Gospel |
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Christ |
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Tradition |
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Matthew |
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Mark |
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Luke |
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John |
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Interpretation |
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From ‘Notes on the Formation of the
Gospels’, by John Wijngaards;
published in Background to the
Gospels (Bangalore & Ann Arbor 1981)
and Together in My Name
(London 1991).
The apostles and evangelists used the normal writing material of
their days. They wrote on “papyrus”, a rather primitive sort of
paper. This paper was liable to decay soon, especially if constantly used. No
wonder then that the original manuscripts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John no
longer exist. But from the earliest days hundreds and thousands of copies were
made. Each of these copies was written out by hand and checked for its
accuracy.
After some years copies were made on parchment, that is: on the
skins of animals, and these copies were practicably indestructible.
The accurate transmission of the text throughout the centuries has
been proved by scientific research. Even now we possess many ancient copies of
gospel texts:
- 35 papyrus fragments of the most ancient times, containing
parts of the gospel text;
- 66 uncial manuscripts, i.e. 66 copies on parchment, mainly
belonging to the 3rd to the 5th centuries when all letters were written in
capitals;
- 1000 minuscule manuscripts, i.e. copies on parchment from later
centuries when the letters were written smaller;
- 300 Church lectionaries, i.e. collections of readings meant for
the Sunday service (some of them very old).
We have, moreover, abundant material for comparison of the early
gospel texts in ancient translations (Latin, Gothic, Syriac, Coptic, Armenian,
etc.) and in the quotations of the Fathers.
Since so many copies had been made and preserved in so many
different places, it was impossible for any individual to change the text. The
differences would soon be noticed and corrected by others. Modern scientific
research on the Bible has gathered all the information found in the manuscripts
and compared it with the actual text used bChristians today. The result of this
investigation has confirmed the Christian claim that the gospel text has been
handed on in all its purity.
In fact, the gospels are the best preserved writings of
antiquity. For no other profane or religious writing of the same age can such
abundant proof of integrity be produced.
Regarding some smaller details the old manuscripts show
differences. Such differences are called ‘variant readings’.
Compare these two variant readings in two important manuscripts:
- Codex Vaticanus : “When the dead are raised to life
they will be like the angels in heaven.” (Mt 22:30.)
- Codex Sinaiticus : “When the dead are raised to
life they will be like the angels of God in heaven.” (Mt
22:30.)
Careful study of all the available information proves that the
reading of the Codex Vaticanus (which it has in common with many other
manuscripts) was the original one. This reading is, consequently, followed in
our editions.
But notice that, in any case, the meaning of both variants is the
same! The vast majority of variant readings are of this nature. |
