Codex Vaticanus
The Vatican's 4th-century Bible, the finest early witness to the Greek text
Found 1475 — Possibly listed in the first catalogue of the Vatican Library (1475), certainly in that of 1481; how it came to Rome is unknown. Full study by Tischendorf (1867) and photographic facsimiles from 1889–90
Where Vatican Library, Rome (Vatican City)
Dates from c. 300–350 CE (usually mid-4th century) · Late Roman · Transmission of the New Testament
Now at Vatican Apostolic Library, Rome (Vat. gr. 1209)
How Codex Vaticanus was found
Not a modern discovery: the codex has been in the Vatican Library since its founding. Access was restricted until the 19th century; a photographic facsimile finally made its text available to scholars.
What it is
A parchment codex of 759 leaves (27 by 27 cm) in three columns of small Greek uncials, holding almost all of the Septuagint and the New Testament through Hebrews 9:14; the rest (Pastorals, Philemon, Revelation) is lost and was replaced in a 15th-century hand.
Why it matters for the Bible
Vaticanus is generally judged the best single manuscript of the Greek New Testament. Its close match with P75, copied a century earlier, shows a careful line of transmission reaching back to about 200 CE. Like Sinaiticus it lacks Mark 16:9–20 and John 7:53–8:11, and it shaped Westcott and Hort's 1881 edition and every critical text since.
The Hebrew word: SEH-fer
סֵפֶר
סֵפֶר is pronounced SEH-fer and means book, scroll (Greek biblion) (Strong's H5612 / G975).
Events
Transmission of the New Testament text in Egypt and the imperial church
Codex Vaticanus in Scripture
Mark 16:8 Vaticanus ends Mark here and leaves a blank column — the scribe knew a longer ending existed.
Hebrews 9:14 The original hand breaks off here; the rest of the New Testament is a later supplement.
Luke 3:22 An example verse where Vaticanus and P75 agree against later manuscripts.
Questions people ask
What is Codex Vaticanus?
A parchment codex of 759 leaves (27 by 27 cm) in three columns of small Greek uncials, holding almost all of the Septuagint and the New Testament through Hebrews 9:14; the rest (Pastorals, Philemon, Revelation) is lost and was replaced in a 15th-century hand.
When was Codex Vaticanus discovered?
It was found in 1475 by Possibly listed in the first catalogue of the Vatican Library (1475), certainly in that of 1481; how it came to Rome is unknown. Full study by Tischendorf (1867) and photographic facsimiles from 1889–90, at Vatican Library, Rome.
Where is Codex Vaticanus today?
Vatican Apostolic Library, Rome (Vat. gr. 1209).
Which Bible verses does Codex Vaticanus relate to?
Mark 16:8, Hebrews 9:14, Luke 3:22.
Related discoveries
- כְּתָבִיםCodex SinaiticusThe oldest complete New Testament, rescued from St Catherine's Monastery
- בְּשׂוֹרָהBodmer Papyri P66 and P75Near-complete early codices of John, and of Luke with John, from a Christian library in Upper Egypt
- דְּבָרִיםOxyrhynchus Papyri and the Gospel of Thomas FragmentsA rubbish-heap of Roman Egypt yielding the earliest 'Sayings of Yeshua' and dozens of New Testament pieces
- אִגֶּרֶתPapyrus P46 (Chester Beatty II)The oldest collection of Paul's letters, a single codex from about 200 CE
- דַּעַתNag Hammadi LibraryThirteen Coptic codices of Gnostic and other writings — the 'other side' of early Christian debates
- אֱמֶתPapyrus P52 (Rylands Greek 457)The earliest surviving scrap of the New Testament — John 18 on a card-sized fragment
Sources
- Vatican Library digital edition of Vat. gr. 1209
- B. M. Metzger & B. D. Ehrman, The Text of the New Testament (4th ed., 2005)
- Wikipedia, "Codex Vaticanus"