Editing Alexandrian text-type

{{Short description|New Testament text type}}
In [[textual criticism of the New Testament]], the '''Alexandrian text-type''' is one of the main [[Textual criticism#New Testament|text types]]. It is the text type favored by the majority of modern [[Textual criticism|textual critics]] and it is the basis for most modern (after 1900) Bible translations.
Over 5,800 New Testament manuscripts have been classified into four groups by text type. Besides the Alexandrian, the other types are the [[Western text-type|Western]], [[Caesarean text-type|Caesarean]], and [[Byzantine text-type|Byzantine]]. Compared to these later text types, Alexandrian readings tend to be abrupt, use fewer words, show greater variation among the [[Synoptic Gospels]], and have readings that are considered difficult. That is to say, later [[scribe]]s tended to polish scripture and improve its literary style. [[Gloss (annotation)|Glosses]] would occasionally be added as verses during the process of copying a Bible by hand. From the ninth century onward, most surviving manuscripts are of the Byzantine type.<ref>Anderson, Gerry, [https://valleybible.net/AdultEducation/ClassNotes/Manuscripts/Text-Types.pdf Ancient New Testament Manuscripts Understanding Text-Types] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401090139/https://valleybible.net/AdultEducation/ClassNotes/Manuscripts/Text-Types.pdf |date=2017-04-01 }}"</ref>

The [[King James Version]] and other [[Reformation]]-era Bibles are translated from the ''[[Textus Receptus]]'', a Greek text created by [[Erasmus]] and based on various manuscripts of the Byzantine type. In 1721, [[Richard Bentley]] outlined a project to create a revised Greek text based on the [[Codex Alexandrinus]].<ref>Bentley, Richard, ''Dr. Richard Bentley's proposals for printing a new edition of the Greek Testament and St. Hierom's Latin version'', London, 1721.</ref> This project was completed by [[Karl Lachmann]] in 1850.<ref>Lachmann, Karl, ''Novum testamentum graece et latine'', Cambridge Univ Press, 2010. Originally published in two volumes in 1842 and 1850.</ref> [[Brooke Foss Westcott]] and [[F. J. A. Hort]] of Cambridge published a text based on [[Codex Vaticanus]] and [[Codex Sinaiticus]] in 1881. ''[[Novum Testamentum Graece]]'' by [[Eberhard Nestle]] and [[Kurt Aland]], now in its 28th edition, generally follows the text of Westcott and Hort.

== Manuscripts ==
{{More citations needed|subsection|date=November 2021}}
Up until the ninth century, Greek texts were written entirely in upper-case letters, referred to as [[uncial script|uncials]]. During the ninth and tenth centuries, [[Greek minuscule|minuscules]] came to replace the older style. Most Greek uncial manuscripts were recopied in this period and their parchment leaves typically scraped clean for re-use. Consequently, surviving Greek New Testament manuscripts from before the ninth century are relatively rare, but nine (over half of the total that survive) witness a more-or-less pure Alexandrian text. These include the oldest near-complete manuscripts of the New Testament: [[Codex Vaticanus]] Graecus 1209 and [[Codex Sinaiticus]] (both believed to date from the early fourth century).{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

A number of substantial [[papyrus]] manuscripts of portions of the New Testament survive from earlier still, and those that can be ascribed a text-type, such as {{Papyrus link|66}} and {{Papyrus link|75}} from the second to the third century, also tend to witness to the Alexandrian text.

The earliest [[Bible translations into Coptic|Coptic versions of the Bible]] (into a [[Sahidic]] variety of the late second century) use the Alexandrian text as a Greek base, while other second and third century translations (into [[Latin]] and [[Syriac language|Syriac]]) tend rather to conform to the [[Western text-type]]. Although the overwhelming majority of later minuscule manuscripts conform to the Byzantine text-type, detailed study has, from time to time, identified individual minuscules that transmit the alternative Alexandrian text. Around 17 such manuscripts have been discovered so far and so the Alexandrian text-type is witnessed by around 30 surviving manuscripts, by no means all of which are associated with [[Egypt]] although in that area, Alexandrian witnesses are the most prevalent.

