Bible translations into Coptic

There have been many Coptic versions of the Bible, including some of the earliest translations
into any language. Several different versions were made in the ancient world, with different editions
of the Old and New Testament in five of the dialects of Coptic: Bohairic (northern), Fayyumic, Sahidic
(southern), Akhmimic and Mesokemic (middle). Biblical books were translated from the Alexandrian
Greek version.

The Sahidic was the leading dialect in the pre-Islamic period, after the 11th century Bohairic became
dominant and the only used dialect of the Coptic language.

Partial copies of a number of Coptic Bibles survive. A considerable number of apocryphal texts also
survive in Coptic, most notably the Gnostic Nag Hammadi library. Coptic remains the liturgical
language of the Coptic Church and Coptic editions of the Bible are central to that faith.

Contents
Old Testament
New Testament
Sahidic
Bohairic
Middle Egypt
Textual features
Greek-Coptic diglot manuscripts
See also
Notes
References
Further reading
External links

Old Testament
Translators of books of the Old Testament into Egyptian dialects were naturally made from the
Alexandrian Greek version (Septuagint), and there is no reason to doubt that they were translated at
as early a date as the Gospels and Epistles, if not indeed before them. Portions of the Old Testament
exist in each Egyptian dialect.[1]

In Sahidic, some Biblical books survived with complete text, as well as a large number of extant
fragments representing most of the canonical books and certain of the deutero-canonical (the two
Wisdoms, the Epistle of Jeremiah, and the Greek additions to Daniel).

Some early manuscripts:

Bodmer III — John 1:1-21:25, Genesis 1:1-4:2; 4th century; Bohairic

Bodmer VI — Proverbs 1:1-21:4; 4th/5th century; Paleo-Theban ("Dialect P")
Bodmer XVI — Exodus 1:1-15:21; 4th century;

Job and his daughter from folio 4v of
Biblioteca Vittorio Emanuele III, MS
I B 18.
Bodmer XVIII —
Deuteronomy 1:1-10:7; 4th
century;
Bodmer XXI — Joshua 6:16-
25; 7:6-11:23; 22:1-2; 22:19-
23:7; 23:15-24:2; 4th
century;
Bodmer XXII — Jeremiah
40:3-52:34; Lamentations;
Epistle of Jeremiah; Book of
Baruch; 4th/5th century; The Mudil Psalter, the oldest
Bodmer XXIII — Isaiah 47:1- complete psalter in the Coptic
66:24; 4th century; language (Coptic Museum, Egypt,
Coptic Cairo).
Bodmer XL — Song of
Songs
Bodmer XLIV — Book of Daniel; Bohairic.[2]
Schøyen Ms 114 — Psalms; Sahidic; ca. A.D. 400.

New Testament
The two main dialects, Sahidic and Bohairic, are the most important
for the study of early versions of the New Testament. The Sahidic
was the leading dialect in the pre-Islamic period. The earliest
Bohairic manuscripts date to the 4th century , but most texts come
from the 9th century and later.

Sahidic

The collection of manuscripts of Sahidic translations is often

designated by copsa in academic writing and critical apparatus ("Sa"
for "versio Sahidica" in BHS). The first translation into the Sahidic
dialect was made at the end of the 2nd century in Upper Egypt,
where Greek was less well understood. So the Sahidic is famous for
being the first major literary development of the Coptic language,
though literary work in the other dialects soon followed. By the
ninth century, Sahidic was gradually replaced by neighbouring
8th century Coptic manuscript of
Bohairic, and disappeared. Knowledge of the Sahidic manuscripts Luke 5:5—9
was lost until they were rediscovered in the 18th century. In 1778
Woide issued a prospectus in which he announced his intention of
publishing from Oxford manuscripts the fragments of the New
Testament "iuxta interpretationem dialecti Superioris Aegypti, quae
Thebaidica seu Sahidica appellantur".[3] Another fragments were
published in 1884 by Émile Amélineau.[4] Amélineau also edited
other fragments in 1886-1888.[5]
John 1:1-4
Several years later Horner produced a critical edition of the Sahidic
New Testament over the period 1911–1924.[6] Horner's edition
containing almost every verse of the entire New Testament. The Sahidic translation is a
representative of the Alexandrian text-type.

