Tuesday, January 02, 2024

Readings of Revelation 16:5 with Images

Although over 100 witnesses to the Greek text are transcribed at Munster's INTF, I thought I would supplement that list by reviewing additional manuscripts of Revelation that are available online, mostly through CSNTM.  I am very thankful for the work of both groups, and I believe a lot of work remains to be done in terms of making use of the manuscripts we have.

By the way, according to J.K. Elliot, "Recent Work on the Greek Manuscripts of Revelation and the Consequences for the 'Kurzgefasste Liste'" in The Journal of Theological Studies, NEW SERIES, Vol. 66, No. 2 (OCTOBER 2015), pp. 574-584 (link), there are around 289 minuscule copies of Revelation, in addition to seven papyri and twelve majuscules.  That means that there are just over 300 witnesses to at least part of Revelation.  Unfortunately, many of those witnesses (especially the papyri) are incomplete witnesses.  

A few observations.  First, the (mistaken) correction in 2038 suggests that scribes were struggling with the grammar of the original text (i.e. the dominant reading).  This reinforces the idea that the reason for the variants on this reading are probably due to the same kind of issue that prompted Valla, Erasmus, and Beza to conjecture.

Second, the majority text reading dominated. Nevertheless, the breakdown was a bit different from the INTF collation.  

From the collation below, which is supplemental to the approximately 100 witnesses transcribed in INTF (see the appendix).   

  • Variant 1: Baseline Majority Reading: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος (+21 mss.)(about 30 in INTF)
  • Variant 2: Add καὶ and omit article before ὅσιος: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὅσιος (+5 mss.)(about 6 in INTF)
  • Variant 3: Add καὶ before ὁ ὅσιος: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος (+4 mss.)(about 13 in INTF)
  • Variant 3-1: Add καὶ before ὁ ὅσιος and add something after εἶ: Δίκαιος εἶ (?) ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος (+ 1 ms)
  • Variant 4: Wrong article before ἦν: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁς ἦν ὁ ὅσιος (+1 ms.)(about 3 in INTF)
  • Variant 4-1: Wrong article before ἦν and no article before ὅσιος: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁς ἦν ὅσιος (+2 mss.)(about 20 in INTF)
  • Variant 5: No article before ὅσιος: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὅσιος (+1 ms.)(about 17 in INTF)
  • Variant 6: Something added after εἶ: Δίκαιος εἶ (?) ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος (+1 ms.)
  • Other support for "ὅσιος" (+1 ms.)
  • From Printed text (+2 ms.)

Third, I was unsurprised but disappointed not to find any manuscripts with "esomenos" in the main text.  It would have been nice to vindicate those who claim that Beza had a manuscript.

Fourth, we cannot absolutely rule out that a manuscript exists with Beza's unique reading. There are at least two on-line manuscripts that are too late to be Beza's source, but might still have his reading.  There are also two manuscripts at the British Library that are currently offline due to the efforts of hackers.  There is one further manuscript that is offline due to the owner's request.  Furthermore, there are at least some manuscripts that may not have been imaged and/or transcribed.  

Fifth, we cannot absolutely rule out that a manuscript existed with Beza's unique reading.  One of Stephanus' manuscripts of Revelation is currently identified as "lost," and might not be among the the extant manuscripts.  A manuscript at Turin was badly damaged by a fire in 1904, and it appears that the portion including Revelation was destroyed.  There may be other lost or destroyed manuscripts that were never accurately catalogued.

Sixth, it appears that Dresden has placed the images of several manuscripts online, which are still listed as "off-line" in CSNTM's data.  Probably it would be a good time to update the data at CSNTM, if there are people to do that.  

Seventh, sadly the tagging functionality of CSNTM's website seems to be broken.  I would have loved to have provided numerous tags to their collection during my study, but I could not because that functionality is not working (at least not in Chrome).  

I have grouped the variants in the manuscripts somewhat arbitrarily.  Clearly, my preference is for the majority reading, which I think is the original reading.  

