Critical Texts

Dr. Greg Paulson & Dr. Katie Leggett

screenshot 2024 08 04 at 10.11.50

Welcome

Critical Texts is the academic blog of Dr. Gregory Paulson and Dr. Katie Leggett, offering reflections and resources about Greek New Testament manuscripts and critical editions.
Find Out More

A Brief History of Cataloging Greek New Testament Manuscripts  

by CriticalTextsMarch 9, 2026 1 Comment

Colleagues often ask whether it is possible to determine when a manuscript was first added to the list of Greek New Testament manuscripts. The cataloguing of these manuscripts—making them available for use in critical editions and broader scholarly research—has been...

Read More

Weekly Lectionary Reading

Featured Manuscripts

GA 2159, formerly at Simonopetra Monastery, Mount Athos; now at the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. According to Lambros, the scribe’s colophon, dated 1281, was on the manuscript’s final leaf, now lost.
GA 2159, formerly at Simonopetra Monastery, Mount Athos; now at the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. According to Lambros, the scribe’s colophon, dated 1281, was on the manuscript’s final leaf, now lost.
L 1675, a 12th/13th-century lectionary formerly in H. Willoughby’s collection, missing for over 60 years before resurfacing in the possession of Bryan Blakemore of Springfield, Illinois.
L 1675, a 12th/13th-century lectionary formerly in H. Willoughby’s collection, missing for over 60 years before resurfacing in the possession of Bryan Blakemore of Springfield, Illinois.
L 2562 (Melikian Collection, Phoenix, AZ) 17th century lectionary with readings from the 3rd Sunday of Ρascha and 3rd Saturday and Sunday of Lent
L 2562 (Melikian Collection, Phoenix, AZ) 17th century lectionary with readings from the 3rd Sunday of Ρascha and 3rd Saturday and Sunday of Lent
L 1996 (currently for sale) 11th century lectionary on parchment, has circulated through numerous private hands since it first appeared in the collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps.
L 1996 (currently for sale) 11th century lectionary on parchment, has circulated through numerous private hands since it first appeared in the collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps.
L 844, (Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg) 1 of only 12 so-called Jerusalem lectionaries, which are early lectionaries that preserve an order of readings distinct from the Byzantine tradition.
L 844, (Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg) 1 of only 12 so-called Jerusalem lectionaries, which are early lectionaries that preserve an order of readings distinct from the Byzantine tradition.
ga 2955
ℓ 2581 (Urechia Public Library, Galați, Romania) the newest lectionary in the Liste. Formerly erroneously catalogued as GA 2955; after obtaining digital images, it was determined to be a lectionary.
ga 2571
GA 2571 (Museum of Paleokastritsa Monastery, Corfu), 11th century Tetraevangelion on parchment. Pictured is the opening of Mark. Curiously, the Gospel of Mark is bound entirely out of order in this manuscript.
screenshot
GA 2779 (Museum of Christian Art, Crete) 15th century, formerly housed at the Historical Museum of Crete and the Monastery of Saint George Epanosifis. Interestingly, the book of John is split between the beginning and end of the codex.
ga 2132
GA 2132 (National Library of Russia), 11th century purple parchment folios at the beginnings of Luke and John. Only 2 other minuscules are known to have purple parchment: GA 565 and 1143.
ga l2555
GA ℓ2555 (St. Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai), 10th century back flyleaf of a lectionary with an excerpt from John 1:4–9, 15–17.
ga l 1734
ℓ 1734 (National Library, Sofia) after digitization, an additional folio was identified and added; these folios likely belong with ℓ2038 at the Panagia Olympiotissa Monastery in Elassona.
screenshot 2026 04 02 at 12.10.50
GA 61 (Dublin), a complete NT codex and the first Greek manuscript discovered to contain the Comma Johanneum (4th line from bottom). This folio is in markedly worse condition than the rest, likely from repeated examination.
ga 087
GA 087 (National Library of Russia), 6th century uncial on parchment with Mt. 21:22-24. According to the National Library, Tischendorf was the previous owner.

Contact us

Feel free to get in touch with questions or feedback.

Subscribe to get our latest posts

Subscribe

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp