Miniature Codices in Early Christianity

Author: Michael J. Kruger Series: Oxford Early Christian Studies

Hardcover

Examines the function of miniature codices within the early Christian movement. It asks questions such as: Why were books put in this format? Why was it preferred for some types of literature and not others? What do miniature codices say about the owner's sociocultural context? And what do they tell us about the reading habits of early Christians?

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Summary

Description

While there has been renewed scholarly interest in paratextual features of early Christian manuscripts, that interest has rarely extended to the size of manuscripts, particularly the format known as the miniature codex. Such neglect is surprising given that this miniature format was a notable part of early Christian textual culture, emerging as early as the second century and visible well into the seventh century and beyond. So established was this format amongChristians during this period, that C.H. Roberts once surmised (incorrectly) that, "The miniature codex would seem to be a Christian invention."Many of these tiny books were elegant,well-crafted, and could contain a surprising number of pages. Currently, we have over 60 such codices, which contain a wide range of Christian literature including New Testament books, patristic and non-canonical writings (e.g., the Didache, Acts of Paul, and apocryphal gospels), and even liturgical-ritual texts. This volume is the first full-length monograph on the phenomenon of the miniature codex, offering a framework for distinguishing miniature codices from other tiny texts (e.g. amulets),exploring their practical and iconic functions, and, perhaps most importantly, assembling a detailed catalogue of all known Christian and Greek miniature codices. This distinctive book format providesan essential window into the textual, literary, and visual culture of early Christianity, shedding fresh light on how and why Christians were considered people of the book.

About the Author

Michael J. Kruger (Ph.D., University of Edinburgh) is the President and the Samuel C. Patterson Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. He has written extensively on topics related to the origins of the New Testament canon and the development of the New Testament text, with a particular focus upon the second century. Prior publications include Christianity at the Crossroads (SPCK/IVP Academic,2018), The Question of Canon (IVP Academic, 2013), and The Early Text of the New Testament (edited with Charles Hill, Oxford University Press, 2012).