(Ps.) 'Clement of Rome': the Manuscripts of "2 Clement"

The so-called Second Letter of Clement is also found in three Mss. with 1 Clement, but is not authentic.  It seems to be a portion of a second-century sermon (cf. 17:3, 19:1), and may be dated between 120-170, most likely around 150AD.  It contains in 4:5 a statement attribute to Jesus, often thought to be from the Gospel according to the Egyptians. However there is nothing in the text to say this.

Siglum

Location

Shelfmark & Notes

Date /
Century

A

 London: British Library Codex Alexandrinus.  The famous Greek uncial of the bible.  This contains the Old Testament and most of the New Testament, although some leaves are missing.  It was presented to King Charles I in 1627 by Cyril Lucar, Patriarch of Constantinople.  A photographic facsimile of this entire Ms. exists, published 1879-83 by E. Maunde Thompson.  Also contains 1 Clement.

5
C Jerusalem Codex Hierosolymitanus / Codex Constantinopolitanus.  A Greek minuscule written by Leo the Notary in 1056AD, and discovered by Bryennius in Constantinople in 1875 in the library of the Patriarch monastery of Jerusalem.  The manuscript was in Jerusalem in 1967.  The Ms. also contains 1 Clement, Barnabas, the Didache, and the Long version of the letters of Ignatius of Antioch. 

1056 AD
S Cambridge: University Library Ms. Additional 1700. This is the only manuscript of a Syriac translation; the date of translation is unknown, but probably not early and perhaps 8th century.  A full text: R.H.Kennett, The Epistles of St. Clement to the Corinthians in Syriac, London (1899).  Also contains 1 Clement.

1169 AD

Bibliography

Kirsopp LAKE, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, Loeb Classical Library (1912).  Checked.
Johannes QUASTEN, Patrology, vol. 1. Utrecht: Spectrum (ca. 1950).  Checked.
Bruce M. METZGER, The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration.  Oxford (1992). 3rd edn.  Checked.

Constructive feedback is welcomed to Roger Pearse. Corrections and additions are very welcome.

This page has been online since 26th October 2003

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