The _apparatus criticus_ of the New Testament consists, from one point
of view, entirely of MSS.; but these MSS. may be divided into three
groups: (A) Greek MSS., which in practice are known "The MSS," (B) MSS.
of versions in other languages representing translations from the Greek,
(C) MSS. of other writings whether in Greek or other languages which
contain quotations from the New Testament.
(A) _Greek MSS._--These may be divided into classes according to style
of writing, material, or contents. The first method distinguishes
between uncial or majuscule, and cursive or minuscule; the second
between papyrus, vellum or parchment, and paper (for further details see
MANUSCRIPT and PALAEOGRAPHY); and the third distinguishes mainly between
Gospels, Acts and Epistles (with or without the Apocalypse), New
Testaments (the word in this connexion being somewhat broadly
interpreted), lectionaries and commentaries.
Quite accurate statistics on this subject are scarcely attainable. Von
Soden's analysis of numbers, contents and date may be tabulated as
follows, but it must be remembered that it reckons many small fragments
as separate MSS., especially in the earlier centuries. It is also
necessary to add that there is one small scrap of papyrus of the 3rd
century containing a few verses of the 4th Gospel.
[Illustration: PLATE I.
FIG. 1.--_Codex Vaticanus (From facsimile ed. by J. Cozza-Luzi_,
1889-1890.)
FIG. 2.--_Codex Sinaiticus (From facsimile published by Palaeographical
Soc._ 1873.)