Tyndale House Podcast S5E2: What does a manuscript look like?
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Jan 23, 2025 Dirk Jongkind, Academic Vice Principal at Tyndale House and expert on New Testament manuscripts, dives deep into the fascinating world of biblical manuscripts. He highlights the transition from scrolls to codex and the unique characteristics of ancient texts, including the curious absence of standard word breaks. Jongkind also shares insights on the materials used, like papyrus and parchment, and the lavish ornamentation of some manuscripts, such as the purple one of Matthew. Join this enlightening conversation that unravels the complexities of early Christian literature!
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New Testament Manuscripts Are Books
- Most New Testament manuscripts are books, not rolls, dating back to the second century.
- Early Christian texts were preserved mostly as codices rather than scrolls, which was uncommon then.
Parchment Better Than Papyrus For Survival
- Papyrus is brittle and disintegrates easily, so fewer extensive manuscripts survive on it.
- Parchment, made from animal skin, can last longer under the right conditions and produced more extensive manuscripts.
Codex Adopted Early By Christians
- The codex (book form) was used by Christians from the second century, unlike most literature on scrolls.
- Codices were handy for travel and easier to read with one hand, favored for practical texts like medical books.