New Biblical manuscript found, believed to be one of Constantine’s fifty!

Cairo, September 18, 2011: A statement was released late last night by the International Cooperation on Biblical Manuscripts, that significant evidence now exists that a manuscript which was discovered near the Egyptian city of Alexandria in 2005 may indeed be one of fifty Biblical manuscripts that Emperor Constantine instructed Eusebius Pamphili to order on his behalf for “the instruction of the church.”

According to Dr. J.A. Weber of the ICBM, the front page of this important codex states in Greek:

“One of fifty copies commissioned by
Caesar Victor Constantinus Maximus Augustus
and servant of God
who authorized Eusebius Pamphili to have these
prepared by his scribes in the church at Caesarea
Palaestina and distributed throughout
Constantinople in the year 1088 AUC.”

While the date of the inscription seems problematic, Dr. Weber explained that AUC “is short for Ab urbe condita, from the founding of the city (of Rome). While Rome was founded in 753 BC, adding the 1088 puts the above inscription at AD 335, just two years prior to the death of Constantine the Great!”

According to historical accounts by Eusebius himself, Constantine wrote a letter to him, requesting an order of fifty manuscripts of the sacred Scriptures. This letter can be found in “The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Volume 1” and reads as follows:

“Victor Constantinus, Maximus Augustus, to Eusebius.
“It happens, through the favoring providence of God our Saviour, that great numbers have united themselves to the most holy church in the city which is called by my name. It seems, therefore, highly requisite, since that city is rapidly advancing in prosperity in all other respects, that the number of churches should also be increased. Do you, therefore, receive with all readiness my determination on this behalf. I have thought it expedient to instruct your Prudence to order fifty copies of the sacred Scriptures, the provision and use of which you know to be most needful for the instruction of the Church, to be written on prepared parchment in a legible manner, and in a convenient, portable form, by professional transcribers thoroughly practiced in their art. The catholicus of the diocese has also received instructions by letter from our Clemency to be careful to furnish all things necessary for the preparation of such copies; and it will be for you to take special care that they be completed with as little delay as possible.3335 You have authority also, in virtue of this letter, to use two of the public carriages for their conveyance, by which arrangement the copies when fairly written will most easily be forwarded for my personal inspection; and one of the deacons of your church may be intrusted with this service, who, on his arrival here, shall
experience my liberality. God preserve you, beloved brother!”

According to Dr. Weber, preliminary carbon dating of the codex puts it in the early 4th century which would confirm the authenticity of the codex. Dr. Weber also said that there are hardly any variations from Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus, and that if the final testing on this codex proves it authentic, that it would be the greatest discovery of Biblical manuscripts since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947!

If final tests confirm the authenticity of this exciting discovery, it will be named as Codex Constantinus, after Constantine the Great.

Related News:
The Constantine Codex
Excerpts from the Constantine Codex

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