The order of books: Gospels (John, Matthew, Mark, Luke), Pauline epistles (Hebrews between 2
Corinthians and Galatians), Catholic epistles, Acts, Apocalypse.[7]
Omitted verses:

Matthew 12:47; Matthew 16:2b-3; 17:21; 18:11; 23:14; Mark 9:44.46; 11:26; 15:28; Luke 17:36;
22:43-44; John 5:4; 7:53-8:11; Acts 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29; Romans 16:24.

Omitted or not included phrases:

Matthew 15:6 or (his) mother not included;[8]

Luke 11:4 phrase "but deliver us from evil" is omitted. This omission is supported by the Greek
manuscripts: Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, Codex Regius, f1, 700, and some early
versions vg, syrs, copbo, arm, geo.[9]

Textual variants

In Luke 4:17 it has textual variant and opened the book together with the Greek manuscripts A, B, L,
W, Ξ, 33, 892, 1195, 1241, ℓ 547, syrs, h, pal, copbo, against variant and unrolled the book supported by
‫א‬, Dc, K, Δ, Θ, Π, Ψ, f1, f13, 28, 565, 700, 1009, 1010 and many other manuscripts.[10][11]

In Luke 16:19 the version reads: "There was a rich man, with the name N[in]eue, who clothed
himself",[12] This reading has also Greek manuscript Papyrus 75 and two Greek minuscule
manuscripts 36 and 37, have a scholion of uncertain date ευρον δε τινες και του πλουσιου εν τισιν
αντιγραφοις τουνομα Νινευης λεγομενον.[13]

In John 10,7 it reads ο ποιμην (shepherd) for η θυρα (door). The reading is supported by 𝔓75 and
copac.[14]

In Acts 27:37 it reads "seventy six" (as Codex Vaticanus) for "two hundred seventy six".[15]

In 1 Corinthians 15:47 it reads δευτερος for δευτερος ανθρωπος (as copbo).[16]

Some manuscripts

Some of the more notable manuscripts of the Sahidic are the following.

The Crosby-Schøyen Codex is a papyrus manuscript of 52 leaves (12x12 cm). It contains the
complete text of Book of Jonah and 1 Peter (2 Maccabees 5:27-8:41, Melito of Sardis, Peri
Pascha 47-105, unidentified Homily). It is dated to the 3rd or 4th centuries and is held at the
University of Mississippi.[17]
British Library MS. Oriental 7594 contains an unusual combination of books: Deuteronomy,
Jonah, and Acts. It is dated paleographically to the late 3rd or early 4th century.[18]
Michigan MS. Inv 3992, a papyrus codex, has 42 folios (14 by 15 cm). It contains 1 Corinthians,
Titus, and the Book of Psalms. It is dated to the 4th century.
Berlin MS. Or. 408 and British Museum Or. 3518, being parts of the same original document. The
Berlin portion contains the Book of Revelation, 1 John, and Philemon (in this order). It is dated to
the 4th century.
Bodmer XIX — Matthew 14:28-28:20; Romans 1:1-2:3; 4th or 5th century.
Bodmer XLII — 2 Corinthians; dialect unknown; Wolf-Peter Funk suggest Sahidic;[19]

