Codex Koridethi — Theta / 038

Physical Description

Codex Koridethi is a parchment manuscript of the four Gospels, written in Greek majuscule script. It preserves 249 leaves, generally arranged in two columns with approximately twenty-two to twenty-eight lines per column. Its handwriting is distinctive, and the manuscript also contains marginal notes, including notes written in Georgian.

Dating the Manuscript

Generally dated to the ninth century on paleographical grounds. Its place of production is not securely established.

Discovery and Preservation

The manuscript was associated with the Christian community at Koridethi in the Caucasus region. It became known to modern biblical scholarship through studies of Georgian manuscript collections. It is now preserved in Tbilisi and has been digitally photographed by the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts.

Historical Context

Koridethi illustrates the continued preservation of Greek Gospel manuscripts in Christian communities far from the major centers of the Mediterranean world. Its Greek text and Georgian annotations reflect the cultural setting in which it was preserved and used.

Textual Characteristics

The manuscript is particularly important for the Gospel of Mark, where it preserves a distinctive pattern of readings. Its textual characteristics differ in certain respects from those of Matthew, Luke, and John. The manuscript therefore provides evidence for comparing different streams of Gospel transmission.

Significance for Gospel Preservation

Koridethi demonstrates that Greek Gospel texts continued to be copied and preserved in geographically separated Christian communities. Its agreements with earlier manuscripts support continuity in the transmission of particular readings, while its distinctive text, especially in Mark, provides additional evidence for reconstructing the history of the Gospel tradition.

Sources and Further Reading

1. Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts Digital Collection
   Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts. Digital Manuscript Collection.
   CSNTM manuscript catalogue and digital research resources.
2. New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room
   Institute for New Testament Textual Research. New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room.
   INTF manuscript identification and catalogue evidence.