Main Collections
1. The Bible
Introduction
by His All Holiness Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome,
and Ecumenical patriarch, Bartholomew I
I. The Power of Words: Any collection of manuscripts is a sacred and spiritual task. These texts not only originate in the past but also, especially in the case of religious literature, derive their source from the edge of the beyond. They constitute testaments not only of time but also of the spirit. Each discovery of a long-lost text helps push back the curtain of time as well as the veil of eternity. These are more than simply manuscripts. They are literary miracles, providing an immortal library, at once timeless and incorruptible.
II. The Sacredness of the Word: No other book has been more revered and copied than the sacred word of the Bible. The Bible is considered to have sacramental power, conveying divine grace to the reader and inviting the reader to a mystical encounter with the living God.
Through the centuries, the Scriptures have been meticulously copied and magnificently adorned in manuscripts. In the early Christian centuries, representatives of the monastic life would spend their lives preparing, copying and crafting these manuscripts in an artistic and respectful way, ensuring that the contents of the Bible would be preserved and transmitted for all time. Some of the most impressive manuscripts of Scripture have been kept in the libraries of monasteries to this day. Others have been acquired over time by libraries throughout the world. This present collection has gathered some of the finest and most valuable examples of the world of manuscripts.
III. The Schøyen Collection: Here the various manuscripts are masterfully presented, for the inspiration and delight of all. This collection is an endeavour of enlightenment, contributing generously to the resistance against the darkness of neglect and ignorance.
The texts preserved in this phenomenal collection are symbolical of "a bush that is burnt, yet no consumed" (Exodus 3.2) and of "a leaf that shall never wither" (Psalm 1). They confirm our faith in the originality and authenticity of the written word. We are, all of us in diverse ways, profoundly indebted to these manuscripts. In a strange – perhaps even a mystical way – we are, all of us, people of the book!
The Collection
43 examples from the over 400 items in the Bible collection are included here. This collection has many MSS that would be the pride of most of the world’s largest public collections. 9 MSS are the earliest witnesses to their part of the text of the Bible. 90 MSS have the earliest texts of their part of the Hebrew Bible, and a further 86 are only preceded by the Dead Sea Scrolls.
- 1.1 The Hebrew and Aramaic Bible
- 1.2 The Greek New Testament and the Septuagint
- 1.3 The Coptic Bible translation
- 1.4 The Latin Bible translation
- 1.5 Other Bible translations
The collection also comprises Sumerian and Babylonian forerunners or parallels to the Bible. Several are listed elsewhere in the Checklist. See f. inst.:
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The Sumerian creation story, Babylonia, 1900-1700 BC | |
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Kings and cities from before the Flood, Babylonia, 2000-1800 BC | |
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The Sumerian Flood story, Babylonia, 1900-1700 BC | |
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Atrahasis, the Old Babylonian Flood story, Babylonia, 1900-1700 BC | |
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The Sumerian forerunner of the 10 commandments and some of the Proverbs. Babylonia ca. 1900-1700 BC | |
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The Tower of Babel stele, Babylonia, 604-562 BC | |
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Brick from the Tower of Babel, Babylonia, 604-562 BC |
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Descent of Inanna to the underworld, with parallels to resurrection of Christ, Babylonia, 1900-1700 BC |
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