Author Archives: Brent Nongbri

Early Christian Textual Transmission, Part 1

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Brent Nongbri

Recently on his blog Larry Hurtado has been reflecting on issues of textual stability and fluidity of early Christian manuscripts. It’s an interesting question to ponder, but as Larry notes, assertions in either direction are tricky because just about everyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Textual criticism | 13 Comments

The Modern Lives of an Ancient Coptic Book: P.Bodmer XXII + VK 783

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Brent Nongbri

A couple years ago, Roberta Mazza traced the “modern biography” of a fragmentary papyrus leaf containing the Gospel According to John, P.Oxy. 15.1780 (better known to New Testament scholars as P39). It’s a fascinating article that can be downloaded here. … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiquities Market, Bodmer Papyri, Codices, Van Kampen Collection | 3 Comments

A Repair to the Bodmer Composite Codex

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Brent Nongbri

I’ll just make one last post (for now) on the Bodmer composite codex and its curious features. This post has to do with one of the leaves of the paschal sermon of Melito, P.Bodmer XIII. As was customary for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bodmer composite codex, Bodmer Papyri, Book binding, Codices | Leave a comment

P.Bodmer XX+IX and the Bodmer Composite Codex

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Brent Nongbri

In my last post, I provided a provisional diagram of the Bodmer composite codex (LDAB 2565). I also mentioned that I did not think the booklet consisting of P.Bodmer XX (the Apology of Phileas) + P.Bodmer IX (Psalms 33-34) was … Continue reading →

Posted in Bodmer composite codex, Bodmer Papyri, Book binding, Codices | 1 Comment

The Bodmer “Composite” Codex: A Diagram

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Brent Nongbri

The so-called Bodmer “Composite” or “Miscellaneous” codex (LDAB 2565), is a fascinating, but somewhat confusing artifact.

Posted in Bodmer composite codex, Bodmer Papyri, Book binding, Codices | 5 Comments

Menander at a Monastery

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Brent Nongbri

Even though I have a long chapter on the Bodmer Papyri in my book, there is still much that I didn’t get a chance to discuss in detail. Because of its time on the antiquities market, the ancient find we … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiquities Market, Bodmer Papyri, Monastery of Epiphanius, Ostraca | 1 Comment

A Review of Georgios Boudalis, The Codex and Crafts in Late Antiquity

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Brent Nongbri

In 2016, I gave paper that revisited the old question of the rise of the codex. There has been a lot of work done over the years on why the codex may have come to replace the roll, but there … Continue reading →

Posted in Bodmer Papyri, Book binding, Codices, Nag Hammadi, Tablets | 5 Comments

Symposium Report—Early Codices: Production, Destruction, and Modern Conservation

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Brent Nongbri

I intended to write some thoughts on this symposium earlier, but I’ve been busy finishing up the proofs and index for my book (more on that later). This was a wonderful event. The day began with a guided tour of … Continue reading →

Posted in Codices, Hamuli Codices, Morgan Library | 1 Comment

Online Manuscripts at the Morgan Library

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Brent Nongbri

I mentioned in an earlier post that I would be in New York for a symposium on early codices. Well, that took place on Friday, and it was fantastic. My head is still spinning from all that I learned, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Codices, Hamuli Codices, Morgan Iliad, Morgan Library | 7 Comments

P.Ryl. 1.1: A Datable Papyrus Codex of Deuteronomy in Greek

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Brent Nongbri

In a previous post, I discussed the phenomenon of papyrus codices made from reused documents. Among this group is a very interesting item in the John Rylands Library at the University of Manchester. In fact, it was the first piece … Continue reading →

Posted in Chester Beatty Papyri, Codices, Palaeography, Reuse of manuscripts, Rylands Papyri | 7 Comments