According to Robert Boyd, the [[Arabic]] manuscripts of the New Testament appear to have an origin within the Alexandrian text-type.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Metzger |first=Bruce Manning |title=The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission and Limitations |publisher=Clarendon Press |year=1977 |isbn=0-19-826170-5 |location=New York; Oxford |page=61 |author-link=Bruce M. Metzger}}</ref>

The Alexandrian text-type is witnessed to in the writings of [[Origen]] (185 – c. 253), [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] (296–298 – 373), [[Didymus the Blind|Didymus]] (313 – 398) and [[Cyril of Alexandria]] (376 – 444).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hill |first1=Charles E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tTnRzXcVGGYC&dq=Origen+Alexandrian+text&pg=PA394 |title=The Early Text of the New Testament |last2=Kruger |first2=Michael J. |date=2012-06-14 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-956636-5 |language=en}}</ref> The quotations of [[Clement of Alexandria]] also often agree with the Alexandrian text-type, although sometimes they contain readings which are instead common in the [[Byzantine text-type]].<ref>P. M. Barnard, [https://archive.org/stream/textsandstudies05unknuoft#page/n625/mode/2up ''The Quotations of Clement of Alexandria from the Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles''], Texts & Studies, vol. 5, no. 4 (Cambridge, 1899).</ref>

===List of notable manuscripts representing Alexandrian text-type===
{{Cleanup list|subsection|date=November 2021}}

{|"wikitable"
|style="background:#DAE" align="center"|'''Sign''' 
|style="background:#DAE" align="center"|'''Name''' 
|style="background:#DAE" align="center"|'''Date''' 
|style="background:#DAE" align="center"|'''Content'''
|style="background:#DAE" align="center"|'''Discovery'''
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| {{Papyrus|45}}
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Papyrus 45|Chester Beatty I]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 3rd
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| fragments of Gospels, Acts
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1931
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| {{Papyrus|46}}
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Papyrus 46|Chester Beatty II]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| c. 200 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Pauline epistles
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1931
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| {{Papyrus|47}}
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Papyrus 47|Chester Beatty III]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 3rd
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| fragments of Revelation
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1931
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| {{Papyrus|66}}
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Papyrus 66|Bodmer II]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| c. 200 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Gospel of John
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1952
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| {{Papyrus|72}}
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Papyrus 72|Bodmer VII/VIII]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 3rd/4th
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Jude; 1-2 Peter
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1952
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| {{Papyrus|75}}
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Papyrus 75|Bodmer XIV-XV]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 3rd 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Gospels of Luke and John
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1952
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| א 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Codex Sinaiticus]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 330–360 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| NT
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1844
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| B 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Codex Vaticanus]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 325–350 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Matt. — Hbr 9, 14
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 16th century?
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| A 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Codex Alexandrinus]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| c. 400 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| (except Gospels) 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 17th century
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| C 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 5th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| (except Gospels) 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 17th century?
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Q 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Codex Guelferbytanus B]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 5th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| fragments Luke — John
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 18th century
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| T 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Codex Borgianus]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 5th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| fragments Luke — John
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 18th century
|- 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| I 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Codex Freerianus]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 5th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Pauline epistles
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1906
|- 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Z 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Codex Dublinensis]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 6th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| fragments of Matt.
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1787
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| L 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Codex Regius (New Testament)|Codex Regius]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 8th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Gospels
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 18th century?
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| W 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Codex Washingtonianus]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 5th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Luke 1:1–8:12; J 5:12–21:25
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1906
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 057 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Uncial 057]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 4/5th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Acts 3:5–6,10-12
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 20th century? 
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 0220 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Uncial 0220]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 6th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| NT (except Rev.)
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1950
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 33 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Minuscule 33]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 9th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Romans
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 18th century?
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 81 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Minuscule 81]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1044 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Acts, Paul
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1853
|-
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 892 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| [[Minuscule 892]] 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 9th 
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| Gospels
|style="background:#EBE" align="center"| 1877
|-
|}

