Palimpsest biblical codex.
Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus — C / 04
Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus; Codex C; Paris Grec 9
Manuscript designation
04
Estimated date
Fifth century AD; later dating also proposed
Manuscript category
Majuscule
Writing material
Parchment
Language
Greek
Present repository
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris
Shelfmark
Grec 9
Gospel Contents
Substantial but incomplete portions of all four Gospels survive beneath the later writing, together with portions of other New Testament books.
Gospels represented: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
View the Ancient Manuscript
Where available, consult manuscript images or the holding institution's digital edition.
Physical Description
Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus is a palimpsest: a manuscript whose original writing was partially erased so that its parchment could be reused. The surviving biblical writing occupies a single column, generally containing approximately forty-one to forty-four lines. The later writing contains works attributed to Ephrem the Syrian. The manuscript preserves 145 New Testament leaves.
Dating the Manuscript
Traditionally dated to the fifth century. Some modern paleographical studies have proposed a sixth-century date for the original biblical writing.
Discovery and Preservation
The original biblical manuscript was produced in late antiquity. During the medieval period, its parchment was reused for theological writings. Scholars subsequently recovered much of the erased biblical text. Constantin von Tischendorf published an important edition of the recovered New Testament text in the nineteenth century.
Historical Context
This manuscript illustrates the remarkable survival of biblical texts even when their physical materials were reused. The original Gospel writing remains an important ancient witness despite its partial erasure.
Textual Characteristics
The recovered biblical text preserves readings that can be compared with other early Greek manuscripts. Its corrections, surviving passages, and palimpsest condition provide evidence both for textual transmission and for the physical history of ancient books.
Significance for Gospel Preservation
Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus provides another substantial early witness to the four Gospels. Its recovered text allows comparison with other ancient manuscripts, supporting the study of textual continuity and variation. Its survival also demonstrates that valuable Gospel evidence may remain preserved even beneath later writing.
Related Investigations
Sources and Further Reading
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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.
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New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room
Institute for New Testament Textual Research. New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room.INTF manuscript identification and catalogue evidence.
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Grec 9; Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts, GA 04; CSNTM, Manuscripts 101: What Is a Palimpsest?
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