Variant 1: Baseline Majority Reading: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος

1. Manuscript GA 2926 ("formerly 1894, is based in part on Erasmus's or the Aldine editions" according to J. K. Elliot)


Transcription of the relevant portion: 

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

2. Manuscript GA 2091 ("Fifteenth century minuscule of Revelation with commentary on paper; 80 leaves, 1 column, 16 lines per column. Images were taken at the National Library of Greece in Athens." "Shelf Number: NLG 142 via CSNTM)

9r - Revelation 11:17b (witness to: ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὅτι εἴληφας) - Rev. 11:18a (... τῶν νεκρῶν) || Revelation 18:b-c GA_2091_0009a.JPG

39v - Revelation 15:3-4a GA_2091_0039b.JPG
Note the reading "τὸ ὄνομά σου ὅτι μόνος ὅσιος" consistent with the TR at that place.

43v - Revelation 16:4-6 GA_2091_0043b.JPG

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

3. Manuscript GA 2025 ("Fifteenth century manuscript of Revelation on paper; 36 leaves, 1 column, 22 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm." per CSNTM)
Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

4. Manuscript GA 2821 ("Fourteenth century manuscript of Revelation on parchment; 22 leaves, 1 column, 27 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm." per CSNTM)


Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

5. Manuscript GA 2077 ("Seventeenth century manuscript (dated to 1685) of Revelation on paper; 319 leaves, 1 column, 21 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. Location: Athos, Iviron Monastery Shelf Number: 644" per CSNTM)

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

6. Manuscript GA 2656 ("Seventeenth century minuscule of the Gospels and Revelation dated to 1650; 317 leaves, 1 column, 19-20 lines per column. Images were taken at the National Library of Greece in Athens. Location: National Library of Greece, Athens 
Shelf Number: 3110" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

7. Manuscript GA 2047 ("Sixteenth century manuscript (dated to 1543) of Revelation on paper; 161 leaves, 1 column, 21 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. Location: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale Shelf Number: Gr. 240" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

8. Manuscript GA 2035 ("Sixteenth-century minuscule of Revelation with commentary on paper; 363 leaves; 1 column; 25 lines per column. For recent digital images, visit BML Online. Location: Florence, Italy, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana Shelf Number: Pluteo VII. 9" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

9. {First Hand} Manuscript GA 2038 ("Sixteenth century minuscule of Revelation with commentary on paper; 83 leaves; 1 column per page; 30 lines per column. These images are made available by the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek according to Creative Commons. For recent digital images, visit Münchener Digitalisierungs Zentrum Digitale Bibliothek. Location: Munich, Germany, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Shelf Number: Cod. graec. 23, fol. 333-415" per CSNTM)
(detail of main text)
(detail of margin)
Transcription of the relevant portion:

First Hand: ... (?) εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...
Corrector: ... (?) εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος ...

10. Manuscript GA 2082 (not available via CSNTM, which mistakenly says the images are not online "16th century" "Revelation minuscule manuscript on parchment; 21 leaves, single column, 26 lines per column. " per CSNTM- link to first page).  The pages at SLUB are 342-381 (namely, [385] - 189v to [424] - 209r), and the relevant pages are: Revelation 4:8 [397] - 195v; Revelation 16:5 [413] -203v corresponding to 370 in the 342-381 enumeration.
Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

11. Manuscript GA 517 ("Eleventh or twelfth century minuscule of the Gospels, Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation (complete New Testament) on parchment; 201 leaves, single column, 29-31 lines per column. The digital microfilm images were generously donated to CSNTM." per CSNTM)

12. Manuscript GA 2434 ("Thirteenth century manuscript of Revelation on paper; 36 leaves, single column, 20 lines per column. Location: Zagora, Greece, Public Historical Library of Zagora Shelf Number: Zagora Historical Library 12" per CSNTM)

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

13. Manuscript GA 60 ("Thirteenth century minuscule dated to 1297 of the Gospels and Revelation on parchment; 291 leaves, single column, 24–26 lines per column. Location: University Library, Cambridge Shelf Number: Dd. 9.69" per CSNTM)

14. Manuscript GA 757 (well indexed) ("Thirteenth century minuscule of the Gospels, Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation on paper; 412 leaves, 1 column, 24-28 lines per column. Images were taken at the National Library of Greece in Athens. Location: National Library of Greece, Athens Shelf Number: NLG 150" per CSNTM)

15. Manuscript GA 2045 ("Fourteenth century manuscript of Revelation on paper; 83 leaves, 1 columns, 30 lines per column. The digital microfilm images were generously donated to CSNTM. Location: Vienna, Austria, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Shelf Number: Theol. gr. 163" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