===Other manuscripts===

'''Papyri: ''' 
{{Papyrus link|1}}, {{Papyrus link|4}}, {{Papyrus link|5}}, {{Papyrus link|6}}, {{Papyrus link|8}}, {{Papyrus link|9}}, {{Papyrus link|10}}, {{Papyrus link|11}}, {{Papyrus link|12}}, {{Papyrus link|13}}, {{Papyrus link|14}}, {{Papyrus link|15}}, {{Papyrus link|16}}, {{Papyrus link|17}}, {{Papyrus link|18}}, {{Papyrus link|19}}, {{Papyrus link|20}}, {{Papyrus link|22}}, {{Papyrus link|23}}, {{Papyrus link|24}}, {{Papyrus link|26}}, {{Papyrus link|27}}, {{Papyrus link|28}}, {{Papyrus link|29}}, {{Papyrus link|30}}, {{Papyrus link|31}}, {{Papyrus link|32}}, {{Papyrus link|33}}, {{Papyrus link|34}}, {{Papyrus link|35}}, {{Papyrus link|37}}, {{Papyrus link|39}}, {{Papyrus link|40}}, {{Papyrus link|43}}, {{Papyrus link|44}}, {{Papyrus link|49}}, {{Papyrus link|51}}, {{Papyrus link|53}}, {{Papyrus link|55}}, {{Papyrus link|56}}, {{Papyrus link|57}}, {{Papyrus link|61}}, {{Papyrus link|62}}, {{Papyrus link|63}}, {{Papyrus link|64}}, {{Papyrus link|65}}, {{Papyrus link|70}}, {{Papyrus link|71}}, {{Papyrus link|74}}, {{Papyrus link|77}}, {{Papyrus link|78}}, {{Papyrus link|79}}, {{Papyrus link|80}} (?), {{Papyrus link|81}}, {{Papyrus link|82}}, {{Papyrus link|85}} (?), {{Papyrus link|86}}, {{Papyrus link|87}}, {{Papyrus link|90}}, {{Papyrus link|91}}, {{Papyrus link|92}}, {{Papyrus link|95}}, {{Papyrus link|100}}, {{Papyrus link|104}}, {{Papyrus link|106}}, {{Papyrus link|107}}, {{Papyrus link|108}}, {{Papyrus link|110}}, {{Papyrus link|111}}, {{Papyrus link|115}}, {{Papyrus link|122}}.

'''Uncials: ''' 
[[Codex Coislinianus]], [[Codex Porphyrianus|Porphyrianus]] (except Acts, Rev), [[Codex Dublinensis|Dublinensis]], [[Codex Sangallensis 48|Sangallensis]] (only in Mark), [[Codex Zacynthius|Zacynthius]], [[Codex Athous Lavrensis|Athous Lavrensis]] (in Mark and Cath. epistles), [[Codex Vaticanus 2061|Vaticanus 2061]], [[Uncial 059|059]], [[Uncial 068|068]], [[Uncial 070|070]], [[Uncial 071|071]], [[Uncial 073|073]], [[Uncial 076|076]], [[Uncial 077|077]], [[Uncial 081|081]], [[Uncial 083|083]], [[Uncial 085|085]], [[Uncial 087|087]], [[Uncial 088|088]], [[Uncial 089|089]], [[Uncial 091|091]], [[Uncial 093|093]] (except Acts), [[Uncial 094|094]], [[Uncial 096|096]], [[Uncial 098|098]], [[Uncial 0101|0101]], [[Uncial 0102|0102]], [[Uncial 0108|0108]], [[Uncial 0111|0111]], [[Uncial 0114|0114]], [[Uncial 0129|0129]], [[Uncial 0142|0142]], [[Uncial 0155|0155]], [[Uncial 0156|0156]], [[Uncial 0162|0162]], [[Uncial 0167|0167]], [[Uncial 0172|0172]], [[Uncial 0173|0173]], [[Uncial 0175|0175]], [[Uncial 0181|0181]], [[Uncial 0183|0183]], [[Uncial 0184|0184]], [[Uncial 0185|0185]], [[Uncial 0189|0189]], [[Uncial 0201|0201]], [[Uncial 0204|0204]], [[Uncial 0205|0205]], [[Uncial 0207|0207]], [[Uncial 0223|0223]], [[Uncial 0225|0225]], [[Uncial 0232|0232]], [[Uncial 0234|0234]], [[Uncial 0240|0240]], [[Uncial 0243|0243]], [[Uncial 0244|0244]], [[Uncial 0245|0245]], [[Uncial 0247|0247]], [[Uncial 0254|0254]], [[Uncial 0270|0270]], [[Uncial 0271|0271]], [[Uncial 0274|0274]].

