Copying Early Christian Texts: A study of scribal practice

Abstract

It is commonly stated, or at least assumed, that the early Christians had their texts reproduced 'in-house,' making little or no use of 'secular' or 'professional' scribes - that is, they had their works copied using whatever pool of writing ability lay within their own ranks, mostly of a non-professional nature. In relation to the NT Metzger wrote, 'In the earlier ages of the Church, Biblical manuscripts were produced by individual Christians'. Aland and Aland maintained that the copying of manuscripts of Christian works must have been done 'privately by individuals in the early period,' although they allowed for the possibility that some professional scribes may have become Christians and then copied scriptures 'at home'. Alexander describes early Christian codices as 'in-house productions, showing few signs of the professional book trade'.