16. Manuscript GA 2824 ("Fourteenth century minuscule of Revelation on parchment; 13 leaves, single column, 32 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. These images can be found at the Library of Congress. Location: Jerusalem, Orthodox Patriarchate Shelf Number: Stavru 94" per CSNTM) Despite the CSNTM description, scan is of an entire New Testament.
Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

17. Manuscript GA 1328 ("Fourteenth century minuscule of the Gospels and Revelation on parchment; 210 leaves, single column, 23-25 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. These images can be found at the Library of Congress. Location: Jerusalem, Orthodox Patriarchate Shelf Number: Saba 101" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

18. Manuscript GA 1957 ("Fifteenth century manuscript of Apostolos, Pauline, and Revelation on parchment; 9 leaves, 3 columns, 36 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. Location: Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana Shelf Number: Vat. gr. 1209, p. 1519-1536" per CSNTM) The scan via CSNTM is hopelessly low quality.  However, 1957 is the designation for the copy of Apocalypse that accompanies Codex B (Vaticanus).  As is sometimes the case, the designation by CSNTM is just wildly wrong: imagine how small the writing would have to be to contain Acts, Paul's Epistles, and Revelation in 9 leaves of 3 columns.  In fact, it's just Revelation.


Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

19. Manuscript GA 205 ("Fifteenth century minuscule of the Gospels, Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation (complete New Testament, with the Old Testament) on parchment; 80 leaves, single column, 55-56 lines per column. Location: Venice, National Library of St. Mark's Shelf Number: Gr. Z. 5 (420), NT: fol. 362-441" per CSNTM)
(full line)
Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

20. Manuscript GA 2302 ("Fifteenth century minuscule of Revelation with commentary on paper; 71 leaves, single column, 26 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. These images can be found at the Library of Congress. Location: Jerusalem, Orthodox Patriarchate Shelf Number: Saba 537" per CSNTM)

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

21. Manuscript GA 1876 ("Fifteenth century minuscule of the Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation on paper; 276 leaves, single column, 26 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. These images can be found at the Library of Congress. Location: Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery Shelf Number: Gr. 279" per CSNTM) Interestingly, the commentary stops fairly early and there is some Arabic text amidst the commentary.  There might be a story there. 

 Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

Variant 2: Add καὶ and omit article before ὅσιος: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὅσιος

22. Manuscript GA 2029 ("Sixteenth century manuscript of Revelation on paper; 294 leaves, 1 column, 13 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm." per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὅσιος ...

23. Manuscript GA 2028 ("Fifteenth century manuscript (dated to 1422) of Revelation on paper; 119 leaves, 1 column, 27 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. Location: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale Shelf Number: Gr. 239" per CSNTM)


Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὅσιος ...

24. Manuscript GA 2044 ("Sixteenth century manuscript (dated to 1560) of Revelation on paper; 120 leaves, 1 column, 27 lines per column. The digital microfilm images were generously donated to CSNTM. Location: Vienna, Austria, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Shelf Number: Theol. gr. 69" per CSNTM)



Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὅσιος ...

This same manuscript had a surprisingly modest drawing of the woman clothed in scarlet:


25. Manuscript GA 2017  ("15th Century Minuscule manuscript of Revelation on parchment; 16 leaves, single column, 30–40 lines per column. ... Location: Dresden, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek)

Shelf Number: A. 124" per CSTNM)(CSNTM reports as offline, but actually Dresden is hosting)
(full illuminated cap)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

First hand: ... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὅσιο ...
Corrector: ... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὅσιος ...

26. Manuscript GA 2794 ("Twelfth-century minuscule on parchment containing the Gospels and Revelation. 152 leaves; 2 columns per page; 23 lines per column. These public domain images are made available by the Duke Repository. Location: David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscripts Library, Duke, Durham, North Carolina Shelf Number: Greek MS 100" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὅσιος ...

Variant 3: Add καὶ before ὁ ὅσιος: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος

27. Manuscript GA 2046 ("Sixteenth century manuscript of Revelation on paper; 152 leaves, 1 column, 20 lines per column. The digital microfilm images were generously donated to CSNTM. Location: Vienna, Austria, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Shelf Number: Theol. gr. 220" per CSNTM) 

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος ...

28. Manuscript GA 18 ("Fourteenth century minuscule of the Gospels, Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation; 444 leaves, single column, 23 lines per column. Complete New Testament dated to 1364. Digital images are from microfilm. Location: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale Shelf Number: Grec 47" per CSNTM)

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος ...

