The Alteration of Luke's Tradition by the Textual Variants in Codex Bezae

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THE ALTERATION OF LUKE'S TRADITION BY
THE TEXTUAL VARIANTS IN CODEX BEZAE
by
GEORGE EDWARD RICE
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Advisor: Eldon Jay Epp
Department of Religion
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
June 1974
COPYRIGHT BY
GEORGE EDWARD RICE
1974
THE ALTERATION OF LUKE'S TRADITION BY
THE TEXTUAL VARIANTS IN CODEX BEZAE
Abstract
by
GEORGE EDWARD RICE
The uniqueness of the Greek text of Codex Bezae
Cantabrigiensis (D) has been widely acknowledged by New
Testament scholars, for no other New Testament manuscript
has so many and such remarkable variant readings. In the
past, some of the more noticeable variations in D have
been examined in detail; however, such investigations
have been confined largely to the immediate context of the
individual variants.
Eldon Jay Epp, in his work on The Theological Ten-
dency of Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis in Acts (Cambridge:
University Press, 1966), broke with the traditional ap-
proach to the study of D's text and discovered that by
examining the whole text of Acts as a unit definite theol-
ogical biases could be seen running throughout the
variant readings. This approach helps to avoid erroneous
conclusions concerning D's alterations by: (1) examining
variations in the light of the entire scheme of alterations
within a given book, as well as in the light of the im-
mediate context of each variant, and (2) thus allowing
conclusions to be drawn which are consistent with the
entire scheme of alterations and, therefore, avoiding the
temptation to ignore an isolated variant because no im-
mediate rationale presents itself to explain its presence.
The close affinity of the books of Luke and Acts, as
evidenced by these books' own introductions, opens the
possibility that similar biases may be found running
through the variant readings in D's text of Luke.
It is the purpose of this study: (1) to examine
the complete text of Luke in D, (2) to isolate its
variant readings by comparing D's text against the text
of Codex Vaticanus (B) in Luke, (3) to determine whether
D's variants alter the accepted textual tradition of Luke
by manifesting certain biases, and (4) to ascertain
whether these biases appear consistently in the variant
readings of D.
The following theological biases would appear to
emerge from the D-variants in Luke:
1. Jesus is exalted beyond his portrayal in the
normal text of Luke as the Messianic son of David, as the
compassionate healer, as one equal with the Father, and as
the present Son of Man.
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2. An anti-Judaic bias is present. This can be
seen in the attempt to set aside Jewish institutions, by
advancing in time priestly plottings of Jesus' death,
and by portraying the people of Jerusalem as unresponsive
to Jesus' ministry and as more hostile to Jesus during
the passion.
3. Dominant characters, e.g. Jesus' mother, John
the Baptist, and Peter, are elevated beyond their signifi-
cance in the normal text.
4. The disciples in general are protected from
behavior recorded by Luke that is not compatible with
their position.
5. Gentiles are more favorably treated than in
the normal text.
This examination of D's text in Luke leads to the
further conclusion that the copyist functioned as an
editor. A remaining question is the extent of D's
editorial activity in the other gospels, but this is
beyond the scope of the present investigation.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For the inspiration, guidance, and encouragement
that is necessary to complete an undertaking such as this,
an expression of gratitude is due to a number of in-
dividuals. To Dr. Eldon Jay Epp, Harkness Professor of
Biblical Literature, I owe a debt of gratitude for the
inspiration to pursue the fascinating subject of textual
criticism and for his guidance through the experience of
producing this dissertation.
A word of appreciation is due to John Wood, a
colleague at Atlantic Union College and personal friend,
who read the manuscript of this work and made helpful
suggestions before it was typed in final form.
A word of appreciation is due to Mrs. Anita Jacobs
for her patience in typing the final draft, and especially
for her effort to learn the Greek keyboard.
For the encouragement and financial help that en-
abled both my wife and myself to pursue our respective
educational interests simultaneously, an eternal debt of
gratitude is owed to my parents, Mr. and Mrs. George H.
Rice and to my father and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
Glenn E. Bowen.
Words are not sufficient to express my gratitude
to my wife and daughter for their patience, understanding,
and willingness to endure the many inconveniences that
the pursual of my education has caused them. Especially
am I grateful to my wife for her willingness to provide
for the family when her education was completed and my
time was completely occupied by class work.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter
I. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF THE TEXT OF
CODEX BEZAE IN ST. LUKE (cid:9) 1
The Problem (cid:9) 1
The Purpose (cid:9) 5
A Brief Description and History of D . . . ▪ (cid:9) (cid:9) 6
A Summary of Luke's Textual Tradition . . ▪ (cid:9) (cid:9) 8
Methodology (cid:9) 11
II. PROMINENT CHARACTERS AND THEIR ROLE IN D . . .(cid:9) 14
Mary, The Mother of Jesus (cid:9) 14
John the Baptist (cid:9) 32
Peter and the Close Followers of Jesus(cid:9) . ▪ (cid:9) (cid:9) 54
Conclusion (cid:9) 84
III. THE GLORIFIED JESUS (cid:9) 88
The Child Jesus (cid:9) 88
The Messianic King (cid:9) 95
Jesus' Relation to the Father (cid:9) 105
The Miracles of Jesus (cid:9) 109
Conclusion (cid:9) 121
IV. THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE SON OF MAN (cid:9) 123
The Kingdom of God (cid:9) 123
The Son of Man (cid:9) 154
Conclusion (cid:9) 156
V. IN DEFENSE OF THE GENTILES (cid:9) 159
VI. ANTI-JUDAIC SENTIMENTS OF D (cid:9) 174
The Role of Jerusalem (cid:9) 175
D's Use of novnpOs ("Evil") (cid:9) 180
Other Anti-Judaic Statements (cid:9) 184
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The Sabbath Controversies (cid:9) 193
Conclusion (cid:9) 220
VII. THE PASSION, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION
IN D (cid:9) 223
The Lord's Supper (cid:9) 223
Trial and Crucifixion (cid:9) 230
The Empty Tomb (cid:9) 238
Post Resurrection Appearances (cid:9) 246
Ascension (cid:9) 253
Conclusion (cid:9) 258
VIII. CONCLUSION (cid:9) 260
BIBLIOGRAPHY (cid:9) 264
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(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
I. TEXTUAL WITNESSES
Greek Codices Century or Date
Papyri
45
P Chester Beatty III
75
P P. Bodmer XIV, XV Early III
Uncials
X(cid:9) Sinaiticus(cid:9) IV
A(cid:9) Alexandrinus(cid:9) V
B Vaticanus(cid:9) IV
C(cid:9) Ephraemi Rescriptus(cid:9) V
D Bezae Cantabrigiensis(cid:9) V/VI
L Regius(cid:9) VIII
N Purpureus Petropolitanus(cid:9) VI
W Freer Gospels(cid:9) V
O Koridethi(cid:9) IX
0124(cid:9) VI
Minuscles
1(cid:9) XII
4(cid:9) XIII
13(cid:9) XIII
28(cid:9) XI
69(cid:9) XV
131(cid:9) XIV
157(cid:9) XII
273(cid:9) XIII
565(cid:9) IX
1424(cid:9) IX/X
1675(cid:9) XIV
Latin Codices
a Vercellensis V
b Veronensis V
C XII/XIII
Colbertinus
e Palatinus V
f VI
Bixianus
1
ff X
Corbeiensis I
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