 30-31; w86 7/1 29; Lmn 7

comments by Barbara Aland: g98 4/22 28

comments by F. F. Bruce: ijwbq article 129; nwt 1727, 1729; w97 10/15 11

comments by F. J. A. Hort: si 319

comments by Julio Trebolle Barrera: w01 2/15 6

comments by Kurt Aland: it-2 314

comments by Sir Frederic Kenyon: ijwbq article 129; it-1 323; it-2 318, 879; wp16.4 7; g 11/07 13; si 319-320; w89 2/1 30; gm 17, 22; pe 53; g88 7/22 23; w86 7/1 29

comments by Westcott and Hort: it-2 879

comments by W. H. Green: ijwbq article 129; it-2 318; wp16.4 7; nwt 1727; g 11/07 13; w90 7/15 29

contrast to classical works: it-1 443; it-2 317-318; w09 11/1 14; g96 2/8 9; gm 19; w88 11/15 30

discussion for Muslims: gu 30-31

possible copyist’s error (2Ch 3:4): w24.10 31

Aquila’s Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures: it-2 1152

Tetragrammaton: it-1 1072; it-2 9; g88 7/22 22

burial: w90 7/15 28

Cairo Genizah: it-2 314; w90 7/15 28; si 306; g88 7/22 21-22

charts:

classical and Christian scrolls, codices: it-1 354

early catalogs: si 303

leading papyrus manuscripts: si 313

leading vellum and leather manuscripts: si 314

Chester Beatty Library (Ireland): wp16.4 7; w04 9/15 29-31; w89 2/1 27-30

video They Valued the Bible: mrt article 2

Christian Scriptures: it-2 315-317, 1152-1154; si 316-317

accuracy: w23.01 3-4; it-1 443; it-2 314, 878-879; gu 30; g98 4/22 28; gm 21-22

contrast with classical works: it-1 443

copies extant: ijwbq article 129; it-1 443; it-2 315; w97 10/1 12; si 316; rs 64; w88 11/15 30

copyists: it-2 878-879

divine name: w08 8/1 19-20, 22

early: w88 11/15 30-31

master texts: it-2 313-314; nwt 1729

oldest: ijwbq article 12; w15 4/1 10-11; w88 11/15 30-31; g88 7/22 22-23

variations: it-2 314; si 319-320

collations:

de Rossi: si 312

Kennicott: si 312

Kittel: si 312

confirm integrity of Bible text: wp16.4 6-7; rs 63-64

copying: w98 4/1 12; ba 7; w90 7/15 29; si 305-306, 310-311; w89 2/1 28-29; gm 17-18, 20

dating: w09 10/1 20; g 2/08 19-22; ba 8; w88 11/15 31; g88 7/22 19, 23

discovery of ancient Psalter in Ireland bog (2006): g 11/07 30

discrepancies: w24.10 31; w89 2/1 28-29; gm 20-21

discussion: it-2 312-318; si 310-314

divine name: it-1 324; si 310-311

Dead Sea Scrolls: it-2 7; nwt 1732; w91 4/15 11-13

Fouad papyri: mrt article 6; it-1 326; it-2 5-6, 315, 1152; nwt 1738; w08 8/1 18; si 307, 310

Greek translations of the Hebrew Scriptures: it-1 1072; it-2 9; w91 3/1 29; g88 7/22 22

Habakkuk Commentary: w87 5/15 24

Hebrew vowel points: it-2 6-7

Hexapla (Origen): it-2 9; w01 7/15 31; si 310

Jerome’s comments: it-2 9

Nash Papyrus: nwt 1738; w08 8/1 18

Origen’s comments: it-2 9; si 310

Oxyrhynchus Papyrus of Genesis: it-2 1215

Septuagint: mrt article 6; it-1 324, 326; it-2 5-7, 9-10, 315, 1215; wp17.6 13; nwt 1736-1738; w10 7/1 6; w09 4/1 30; w08 8/1 18; bi12 1642-1643; w02 6/1 30; w02 9/15 28-29; sh 259; si 307, 310; w88 8/1 30

Sopherim alter: si 311

who removed: it-2 9-10, 877

Egypt: it-1 150; w92 2/15 26-28

families (recensions): it-2 313-314; si 319

Neutrals: it-2 879

Western: it-2 879

Firkovich, Abraham:

manuscripts provided to Russia’s Imperial Library: w05 7/15 11-13

first century:

personal ownership: w11 6/15 18; w07 12/1 32

Freer, Charles L.:

manuscripts purchased in Egypt, 1906: w90 5/1 14

Georgian language: w13 6/1 9-10

Gospels:

early Syriac translation: g88 5/8 27

Gothic:

Ulfilas’ translation: w94 5/15 8-9

Hebrew Scriptures: it-2 314-315, 1151-1154; si 305-307, 310-312

accuracy: nwt 1726-1727; hl section 4; w90 7/15 29; gm 17-21

consonantal text: si 311

copies extant: it-1 1082; it-2 314; si 306; pe 52-53; rs 64

master texts: it-2 313; nwt 1729

Hexapla (Origen): it-2 9, 1152; w01 7/15 30

leather: it-2 312, 577; w90 7/15 27

Masoretes: it-2 313-314, 877; w98 4/1 12; ba 7; w95 9/15 26-29; si 310-311; gm 18, 20-21

Masoretic text: it-2 314; wp16.4 6-7; nwt 1726; g 11/07 12-13; w95 5/15 26-28; si 311; gm 20-21

meaning of term: it-2 312

minuscules (cursives): it-2 313; si 310, 317; g88 7/22 19

modern: g00 11/8 28-29

Moses’ writings: w90 7/15 28

Mt. Athos, Greece: w99 12/1 31

National Library of Russia (St. Petersburg): w05 7/15 10-13

number of manuscripts: it-1 321; gu 30; w97 10/1 12; w97 10/15 11; w90 7/15 29; rs 64; w88 11/15 30; Lmn 7

Christian Scriptures: ijwbq article 129; it-1 443; it-2 315; w97 10/1 12; si 316; w88 11/15 30

contrast to classical works: g96 2/8 9

contrast to other ancient writings: wp16.4 4; w09 11/1 13-14

Hebrew Scriptures: it-1 1082; it-2 314; si 306; pe 52-53; rs 64

numerals: it-2 510-511

oldest: w07 3/15 18

oldest dated manuscripts: it-2 1153

oldest of Gospels: w98 12/15 29; w96 2/15 32

Old Latin versions (Vetus Latina): it-2 1153; w09 4/1 20

originals gone: w90 7/15 27-28; g88 7/22 22

why: it-2 879; w98 4/1 11-12; ba 7

why not needed: w90 7/15 29

palimpsests: it-1 355; it-2 312; w09 9/1 16; g88 7/22 22

computer enhancement of erased image: g88 5/8 27

papyrus: it-2 312, 574; w90 7/15 27; si 317; w88 11/15 31; g88 7/22 20-23

chart of leading manuscripts: si 313

parchment: it-1 353; it-2 312, 578; w88 11/15 31

Peshitta: it-2 1153

photo: w14 9/1 13

scroll: it-1 353-354; wp16.1 10

Septuagint: it-2 315, 1152; w02 9/15 28-29; si 307, 310

Sopherim: it-2 313, 877; si 310; gm 18

emendations by: it-1 1081-1082; it-2 877

survival: wp16.4 4

Symmachus’ Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures: it-2 1152

Tetragrammaton: jl lesson 4

tampering with: it-1 324

Theodotion: it-2 1152

uncials: it-2 312-313; si 310, 317; g88 7/22 19

vellum: it-2 312, 316, 578; si 310, 317; w88 11/15 31; g88 7/22 19

chart of leading manuscripts: si 314

Visigothic slates: w14 3/1 12-13

Christian Greek Scriptures

Bezae codices:

Codex Bezae: it-2 316; w90 2/15 24; si 314

Codex Claromontanus: it-2 316; si 314

Bodmer papyri: it-2 316; si 317

Papyrus Bodmer 2: it-2 316; si 313

Papyrus Bodmer 7, 8: si 313

Papyrus Bodmer 14, 15: it-2 316; w10 3/1 10; si 313

Chester Beatty papyri: it-2 315, 878-879; w04 9/15 30-31; si 206, 317; w89 2/1 27-28; g88 7/22 21

Ephraem quoting Diatessaron: w04 9/15 30-31

Papyrus Chester Beatty 1 (P45): it-1 44; it-2 315-316; w04 9/15 31; si 313

Papyrus Chester Beatty 2 (P46): it-1 409, 490, 881; it-2 316; w04 9/15 30; si 206, 220-221, 229, 232, 243-244, 313

Papyrus Chester Beatty 2 (P46), showing 2Co 4:13–5:4: nwt 1730

Papyrus Chester Beatty 3 (P47): it-2 316; si 313

Codex Argenteus (Gothic): w94 5/15 9

Codex Washingtonianus I (Washington Codex of the Gospels): it-2 316; w11 3/1 2-3; w90 5/1 14-15

Codex Washingtonianus II: it-2 316

Curetonian Syriac Gospels: w14 9/1 14-15

John Rylands Library:

Papyrus Rylands Greek 457: ijwbq article 12; it-1 323; it-2 316, 878; w15 4/1 10-11; w10 3/1 9; g 2/08 22; si 194, 313, 316-317; w88 11/15 30-31; g88 7/22 22-23

Titus (portion): si 240

Magdalen College (Oxford, England):

Matthew fragments (P64): w98 12/15 29; w96 2/15 32

Oxyrhynchus papyri: w92 2/15 27-28; si 313

Papyrus Aegyptus 8683: it-1 44

Papyrus Michigan 1570: si 313

Papyrus Michigan 1571: it-1 44; si 200

Sinaitic Syriac Gospels: w14 9/1 14-15

Hebrew Scriptures

Aleppo (Sephardic) Codex: it-2 315; w95 9/15 28; w92 10/15 28-29; si 314

divine name (De 32:3, 6): it-1 324

middle letter of Psalms: it-1 322

photo (Isa 40): nwt 1728; w95 5/15 26

Ambrosian O 39 sup.:

divine name: g01 7/22 25

Chester Beatty papyri: w89 2/1 29-30

Genesis: w04 9/15 30

Numbers and Deuteronomy: si 313

Ezekiel, Daniel, Esther: it-1 793; si 313

Codex Cairensis (Cairo [Karaite] Codex, Cairo Manuscript of the Prophets): it-2 315; w95 9/15 28; si 314

Codex Leningrad B 19A: w23.01 3; it-2 315; nwt 1726-1727; w05 7/15 12-13; w95 9/15 28; w92 10/15 29; si 314

Biblia Hebraica by Kittel: it-1 1082; nwt 1729

Biblia Hebraica Quinta: nwt 1729

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: nwt 1729

divine name: it-2 7; w05 7/15 13

Codex Oriental 4445: it-2 315; si 314

Dead Sea Scrolls (Qumran): it-1 322; it-2 315; w01 2/15 3-7; w92 1/1 32; w91 4/15 10-13; si 118-119, 306, 311-312

Exodus: it-1 785

Leviticus: it-2 242; si 313

Psalms: it-2 710; w91 4/15 13; si 312, 314

Psalms (photo): it-2 7; nwt 1732; g99 3/8 26

Isaiah scroll, first: it-1 322, 353-354; it-2 315; g 2/08 20; w01 2/15 6; ct 109-110; ba 8; w91 4/15 10-11; si 118-119, 311-312, 314; gm 20-21; pe 52-53

Isaiah scroll, first, showing 12:4, 5: ip-1 170

Isaiah scroll, first, showing 37:24–40:2: it-1 1221-1222

Isaiah scroll, first, showing chapter 40: nwt 1728

Isaiah scroll, first, showing “X” at chapter 32: ip-1 329-331

Daniel: it-1 578; dp 27

Habakkuk Commentary: it-1 1013; w87 5/15 24

age: wi 6

consistency with later manuscripts: wp16.4 7; nwt 1726-1727; w01 2/15 6; gm 20-21

DNA analysis aids in matching fragments: g96 2/8 28

En-Gedi:

Leviticus portion: w19.06 31

Fouad papyri:

Papyrus Fouad 266: mrt article 6; it-1 326; it-2 5-6, 315, 1152; si 307, 310, 313

Papyrus Fouad 266 reproduction: it-1 324, 326; nwt 1738; w08 8/1 18

Masada:

Psalms portion: w90 10/15 5

Nash Papyrus: it-1 1082; it-2 314-315; w92 12/15 29; si 313

divine name: nwt 1738; w08 8/1 18

Oxyrhynchus papyri:

Septuagint Genesis: it-2 1215; w92 2/15 28

Septuagint Job with divine name: w02 6/1 30

Papyrus Rylands iii. 458: it-2 315, 1152; si 313

Petersburg (Leningrad) Codex of the Latter Prophets: it-1 239; it-2 315; w05 7/15 12; si 311, 314

“The Song of the Sea” (Ex 13:19–16:1): w08 11/15 32

Hebrew Scriptures With Christian Greek Scriptures

Codex Alexandrinus (Alexandrine Manuscript): it-2 317, 1152; g01 10/8 13; w00 2/15 28; si 310, 314; w88 12/15 6; g88 7/22 20-21

dating: g 2/08 21-22

divine name absent: it-1 324; nwt 1739; w08 8/1 19

reproduction from: it-2 336; nwt 1739; w08 8/1 19; g88 7/22 21

Codex Amiatinus: w01 5/1 29-30

Codex Ephraemi (Syri) rescriptus: it-1 355; it-2 317; w09 9/1 16-17; si 314

reproduction from: w09 9/1 16

Codex Grandior: w01 5/1 29-30

Codex Sinaiticus (Sinaitic Manuscript): it-2 317, 1152; g01 10/8 13; si 310, 314; g88 7/22 19-20

dating: g 2/08 22

locations: it-2 317; w05 7/15 13; g99 4/22 18; w88 10/15 31

photos: it-1 323; it-2 317; w09 9/1 17; g88 7/22 20

rediscovery by Tischendorf: it-1 323; g 2/08 19; w05 7/15 10-11; g99 4/22 18; w97 10/15 11; w88 10/15 30-31

value: w97 10/15 11; w88 10/15 30

Codex Vaticanus (Vatican Manuscript 1209): it-2 316-317, 1152; w10 3/1 10; w09 10/1 18-20; w09 12/15 3; g01 10/8 13; si 310, 314; w89 5/1 30-31; g88 7/22 19-20

dating: g 2/08 22

    English Publications (1950-2025)
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