the oldest surviving new testament manuscripts were written in the early 5th - century.
the oldest surviving new testament manuscripts were written in the early 5th - century.
when were the oldest surviving new testament manuscripts written?
early 5th - century
in contrast to the abstract nature of mesoamerican speech scrolls, medieval european speech scrolls or banderoles appear as actual scrolls, floating in apparent three-dimensional space (or in actual space in sculpture). they first become common at the start of the gothic period. previously, as in byzantine art, spoken words, if they appeared at all, were usually painted alongside a figure; these are called tituli. however, earlier works using banderoles are the aachen gospels of otto iii (c. 975) and the 12th-century english romanesque cloisters cross. the latter work demonstrates the use of banderoles as attributes for old testament prophets, to distinguish them from the book-carrying four evangelists of the new testament and other christian saints, a convention appearing in italy in the 13th century. it may be seen in the "santa trinita maestà" by cimabue, (uffizi, 1280–90), duccio's "maestà" (1308–11), and other works. the convention had a historical appropriateness, as the old testament was originally written on scrolls, whereas nearly all surviving new testament manuscripts are codices (like modern books). they may also be used for the words of angels, especially gabriel's greeting to mary in annunciation scenes. during the 14th century, quotations in banderoles increasingly allowed artists to include more complex ideas in their works, though for the moment usually in latin, thus greatly restricting the audience that could follow them.
speech scroll
lists of new testament manuscripts









































the following articles contain lists of new testament manuscripts:









































bullet::::- in coptic









































bullet::::- list of the coptic new testament manuscripts









































bullet::::- in greek:









































bullet::::- list of new testament papyri









































bullet::::- list of new testament uncials









































bullet::::- list of new testament minuscules









































bullet::::- list of new testament minuscules (1001–2000)









































bullet::::- list of new testament minuscules (2001–)









































bullet::::- list of new testament lectionaries









































bullet::::- in latin:









































bullet::::- list of new testament latin manuscripts









































bullet::::- in syriac:









































bullet::::- list of the syriac new testament manuscripts









































section::::see also.









































bullet::::- biblical manuscript









































bullet::::- categories of new testament manuscripts
lists of new testament manuscripts