2013 NAPS Presidential Address From Russia with Love: Deciphering Augustine’s Code
Saint Petersburg, National Library of Russia Q. v. I. 3 is the oldest extant manuscript containing works of Augustine. Since it is the only manuscript that transmits De doctrina Christiana in its earlier shorter version, it may be dated between 397 and 427. Written in North Africa, the codex was sen...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Johns Hopkins Univ. Press
2014
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| In: |
Journal of early Christian studies
Year: 2014, Volume: 22, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-20 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Saint Petersburg, National Library of Russia Q. v. I. 3 is the oldest extant manuscript containing works of Augustine. Since it is the only manuscript that transmits De doctrina Christiana in its earlier shorter version, it may be dated between 397 and 427. Written in North Africa, the codex was sent by Augustine to his mentor and colleague Simplician, bishop of Milan. The code for understanding the manuscript is found in Augustine’s rare use of an imperfect subjunctive to express future meaning in his Epistula 37 to Simplician, where he asks Simplician to read the works that he is sending him. This grammatical characteristic demonstrates that Augustine himself planned the production of the codex, which he specifically intended to send to Simplician. Some scholars believe that the manuscript contains an autograph of Augustine. Following its production in Africa, the codex was sent to Italy and then after an obscure journey found its way to Corbie and finally to Saint Petersburg, where it rests today. |
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| ISSN: | 1086-3184 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of early Christian studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/earl.2014.0011 |