Codex-Washingtoneus
The Oldest Manuscripts
of the Gospels
All New Testament Manuscript
Images are taken from the
Internet Site of CSNTM
II Peter 1:16
16 We did not follow cleverly
invented stories when we told you
about the power and coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ, but we
were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Inspiration of the Bible
II Peter 1:20-21
20 Above all, you must understand that
no prophecy of scripture came about by
the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For
prophecy never had its origin in the will of
man, but men spoke from God as they
were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
John 14:25-26
“All this I have spoken while still
with you. But the Counselor, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in my name, will teach you all
things and will remind you of
everything I have said to you.”
The Skeptic’s Theory
• 1. Jesus was probably a real person, but
• 2. He did not have supernatural powers.
• 3. The story of Jesus was transmitted
orally for several centuries before
• 4. It was finally written down by Christians
with much embellishment and myth.
• 5. His conclusion: The Gospels cannot
be trusted as eyewitness accounts.
Manuscript Transmission
Serial
Copy
Copy
Copy
Copy
Copy
Original
Cluster
Copy
Copy
Original
Copies
Time
The Dead Sea Scrolls
Papyrus Fragment
Manuscripts of the New Testament
•
•
•
•
•
•
Name
Date
Codex Sinaiticus
350 AD
Codex Vaticanus
325 AD
Codex Alexandrinus
500 AD
Codex Bezae Cantikrigiensis 500-600 AD
Codex Claromontinus
600 AD
Codex Washingtoneus
(500 AD)
The Discovery of Codex-W
The manuscripts were found by a native treasure
hunter in Egypt south of Cairo about 1900 AD, and
they were then sold to an Egyptian antiquities dealer,
Sheikh Aly Arabi. The Codex was reported to have
been found buried in the sand in the ruins of an
ancient Christian church. Mr. Arabi sold the Codex to
an American, Mr. Charles Lang Freer, who then put
them in the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
in 1906 AD. The price was $7,750. The manuscripts
were examined by a scholar, Professor Henry A.
Sanders of the University of Michigan, who, by the
Greek writing style, estimated that the Codex dated
to the late Fourth or early Fifth Century. The book
was put in a drawer in the Freer Gallery and left for
about 75 years until Lee Woodard asked to study it.
Where Codex-W Was Found
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARKON
THEBEGINNINGOFTHEGOSPELABOUTJESUSCHRIST
THESONOFGOD.ITISWRITTENINISAIAHTHEPROPHET
IWILLSENDMYMESSENGERAHEADOFYOUWHOWILLP
REPAREYOURWAYAVOICEOFONECALLINGINTHEDES
ERTPREPARETHEWAYFORTHELORDMAKESTRAIGHT
PATHSFORHIM.ANDSOJOHNCAMEBAPTIZINGINTHED
ESERTREGIONANDPREACHINGABAPTISMOFREPEN
TANCEFORTHEFORGIVENESSOFSINS.THEWHOLEJU
DEANCOUNTRYSIDEANDALLTHEPEOPLEOFJERUSA
LEMWENTOUTTOHIMCONFESSINGTHEIRSINS.THEY
WEREBAPTIZEDBYHIMINTHEJORDANRIVER:
The Greek Uncial Alphabet
A
B
G
D
E
Ph
H
Α
Β
Γ
Δ
Ε
Φ
Η
I
K
L
M
N
O
O
Ι
Κ
Λ
Μ
Ν
Ο
ω
P Π
Z Z
R Ρ
Ρs Ψ
S C (Σ) Xi Ξ
T Τ
Th Θ
U Υ
Chi Χ
The Greek Uncial Alphabet
A
B
G
D
E
Ph
H
Α
Β
Γ
Δ
Ε
Φ
Η
I
K
L
M
N
O
O
Ι
Κ
Λ
Μ
Ν
Ο
ω
P Π
Z Z
R Ρ
Ρs Ψ
S C (Σ) Xi Ξ
T Τ
Th Θ
U Υ
Chi Χ
Front Cover
Matthew and John
Back Cover
Luke and Mark
M
A
R
K
O
S
Initial Research by
Dr. Lee W. Woodard
Sallisaw, Oklahoma