W. Codex
Washingtonianus I, in
the Freer Collection at Washington.
Acquired by Mr. C. L. Freer in
Egypt in 1906.
Apparently late fourth or fifth century.
It contains four Gospels in an order common in the West, Matthew, John,
Luke, Mark.
Its text varies in character, as if it had been copied from
several different MSS.
In Matthew, John i.1-v.12 (a quire added in the
seventh century to replace one that had been damaged), an Luke viii.13
to the end, it is of the common Byzantine type, but the rest of John
and Luke are Alexandrian, Mark i.1-v.30 is Western, and the rest of Mark
is Caesarean.
After Mark xvi.14 there is a remarkable insertion, part
of which is quoted by Jerome from
"some copies, chiefly Greek": "And they answered and said.
This generation of lawlessness and faithlessness is under Satan, who
doth not allow the truth of God to prevail over the unclean things of
the spirits.
Therefore make manifest thy righteousness.
So spake they
now to Christ, and Christ said unto them.
The tale of the years of the
dominion of Satan is fulfilled, but other terrible things draw near,
and by reason of the sins of them I was delivered over unto death, that
they may return to the truth and sin no more;
that they may inherit the
spiritual and incorruptible glory of righteousness which is in heaven."
Plate XX
shows this passage.
Description & picture from 'Our Bible & the Ancient Manuscripts'
by Sir Frederick Kenyon (1895 - 4th Ed. 1939) Page 151
& Plate XX. (Page-size: 20.5 x 14.5cm. )
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