BEZAE Meaning and
Definition
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Bezae is a term that refers to the Codex Bezae, a celebrated manuscript of the New Testament written in Greek and Latin. It is a key source for textual criticism of the Bible, particularly the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The Codex Bezae is named after its discoverer, the Protestant scholar Theodore Beza, who obtained it in the late 16th century.
The word "bezae" commonly signifies this specific manuscript, which is known for its peculiar literary features, such as additional or variant passages, unusual word order, and distinctive Latinisms. It is believed to have been produced in the late 4th or early 5th century, possibly in the region of southern Gaul, near modern-day France.
The significance of the Codex Bezae lies in its contribution to the understanding and analysis of the biblical texts. Scholars rely on this ancient manuscript to compare and contrast its readings with other textual witnesses, aiming to reconstruct the original texts as accurately as possible.
Bezae, as a term, can be also used more broadly to refer to manuscripts or fragments that resemble the distinctive features of the Codex Bezae. These may include early translations of the New Testament or later copies of the codex itself. The term serves to categorize and differentiate these specific textual variants that resemble the style of the original Codex Bezae.
Etymology of BEZAE
The word "Bezae" originates from the Greek word "bezaios", which means "balanced" or "even". It refers to the famous Codex Bezae, a fifth-century manuscript of the New Testament written in Greek and Latin. The manuscript is named after Theodore Beza, a French Protestant theologian and scholar, who acquired it in the sixteenth century and made it known to the wider scholarly community. The etymology of the word "bezaios", however, is uncertain.
