FHU Receives Rare Facsimile of Biblical Codex

A facsimile of Codex Vaticanus has arrived on the Freed-Hardeman University campus. It is number 269 of 450 facsimiles of the fourth century manuscript that have been or will be issued in the world, according to Doug Burleson, Gardner Chair occupant.

This facsimile joins the one of Codex Sinaiticus obtained by FHU last year. “These are two of the three oldest complete copies of the Bible known to exist,” Burleson said.

Both codices will be prominently displayed Friday, Oct. 12, at the Graduate Bible Research Symposium featuring Dr. Daniel B. Wallace, founder of The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts. He is senior New Testament editor of the NET Bible and has been a consultant on four different Bible translations. Information about the symposium may be found at fhu.edu/gbrs.

The codices will be housed in the Graduate Bible Reading Room in the Gardner Center. Purchase of the manuscripts, provision of the reading room and funding for the symposium are activities of the Gardner Chair. John and Rosemary Koppel Brown, university benefactors, have contributed funds for academic development and research in honor of former FHU President E. Claude Gardner.