29. {Corrected} Manuscript GA 2038 ("Sixteenth century minuscule of Revelation with commentary on paper; 83 leaves; 1 column per page; 30 lines per column. These images are made available by the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek according to Creative Commons. For recent digital images, visit Münchener Digitalisierungs Zentrum Digitale Bibliothek. Location: Munich, Germany, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Shelf Number: Cod. graec. 23, fol. 333-415" per CSNTM)
(detail of main text)
(detail of margin)
Transcription of the relevant portion:

First Hand: ... (?) εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...
Corrector: ... (?) εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος ...

30. Manuscript GA 1248 ("Fourteenth century minuscule of the Gospels, Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation (complete New Testament) on paper; 389 leaves, single column, 35 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. These images can be found at the Library of Congress. Location: Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery Shelf Number: Gr. 267" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος ...

Variant 3-1: Add καὶ before ὁ ὅσιος and add something after εἶ: Δίκαιος εἶ (?) ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος

31. Manuscript GA 2114 ("Seventeenth century minuscule (dated to 1676) of Revelation with commentary on paper; 118 leaves, 1 column, 20-31 lines per column. Images were taken at the National Library of Greece in Athens. Location: National Library of Greece, Athens Shelf Number: NLG 141" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ (?) ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος ...

Variant 4: Wrong article before ἦν: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁς ἦν ὁ ὅσιος

32. Manuscript GA 337 ("Twelfth century minuscule of the Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation on parchment; 375 leaves, single column, 23 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm and are made available by the Bibliothèque Nationale. Location: Paris, France, Bibliothèque Nationale Shelf Number: Gr. 56" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁσ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

Variant 4-1: Wrong article before ἦν and no article before ὅσιος: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁς ἦν ὅσιος

33. Manuscript GA 1934 ("Eleventh-century minuscule of Paul and Revelation with commentary on parchment; 274 leaves; 1 column; 17 lines per column. These images are made available by the Bibliothèque Nationale France. For recent digital images visit BNF Gallica." per CSNTM) 

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁσ ἦν ὅσιος ...

34. Manuscript GA 2494 ("Fourteenth century minuscule of the Gospels, Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation on paper; 315 leaves, single column, 29 lines per column. Complete New Testament dated to 1316. Digital images are from microfilm. These images can be found at the Library of Congress. Location: Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery Shelf Number: Gr. 1991" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁς ἦν ὅσιος ...

Variant 5: No article before ὅσιος: Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὅσιος

35. Manuscript GA 1597 ("Thirteenth century manuscript (dated to 1289) of the Gospels, Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation on parchment; 515 leaves, 1 column, 24 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. Location: Athos, Vatopediu Shelf Number: 966" per CSNTM)

... Δίκαιος εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὅσιος ...

Variant 6: Something added after εἶ: Δίκαιος εἶ (?) ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος

36. Manuscript GA 2402 ("Sixteenth century minuscule of Revelation with commentary on paper. 194 leaves; 1 column per page; 23 lines per column. Images are from the Goodspeed Manuscript Library, Ms. 931, Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Libary. Location: University of Chicago Library, Chicago, Illinois Shelf Number: Ms. 931" per CSNTM) 

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος εἶ (καὶ?) ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ ὅσιος ...

Other: Δίκαιος [[εἶ  ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ὁ]] ὅσιος

37. Manuscript GA 1893 ("Twelfth century minuscule of the Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation on parchment; 166 leaves, single column, 28 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. These images can be found at the Library of Congress. Location: Jerusalem, Orthodox Patriarchate Shelf Number: Saba 665" per CSNTM)

As you can see, the page is a bit damaged at this point, and the text is somewhat blurred.  Possibly it can still be recovered with the right imaging. 

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος[?] [[εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ??]] ὅσιος ...

Printed Text Reading: Δίκαιος Κύριε εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος

38. Manuscript GA 2619 ("possibly copied from a printed edition." according to J. K. Elliot)


... Δίκαιος Κύριε εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος ...

Notice the absence of nomina sacra style abbreviation of the word for Lord, Κύριε.  That's one of the indicia that this was copied from a printed text, and also explains the presence of the word, Κύριε, in the text here.

39. Manuscript GA 2049 ("copied from a printed edition (bracketed in Liste)" per J.K. Elliot, "Sixteenth century minuscule of Revelation on paper; 23 leaves, single column, 24 lines per column. Images were taken at the Hellenic Parliament Library in Athens. Location: Hellenic Parliament Library, Athens Shelf Number: HPL 45" per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος Κύριε εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος ...