Bohairic

The Bohairic (dialect of Lower Egypt) translation was made a little later, as the Greek language was
more influential in lower (northern) Egypt. Probably, it was made in the beginning of the 3rd century.
It was a very literal translation; many Greek words, and even some grammatical forms (e.g. syntactic
construction μεν — δε) were incorporated to this translation. For this reason, the Bohairic translation
is more helpful in the reconstruction of the early Greek text than
any other ancient translation. It should also be noted that the
Bohairic translation was influenced by several variables,
including the other dialects, primarily Sahidic and Fayyumic.
When the patriarchate moved from Alexandria to Cairo in the
11th century, Bohairic was the dominant language of the Coptic
church. As the official dialect of the Coptic Orthodox Church,
Bohairic seems to enjoy a strong relationship with mainly the
other dialects, Egyptian Arabic and—as it was for several
centuries—Greek. The text is mainly Alexandrian, somewhat
influenced by the Western text-type. The Bohairic translation is
designated by copbo.

The order of books: Gospels (John, Matthew, Mark, Luke),

Pauline epistles (Hebrews between 2 Thess and 1 Tim), Catholic
epistles, Acts, and Apocalypse.[20] The Apocalypse is preserved in
relatively few manuscripts.[21] Uncial 0177 with the text of Luke
1:59-73
Omitted verses: Matthew 17:21 (some mss); 18:11 (mss); 23:14
(mss); Mark 9:44.46; 11:26 (mss); 15:28 (mss); Luke 17:36;
22:43-44; John 5:4 (mss); 7:53-8:11 (mss); Acts 8:37; 15:34 (mss); 24:7; 28:29; Romans 16:24.

It contains Matthew 12:47; Some manuscripts of the Bohairic version contains verses: 17: 21; 18:11;
23:14; Mark 11:26; 15:28; John 5:4; 7:53-8:11; Acts 15:34;

In Acts 27:37 it reads "one hundred seventy six" for "two hundred seventy six".[15]

Some manuscripts

The original {Old} Bohairic version is well represented by manuscripts. More than a hundred of
manuscripts have survived. All have the last twelve verses of Mark.

The earliest surviving manuscript of the four Gospels is dated A.D. 889. It is not complete.
Papyrus Bodmer III is the oldest manuscript of the Bohairic version.[22] It was discovered by John
M. Bodmer of Geneva in Upper Egypt. It contains the Gospel of John, dated palaeographically to
the 4th century. It contains 239 pages, but the first 22 are damaged.
Huntington MS 17, bilingual Bohairic-Arabic, dated to 1174, the oldest manuscript with complete
text of the four Gospels in Bohairic.
Huntington MS 20, bilingual Bohairic-Greek, with complete text of the four Gospels.
Oriental MS 424, bilingual Bohairic-Arabic, dated to 1308, with complete text of the Pauline
epistles, Catholic epistles, and the Acts.
Codex Marshall Or. 5.

The Bohairic version was employed by Mill for his edition of 1707. It was first published in 1716 by
Wilkins, who edited "Novum Testamentum Aegyptium vulgo Copticum". His edition was
accompanied with a Latin translation.[23] Horner produced a critical edition of the Bohairic New
Testament in 1898-1905.[24] Horner used more than fifty Bohairic manuscripts preserved in that
time in the libraries of Europe.[20]

Middle Egypt

The only surviving witnesses of an Akhmimic, and an Fayyumic Versions are in a fragmentary pieces
(designated by copakh, and copfay).
 The Schøyen Codex, a papyrus manuscript. It
contains Gospel of Matthew. Dated to the early 4th
century. It is the earliest Matthew in any Coptic
dialect.[25]
Codex Glazier, contains Acts 1:1-15:3, housed at
the Pierpont Morgan Library.[26]
P. Mich. inv. 3521, Gospel of John in Fayyumic, ca.
A.D. 325.

Codex Glazier, manuscript of Acts

Textual features

Mark 8:15

the Herodians — 𝔓45, W, Θ, f1, f13, 28, 565, 1365, iti, itk, copsa, arm, geo
Herod — copbo majority of Greek mss

In 1 John 5:6 two versions, Sahidic and Bohairic, have textual variant "through water and blood and
spirit" supported by the manuscripts: Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus, 104, 424c, 614, 1739c,
2412, 2495, ℓ 598m, syrh, Origen.[27][n 1] Bart D. Ehrman identified this reading as Orthodox corrupt
reading.[28]

Greek-Coptic diglot manuscripts

More than forty Greek-Coptic diglot manuscripts of the New Testament have survived to the present
day.

Papyrus 2 Uncial 0275

Papyrus 6 Uncial 0276
Papyrus 41 Uncial 0298
Papyrus 42 Uncial 0299
Papyrus 62 Lectionary 143
Papyrus 96 Lectionary 961
Codex Borgianus Lectionary 962
Uncial 070 Lectionary 963
Uncial 086 Lectionary 964
Uncial 0100 Lectionary 965
Uncial 0114 Lectionary 1353
Uncial 0129 (= 0203, ℓ 1575) Lectionary 1355
Uncial 0164 Lectionary 1575
Uncial 0177 Lectionary 1602
Uncial 0184 Lectionary 1603
Uncial 0200 Lectionary 1604
Uncial 0204 Lectionary 1606
Uncial 0205 Lectionary 1607
Uncial 0236 Lectionary 1614
Uncial 0237 Lectionary 1678
Uncial 0238 Lectionary 1739
Uncial 0239 Lectionary 1994
Uncial 0260 Lectionary 2210
Lectionaries 1993 and 1605 are trilingual manuscripts:

Lectionary 1993 – Coptic, Greek, and Arabic

Lectionary 1605 – Greek, Coptic, and Arabic

See also
Coptic (disambiguation)
Coptic language
Coptic literature
Coptic Orthodox Church

Coptic manuscripts

List of the Coptic New Testament manuscripts

Old Testament fragment (Naples, Biblioteca Vittorio Emanuele III, I B 18)

Other versions

Syriac versions of the Bible

Slavic translations of the Bible

Notes
1. For another variants of this verse see: Textual variants in the First Epistle of John.

References
1. Swete, Henry Barclay (1902). An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek. Cambridge:
Macmillan and Co. p. 106.
2. The Anchor Bible Dictionary (Doubleday 1992) Volume 1, 766-767
3. Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose; Edward Miller (1894). A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of
the New Testament. 1 (4 ed.). London: George Bell & Sons. pp. 127–128.
4. E. C. Amélineau, Fragments coptes du Nouveau Testament dans le dialecte thébain (https://archi
ve.org/stream/recueildetravaux05masp#page/n117/mode/2up), Recueil de travaux relatifs à la
philologie, V (1884), pp. 105-139.
5. ZÄS XXIV (1886), 41-56, 103-114; XXV (1887), 42-57, 100-110, 125-135; XXVI (1888), 96-105.
6. George Horner, The Coptic Version of the New Testament in the Southern Dialect, otherwise
called Sahidic and Thebaic, 7 vols., (1911-1924; repr. Osnabrück: 1969).
7. Eberhard Nestle, Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the Greek New Testament, Oxford 1901,
p. 135.
8. Eberhard Nestle, Erwin Nestle, Barbara Aland and Kurt Aland (eds), Novum Testamentum
Graece, 26th edition, (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1991), 41.
9. The Greek New Testament, ed. K. Aland, A. Black, C. M. Martini, B. M. Metzger, and A. Wikgren,
in cooperation with INTF, United Bible Societies, 3rd edition, (Stuttgart 1983), p. 256.
10. Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (Deutsche
Bibelgesellschaft: Stuttgart 2001), p. 114.
11. NA26, p. 164.
12. Philip W. Comfort & David P. Barrett, The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts
(Tyndale House Publishers: Wheaton 2001), p. 551.
13. Bruce M. Metzger, The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission and
Limitations, Clarendon Press: Oxford 1977, p. 136.
14. NA26, p. 282
15. UBS3, p. 524.
16. UBS3, p. 616.
17. William H. Willis, "The New Collections of Papyri at the University of Mississippi", Proceedings of
the IX International Congress of Papyrology, (Oslo, 1961), pp. 382-289.
18. Herbert Thompson, The New Biblical Texts in the Dialect of Upper Egypt, (London, 1912).
19. James M. Robinson, The Pachomian Monastic Library at the Chester Beatty Library and the
Bibliothèque Bodmer, in: Manuscripts of the Middle East 5 (1990-1991) (http://islamicmanuscript
s.info/reference/articles/Robinson-1990-mme5-Pachomian.PDF), p. 40.
20. Eberhard Nestle, Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the Greek New Testament, Oxford 1901,
p. 134.
21. Bruce M. Metzger, The Early Versions of the New Testament, Oxford University Press, 1977, p.
123.
22. R. Kasser, Papyrus Bodmer III. Evangile de Jean et Genese I-IV, 2 en bohairique, (CSCO clxxvii,
Scriptores coptici, XXV; Louvain, 1958).
23. Eberhard Nestle, Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the Greek New Testament, Oxford 1901,
pp. 133-134.
24. George Horner, The Coptic Version of the New Testament in the Northern Dialect, otherwise
called Memphitic and Bohairic, 4 vols. (1898-1905; repr. Osnabrück: 1969).
25. "1.3 Coptic Bible - The Schoyen Collection" (http://www.schoyencollection.com/Coptic.htm).
Retrieved 2018-03-14.
26. Hans-Martin Schenke, Apostelgeschichte 1, 1 - 15, 3 Im Mittelaegyptischen Dialekt des
Koptischen (Codex Glazier), TU 137, Berlin: Akademie Verlag 1991
27. UBS3, p. 823.
28. Bart D. Ehrman, The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1993, p.
60.

Further reading
Kurt Aland, and Barbara Aland, The Text of the New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical
Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism, 1995, Grand Rapids,
Michigan.
Augustini Ciasca, Sacrorum Bibliorum Fragmenta Copto-Sahidica (https://archive.org/stream/sacr
orumbiblioru01cias#page/n5/mode/2up) Romae 1885.
W. E. Crum (1905). Catalogue of the Coptic manuscripts in the British Museum (https://archive.or
g/stream/catalogueofcopti00brituoft#page/ii/mode/2up). London: British Museum.
Alla Ivanovna Elanskai︠a︡, The Literary Coptic manuscripts in the A.S. Pushkin State Fine Arts
Museum in Moscow (https://books.google.com/books?id=U_z0L0dM-AoC&pg=PA397&lpg=PA39
7&dq=#v=onepage&q&f=false), BRILL, 1994, pp. 397–472.
Bruce M. Metzger, The Early Versions of the New Testament, Clarendon Press, Oxford 1977,
pp. 99–152.
Bruce M. Metzger, Bart D. Ehrman, The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption
and Restoration, Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 110–115.
"Translations" The Oxford Companion to the Bible.
Franz-Jürgen Schmitz, Gerd Mink, Liste der Koptischen Handschriften des Neuen Testaments. I,
Die sahidischen Handschriften der Evangelien (https://books.google.com/books?id=moIpeAsWm
aoC&printsec=frontcover&lr=0#PPP1,M1) (Berlin and New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1991), vol. 1,
part 1.
Franz-Jürgen Schmitz, Gerd Mink, Liste der koptischen Handschriften des neuen Testaments (htt
ps://books.google.com/books?id=MpoTBk7QMJMC&printsec=frontcover), Walter de Gruyter,
 1991, vol. 1, part 2, (pp. 1279) ISBN 3-11-013015-7, ISBN 978-3-11-013015-7
Frederic Wisse, The Coptic Versions of the New Testament, in. The Text of the New Testament in
Contemporary Research, ed. Bart D. Ehrman and Michael W. Holmes, William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Company, Grand Rapids 1995, pp. 131–141.
Henri Munier, Manuscrits coptes (https://archive.org/stream/manuscritscoptes00muni#page/n5/m
ode/2up) 1916.
Sir Herbert Thompson (1908). The Coptic (Sahidic) version of certain Books of the Old
Testament: from a papyrus in the British Museum (https://archive.org/details/copticsahidicver00th
omuoft). Oxford University Press.
Sir Herbert Thompson (1913). The new biblical papyrus, a Sahidic version of Deuteronomy,
Jonah, and Acts of the Apostles from MS.Or. 7594 of the British Museum: notes and a collation (h
ttps://archive.org/details/newbiblicalpapyr00thomuoft).
Wolfgang Kosack, Novum Testamentum Coptice. Neues Testament, Bohairisch, ediert von
Wolfgang Kosack. Novum Testamentum, Bohairice, curavit Wolfgang Kosack. / Wolfgang Kosack.
neue Ausgabe, Christoph Brunner, Basel 2014. ISBN 978-3-906206-04-2.

External links
Online Coptic Version of The New Testament

Horner: The Coptic Version of the New Testament in the Northern Dialect, otherwise called
Memphitic and Bohairic.
Vol. 1 (https://archive.org/stream/copticversionofn01horn) Ⲙⲁⲧⲑⲉⲟⲥ, Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ/ Vol. 2 (https://archiv
e.org/stream/copticversionofn02horn) Ⲗⲟⲩⲕⲁⲥ, Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ (1898), Vol. 3 (https://archive.org/stream/
copticversionofn03horn) Ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ/ Vol. 4 (https://archive.org/stream/copticversionofn04horn)
Ⲕⲁⲑⲟⲗⲓⲕⲟⲛ ⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ, Ⲡⲣⲁⳉⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲛ ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲛ ⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲛ, Ⲁⲡⲟⲅⲁⲗⲩⲙⲯⲓⲥ (1905)
Horner: The Coptic Version of the New Testament in the Southern Dialect, otherwise called
Sahidic and Thebaic.
Vol. 1 (https://books.google.com/books?id=nKx0AgAAQBAJ) Ⲙⲁⲑⲑⲁⲓⲟⲥ, Ⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ/ Vol. 2 (https://ar
chive.org/stream/copticversionofn02hornuoft) Ⲗⲟⲩⲕⲁ/ Vol. 3 (https://archive.org/stream/copticversi
onofn03hornuoft) Ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ (1911), Vol. 4
(https://archive.org/stream/copticversionofn04hornuoft)/ Vol. 5 (https://archive.org/stream/copticve
rsionofn05hornuoft) Ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ (1920), Vol. 6 (https://archive.org/stream/copticversionofn06hornuoft)
Ⲛⲉⲡⲣⲁⳉⲓⲥ ⲛⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ (1922), Vol. 7 (https://archive.org/stream/copticversionofn07hornuoft) incl.
Ⲁⲡⲟⲕⲁⲗⲩⲯⲓⲥ (1924)

Sortable articles

"Coptic Papyri at the Heidelberger" (http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~gv0/Papyri/P.Heid.Kopt.

_Uebersicht.html).
"At the Encyclopedia of Textual Criticism" (http://www.skypoint.com/members/waltzmn/Versions.ht
ml#Coptic).
"Coptic Bible Resources" (http://alinsuciu.com/2011/10/21/coptic-bible-resources/).
Coptic Wikisource (̀ⲪⲂⲓⲕⲓⲡ ̇ⲅⲏ) Proposal
̀ⲪⲂⲓⲕⲓⲡ ̇ⲅⲏ (Coptic Wikisource) Development Project, currently in the Multilingual Wikisource.

"Assorted Images of Coptic Manuscripts" (http://www.biblical-data.org/coptic/coptic_MSS.html).

A Few Notes Concerning Mr. Joseph Warren Wells' Edition of the Sahidic and Bohairic Texts of
the New Testament (http://www.biblical-data.org/coptic/Wells_text.pdf)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bible_translations_into_Coptic&oldid=1017499713"

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