Codex Boreelianus

Uncial 09

New Testament manuscript papyri uncials minuscules lectionaries
Beginning of Mark, decorated headpiece and initial
Name	Boreelianus Rheno-Trajectinus
Sign	Fe
Text	Gospels†
Date	c. 875–975
Script	Greek
Found	Johann Boreel
Now at	Utrecht University
Size	28.5 × 22 cm (11.2 × 8.7 in)
Type	Byzantine text-type
Category	V
Hand	careful and elegant
Note	unfoliated

Codex Boreelianus, Codex Boreelianus Rheno-Trajectinus (full name), designated by F^e or 09 in the Gregory-Aland numbering and ε 86 in von Soden numbering, is a 9th (or 10th) century uncial manuscript of the four Gospels in Greek. The manuscript, written on parchment, is full of lacunae (or gaps), many of which arose between 1751 and 1830. The codex was named Boreelianus after Johannes Boreel (1577–1629), who brought it from the East.

The text of the codex represents the majority of the text (Byzantine text-type), but with numerous alien readings (non-Byzantine). Some of its readings do not occur in any other manuscript (so called singular readings). According to the present textual critics its text is not a very important manuscript, but it is quoted in all modern editions of the Greek New Testament.

The manuscript was brought from the East at the beginning of the 17th century. It was in private hands for over 100 years. Since 1830 it has been housed at the Utrecht University.

The codex contains the text of the four Gospels, on 204 parchment leaves of size 28.5 × 22 cm (11.2 × 8.7 in), with numerous lacunae (or gaps). The text of the existing codex begins with Matthew 9:1 and ends with John 13:34. Luke is even more incomplete. In 1751 Wettstein remarked that the codex started at Matthew 7:6 and that only the folia with Matthew 8:25 and Mark 11:6–16 were missing. It means that in his time the manuscript was far more complete than at present. At present, lacunae of the manuscript include:

The leaves are unbound and are kept in loose quires. The text is written in late uncial script, in two columns per page, with mostly 19 lines per column, in large uncial letters. Palaeographically the writing is close to the Codex Seidelianus I.