| Codex A: hover over the image to enlarge the papyrus text | download HERE |
In the Freer Collection at Washington. Acquired by Mr. C. L. Freer in Egypt in 1906.
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 from 'Our Bible & the Ancient Manuscripts'
by Sir Frederick Kenyon (1895 - 4th Ed. 1939) Page 151.
top