'''Minuscules: ''' [[Minuscule 20|20]], [[Minuscule 94|94]], [[Minuscule 104|104]] (Epistles), [[Minuscule 157|157]], [[Minuscule 164|164]], [[Minuscule 215|215]], [[Minuscule 241|241]], [[Minuscule 254|254]], [[Minuscule 256|256]] (Paul), [[Minuscule 322|322]], [[Minuscule 323|323]], [[Minuscule 326|326]], [[Minuscule 376|376]], [[Minuscule 383|383]], [[Minuscule 442|442]], [[Minuscule 579|579]] (except Matthew), [[Minuscule 614|614]], [[Minuscule 718|718]], [[Minuscule 850 (Gregory-Aland)|850]], 1006, 1175, [[Minuscule 1241|1241]] (except Acts), 1243, 1292 (Cath.), 1342 (Mark), 1506 (Paul), 1611, [[Minuscule 1739|1739]], 1841, 1852, 1908, 2040, [[Minuscule 2053|2053]], [[Minuscule 2062|2062]], 2298, [[Minuscule 2344|2344]] (CE, Rev), 2351, [[Minuscule 2427|2427]], [[Minuscule 2464|2464]].<ref>[[David Alan Black]], ''New Testament Textual Criticism'', Baker Books, 2006, p. 64.</ref>

According to the present critics codices {{Papyrus|75}} and B are the best Alexandrian witnesses, which present the pure Alexandrian text. All other witnesses are classified according to whether they preserve the excellent {{Papyrus|75}}-B line of text. With the primary Alexandrian witnesses are included {{Papyrus|66}} and citations of [[Origen]]. With the secondary witnesses are included manuscripts C, L, 33, and the writings of [[Didymus the Blind]].<ref>[[Bruce M. Metzger]], [[Bart D. Ehrman]], ''The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration'', Oxford University Press, 2005, p. 278.</ref>

== Characteristics ==
All extant manuscripts of all text-types are at least 85% identical and most of the variations are not translatable into English, such as word order or spelling. When compared to witnesses of the Western text-type, Alexandrian readings tend to be shorter and are commonly regarded as having a lower tendency to expand or paraphrase. Some of the manuscripts representing the Alexandrian text-type have the Byzantine corrections made by later hands (Papyrus 66, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Ephraemi, Codex Regius, and Codex Sangallensis).<ref>E. A. Button, ''An Atlas of Textual Criticism'', Cambridge, 1911, p. 13.</ref> When compared to witnesses of the Byzantine text type, Alexandrian manuscripts tend:

* to have a larger number of abrupt readings, such as the shorter ending of the [[Gospel of Mark]], which finishes in the Alexandrian text at Mark 16:8 (".. for they were afraid.") omitting verses Mark 16:9-20; [[Matthew 16:2b–3]], John 5:4; [[Jesus and the woman taken in adultery|John 7:53-8:11]];
* Omitted verses: Matt 12:47; 17:21; 18:11; Mark 9:44.46; 11:26; 15:28; Luke 17:36; Acts 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29.<ref>Bruce M. Metzger, ''A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament'' (Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft: Stuttgart 2001), pp. 315, 388, 434, 444.</ref>
* In Matthew 15:6 omitted η την μητερα (αυτου) (''or (his) mother''): א B D cop<sup>sa</sup>;<ref>NA26, p. 41.</ref>
* In Mark 10:7 omitted phrase και προσκολληθησεται προς την γυναικα αυτου (''and be joined to his wife''), in codices Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Athous Lavrensis, 892, [[Lectionary 48|'''ℓ''' ''48'']], [[Syriac Sinaiticus|syr<sup>s</sup>]], goth.<ref>UBS3, p. 164.</ref>
* Mark 10:37 αριστερων (''left'') instead of ευωνυμων (''left''), in phrase εξ αριστερων (B Δ 892<sup>v.l.</sup>) or σου εξ αριστερων (L Ψ 892*);<ref>NA26, p. 124.</ref>
* In Luke 11:4 phrase αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου (''but deliver us from evil'') omitted. Omission is supported by the manuscripts: Sinaiticus, B, L, ''f''<sup>1</sup>, 700, vg, syr<sup>s</sup>, cop<sup>sa, bo</sup>, arm, geo.<ref>UBS3, p. 256.</ref>
* In Luke 9:55-56 it has only στραφεις δε επετιμησεν αυτοις (''but He turned and rebuked them''): {{Papyrus|45}} {{Papyrus|75}} א B C L W X Δ Ξ Ψ 28 33 565 892 1009 1010 1071 Byz<sup>pt</sup> Lect
* to display more variations between parallel [[Synoptic Gospels|synoptic]] passages, as in the Lukan version of the [[Lord's Prayer]] (Luke 11:2), which in the Alexandrian text opens "Father.. ", whereas the Byzantine text reads (as in the parallel Matthew 6:9) "Our Father in heaven.. ";
* to have a higher proportion of "difficult" readings, as in Matthew 24:36, which reads in the Alexandrian text "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only"; whereas the Byzantine text omits the phrase "nor the Son", thereby avoiding the implication that Jesus lacked full divine foreknowledge. Another difficult reading is Luke 4:44.

The above comparisons are tendencies, rather than consistent differences. There are a number of passages in the [[Gospel of Luke]] in which the Western text-type witnesses a shorter text, the [[Western non-interpolations]]. Also, there are a number of readings where the Byzantine text displays variation between synoptic passages, that is not found in either the Western or Alexandrian texts, as in the rendering into Greek of the Aramaic last words of Jesus, which are reported in the Byzantine text as "Eloi, Eloi.." in Mark 15:34, but as "Eli, Eli.." in Matthew 27:46.

== See also ==
* [[Categories of New Testament manuscripts]]
* [[Comparison of codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* [[Bruce M. Metzger]] & [[Bart D. Ehrman]], ''The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration'', Oxford University Press, 2005, pp.&nbsp;277–278.
* Bruce M. Metzger, ''A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament: A Companion Volume to the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament'', 1994, United Bible Societies, London & New York, pp.&nbsp;5*, 15*.
* Carlo Maria Martini, [https://books.google.com/books?id=5pZyQmwXhdsC&pg=PA153 ''La Parola di Dio Alle Origini della Chiesa''], (Rome: Bibl. Inst. Pr. 1980), pp.&nbsp;153–180.
* [[Gordon D. Fee]], [https://books.google.com/books?id=XCCfBCdQT3wC&pg=PA247 ''P<sup>75</sup>, P<sup>66</sup>, and Origen: The Myth of Early Textual Recension in Alexandria''], in: Studies in the Theory and Method of New Testament Textual Criticism, vol. 45, Wm. Eerdmans 1993, pp.&nbsp;247–273.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexandrian Text-Type}}
[[Category:New Testament text-types]]
[[Category:Ancient Alexandria]]