Josaphat C. Tam, «When Papyri and Codices Speak: Revisiting John 2,23-25.» filologia-neotestamentaria, Vol. 95 (2014) 570-588 page 577

Josaphat C. Tam, «When Papyri and Codices Speak: Revisiting John 2,23-25.», Vol. 95 (2014) 570-588

This paper revisits the role of John 2,23-25 in its literary and manuscript context. Contrary to many Johannine commentators who take it as an introduction to the Nicodemus pericope, 2,23-25 should be linked more to the preceding context, not the following. This view is supported by evidence from the sense-unit delimitations observed in the Greek papyri and codices dated within ca. 300 years from the New Testament era. Viewed from a narrative perspective, 2,23-25 should be seen as an anticlimactic concluding remark connected to 1,35 – 2,22.

TAGS

Nicodemus pericope

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005_Tam_co_570-588 13/02/15 12:48 Pagina 577 WHEN PAPYRI AND CODICES SPEAK: REVISITING JOHN 2,23-25 577 autoic . dia to auton ginwskin pan … egignwcken ti hn en tw anw 3:1 hn de anoc ek twn faricewn nikodh … Between 2,22 and 2,23 in Codex Washingtonianus (W), a space of about the width of three letters is left, again, marking the end of a unit. But the presence of an underdot after 2,22 is also observed. Compared with the same use before DIA TO AUTON GINWSKIN PANTAI in 2,24, the underdot appears to be used to signal an in- complete thought, at least in this locale. Thus, to the copyist, a break is made after 2,22; yet at the same time, the thought is in- complete without 2,23-25. However 3,1, starts in a new line inten- tionally, leaving the last part of the previous line blank. Ekthesis for the first letter of the first word of the verse is observed. The va- cant end of the previous line and the presence of ekthesis indicate clearly the beginning of a new paragraph. c. Codex Vaticanus, B (4th c.) 37 q tw logw on eipen o ic 2:23 wc de hn en toic ϊero … 2:24 poiei autoc de ic ouk e picteuen auton autoic … cken ti hn en tw anqrw 3:1 i pw hn de anqrwpoc ek twn fareicaiwn … In Codex Vaticanus (B), based on my transcription, paragraphos is used to separate 2,23 from 2,22. Compared to the same paragraphos used in 2,24, the break appears not to be major since 2,24 still follows 37 Online images can be viewed at the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts: http://www.csntm.org/Manuscript/View/GA_03.