40. Manuscript GA 296 ("copied from a printed edition" according to J. K. Elliot) allegedly contains the entire New Testament, but the scan via CSNTM only showed the gospels.  As it turns out, that is because it seems that CSNTM has uploaded BNF Grec. 123 but not BNF Grec. 124.  It is the latter that contains John's Apocalypse, starting at p. 269 (link).

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος Κύριε εἶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὅσιος ...



Modern Greek

41. Manuscript GA 2449 ("Revelation minuscule manuscript in modern Greek on paper; 29 leaves, single column, 21 lines per column. Location: National Historical Museum, Athens Shelf Number: Hist. Eth. Ges. 71" per CSNTM, which also assigns a 17th century date to the manuscript)




The main text has ὅσιος but, fascinatingly, check out the marginal reading here:


However, this manuscript is modern Greek and follows the chapter and versification of the printed text and bears a date (1684) that puts it a century too late to be of historical interest as being a possible source of Beza.


I have not provided the detailed transcript, but I note that the inclusion of Κύριε does suggest the influence of the printed text.  It probably also explains the margin.


For Future Study

Passed over for Now

42. Manuscript GA 2433 (18th century manuscript, passed over for now)

43. Manuscript GA 2931 (17th-18th century manuscript, passed over for now)

Hackers

44. Manuscript GA 203 (images offline due to the hack of the British Library)

45. Manuscript GA 385 (same hacker issue as 203)

Otherwise Off-Line

46. Manuscript GA 1685 (not online, but probably has text)

For Updating the CSNTM website

Lacks the Passage in Question 

47. Manuscript GA 2323 ("Minuscule manuscript of the Gospels and Revelation on parchment; 311 leaves, single column, 18 lines per column." per CSNTM)(see also this description at CSNTM)
This manuscript seems to have several pages removed, including the relevant pages - I have not thoroughly searched the manuscript to see if they could have been mis-bound at a different place. 
297v ends at Revelation 14:10
CSNTM Image Id: 4153 Location: Benaki Museum, Athens CSNTM Image Name: GA_2323_0297b.jpg
298r starts at Revelation 16:8b
CSNTM Image Id: 4154 Location: Benaki Museum, Athens CSNTM Image Name: GA_2323_0298a.jpg

The numbering of the pages is in a later hand in Arabic numerals.  Presumably the manuscript originally contained those pages.  It's possible that they will resurface if the parchment was reused for another purpose, such as a book binding.


49. Manuscript GA 2259 (appears to end at Revelation 14:14)

50. Manuscript GA 2052  - Seems to end at Revelation 7:4

51. Manuscript GA 2186 (lost pages from Revelation 13:18 to Revelation 17:2)(see CSNTM Image Id: 617067 Location: Athos, Vatopedi Monastery CSNTM Image Name: GA_2186_0161.jpg; about four pages/sheets missing between the later Arabic numbered parge 156 and 157)("Twelfth century manuscript of Acts and Revelation on parchment; 94 leaves, 2 columns, 39 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. Location: Athos, Vatopedi Monastery 
Shelf Number: 333, fol. 83-176" per CSNTM)

52.  Manuscript GA 218 ("Thirteenth century minuscule of the Gospels, Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation (complete New Testament, with the Old Testament) on parchment; 138 leaves, 2 columns, 50-52 lines per column. The digital microfilm images were generously donated to CSNTM. Location: Vienna, Austria, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Shelf Number: Theol. gr. 23, NT: fol. 486-623" per CSNTM) 0628.jpg ends in Revelation 15:8 at lower right corner, 0629.jpg starts at Revelation 16:14.  It appears that one column (two sides) of text was cut away.  Remainder of Revelation is incomplete.

53. Manuscript GA 2493 ("Fourteenth century minuscule of Revelation on paper; 15 leaves, single column, 31 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. These images can be found at the Library of Congress. Location: Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery Shelf Number: Gr. 1692" per CSNTM) text seems to start at image 0125.jpg; images 0136.jpg and 137.jpg seem to be duplicates; text ends mid-chapter 13.

54. Manuscript GA 2377 (Contains only from Revelation 19:21 to 22:21 per CSNTM and it's not available online)

Maybe the wrong scan?

55. Manuscript GA 2018 (identified as "14th century minuscule of Revelation on parchment; 32 leaves, 2 columns. The digital microfilm images were generously donated to CSNTM." but the actual scan is of Codex Vindobonensis Palatinus and contains a variety of writings regarding various theological controversies).  See same issue with GA 1953.

Misidentified as a Witness


57. Manuscript GA 1909 is described by CSNTM as "Twelfth century minuscule of Revelation on parchment; 359 leaves; 1 column per page; 24 lines per column. These images are made available by the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek according to Creative Commons. For recent digital images, visit Münchener Digitalisierungs Zentrum Digitale Bibliothek. Location: Munich, Germany, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Shelf Number: Cod. graec. 412" The Munich Digital Library, however, describes it thus: "Catena in Pauli epistolam ad Romanos - BSB Cod.graec. 412."  There does seem to be a quotation of Rev. 8:34 at 0117b but also a quotation from Romans 16:25 noted in Latin/English in the margin at 0323b quotation, and a quotation from Romans 15:7 at 0332b.

58. Manuscript GA 1848 ("Fifteenth century manuscript of Revelation and Pauline on parchment; 150 leaves, 1 columns, 13 lines per column. Digital images are from microfilm. Location: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale Shelf Number: Grec 108-111" per CSNTM) Despite CSNTM, pasted contents are Paul's epistles to the Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, and Timothy.  Perhaps the scan of 109-111 is missing? (the table of contents here was not helpful)(Interestingly, 107 and 107a appear to be much older, but don't have Apocalypse)(If I found the right ones, 109-111 also do not have what I want)


59. Manuscript GA 1642 Contains Revelation according to CSNTM
Shelf information does not indicate Apocalypse: John's gospel begins at 0124.jpg  (120 hand annotation); Acts at 164 (160 hand annotation); 0294.jpg and 0295.jpg seem to be duplicates

60. Manuscript GA 1953 ("Thirteenth century manuscript of Revelation on paper; 70 leaves, 1 column, 30 lines per column. The digital microfilm images were generously donated to CSNTM. Location: Vienna, Austria, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Shelf Number: Theol. gr. 166, fol. 1-70" per CSNTM)(passed over a detailed analysis for now - not sure it contains the text, very damaged toward the end of the extant sheets)

Appendix

The INTF data with breathings, accents, and punctuation notations simplified:

Updated January 19, 2024, with an image of Manuscript GA 296

Update 3/19/2026

I thought it would be worth noting a seventh variant that, while not found (by me, yet) in any of the manuscripts outside of the INTF list, is still an odd variant, and notable for being the only manuscript to lack hosios:

Variant 7: No εἶ, Duplicated ὢν, and no ὁ ὅσιος

61. Manuscript GA 2495 ("Fifteenth century minuscule of the Gospels, Apostolos, Paul, and Revelation (complete New Testament) on paper; 222 leaves, single column, 30 lines per column." per CSNTM)

Transcription of the relevant portion:

... Δίκαιος ὢν ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν ...

Friday, December 29, 2023

Responsibility, the Etymological Fallacy, and Soteriology 101

One of the most under-informed tropes of the Soteriology 101 channel has been the line that "Responsible means 'able to respond'."  While it may be a handy mnemonic for an argument, it is quite definitely not the usual meaning of the word. 

Soteriology is not the first to make this error.  I came across an interesting thread at alt.usage.english from 17 years ago, which raises the issue in the context of having heard "new age" groups using this idea (link to thread).  In that thread, Dominic Bojarski provides a cogent and reasonably succinct answer:

The Latin word from which "responsible" comes from was borrowed into English at least three different times in the history of the language. Between each of the borrowings, the meaning of the Latin word evolved, so the meaning of the English words derived from it are not exactly the same.

The Latin word "spondeo" originally meant to make a public declaration of a religious nature, to pray in a formalized way in a public ceremony. It is from this use that the words "respond" and "response" come from. They were originally used in reference to antiphonal prayer. The chief priest said the first part of the formula, and the other priests or the public answered with the second part of the formula. The English word "answer" originally meant "to swear back", where "swear" meant something like "spondeo" in this sense. "Correspond" also comes from this meaning.

Later, "spondeo" came to mean to make a particular type of public religious statement, namely an oath or vow. It is from this sense that the words "responsible" and "sponsor" came from, meaning "able to swear that you give someone money to pay back a loan or support themselves if they cant do so themselves" or "able to swear that you will perform an act that someone else has promised to do if they are unable to do so". The English word "answerable" is the Anglo-Saxon equivalent.

The word "despondent" also comes from this meaning. "Despondeo" originally meant to swear that you will NOT do something, especially in the sense that you will deny yourself pleasures as part of a religious vow, for example, fasting or abstinence. "Despondent" therefore means "acting like someone who has denied himself pleasure."

Even later, "spondeo" became even more specific and came to mean "to public swear that you will marry someone". "Sponsus/sponsa" first meant "fiance/fiancee", and, later still, "husband/wife". This is where the English word "spouse" came from, and ultimately "espouse" as well.

Because "respond" and "responsible" came onto the English language at different stages in the evolution of the Latin word, it would be misleading to say that "responsible" means "able to respond".

The thread doesn't fully antedate Leighton, but it is older than his YouTube channel and was obviously not a response (pun noticed after) to him.

Let me offer a harsher criticism.  Leighton Flowers' misuse of English on this point is equivalent to suggesting that "accountable" means "able to account" and that therefore children reach the age of accountability when they are able to pass the CPA exam (or the equivalent accountancy test in other countries). In fact, "responsible" is synonymous (in the context of moral responsibility) with "accountable." 

Moreover, we can go further than Dominic went in terms of explaining the underlying problem with the catchy error.

The idea of being "responsible" can (in English) take on different senses.  For example, when someone says, "Bubonic Plague was responsible for the deaths of over twenty-five million Europeans" they don't mean, or imply (or connote), that the "Bubonic Plague" could - in any way - "respond" to the pleas of its victims.  Instead, what they mean is that the "Bubonic Plague" was the immediate cause of the deaths.

Thankfully, when we speak of moral responsibility, we mean something more than that.  But before we get to moral responsibility, consider the case of legal responsibility.

Exodus 21:28-29 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit. But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.

Notice that in this case, if a bull gores an adult to death, the bull is to be killed and not eaten.  However, if the bull was known to be aggressive, and the owner let him wander freely, then both the owner and the bull are to be executed.  

In this case, the bull is obviously the one responsible for the death of the adult, in the sense of being the immediate cause. We could debate the nature of a bovine will, but the issue for the bull is not whether it had moral agency or freedom of will, or whether it could have resisted the temptation of goring the passing adult, but whether it was the immediate cause of the person's death.  

Likewise, even if we could say that a passing adult was a tempting target for the aggressive bull, there is no similar temptation for the owner.  After all, this is not a trained attack bull being ordered to gore, it's simply an unruly beast.  Nevertheless, the owner is liable, either to the extent of not being able to use the bull for food (the main value of a dead bull) or even to the extent of being executed.

Legal liability to a criminal offense in the Mosaic law implies moral responsibility.  It cannot be doubted that capital punishment is one of the most significant forms of legal liability.  So, what is the theory of moral responsibility leading to legal liability? 

In this example, the theory of moral responsibility is that the owner had a duty that was triggered by ownership of a potentially lethal beast.  The duty is relatively small in the case of a bull that normally behaved well but suddenly acted out of character.  The duty grew in the case of a bull that was a particular threat to the community.  Failure of the moral duty and actual injury connected to that failure leads to liability.  

With no obvious "response" in this discussion, one might wonder how "responsibility" comes into play.

The answer is less obvious than one might think.  First, the idea of a "response" as a synonym to "answer" or "reply" dates from around 1300 (source).  Second, consider that to be brought before a judge is being called to give an answer.  We see an example of this in Acts 26:2:

Acts 26:2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

Similarly:

Luke 12:11  And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

The Greek word behind the English phrase is the word from which we get our word apologetics.  But the point here is the English usage of "giving an answer." A similar sense is given by "give an account" in the context of a trial.  

Thus, we have the phrases "accountable" and "answerable," which are less widely used today, as well as the more widely ujsed "responsible."  In each case, the implication (as it pertains to moral or legal responsibility) is passive, not active.  It is the ability to be required to give an answer, to given an account, or to give a response for what has occurred.  

The answer/account/response could be a full defense (it wasn't me), a justification (he attacked me first), or an excuse (the axe head slipped off the handle).  

Human beings can be called by God to give an answer for everything that they think (Genesis 6:5), say (Proverbs 10:19), or do (Romans 2:6).  That's the sense in which "responsible" is connected to "able to respond."  We are able to be called to give a response for our thoughts, words, and deeds.

(see this thread for further context)