Minuscule 81, or α162 is a Greek minusculemanuscript of the New Testament, on a parchment. It is dated by a colophon to the year 1044. Formerly it was labelled by 61a and 61p. The manuscript is lacunose. It was adapted for liturgical use.
The Greek text of the codex, is a representative of the Alexandrian text-type, with some the Byzantine readings. It is one of the most important of all minuscule manuscripts. It was only one minuscule manuscript examined by Constantin von Tischendorf. Aland placed it in "at least Category II". It has been called "the best minuscule witness to Acts" or "the most important minuscule copy of the Acts". F. H. A. Scrivener stated "its value is shown not so much by the readings in which it stands alone, as by agreement with the oldest uncial copies, where their testimonies coincide". In Acts 16:10 it reads θεος along with P74, Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Vaticanus, Ephraemi, E, 044, 33, 181, 326, 630, 945, 1739, ar, e, l, vg, copbo, geo; other reading κυριος, is supported by D, P, 049, 056, 0142, 88, 104, 330, 436, 451, 614, 629, 1241, 1505, 1877, 2127, 2412, 2492, 2495, Byz, c, d, gig, syrp,h, copsa. It does not contain text of Acts 28:29. In Romans 8:1 it reads Ιησου κατα σαρκα περιπατουσιν, for Ιησου. The reading of the manuscript is supported by A, Db, Ψ, 629, 2127, vg. The Byzantine manuscripts read Ιησου μη κατα σαρκα περιπατουσιν αλλα κατα πνευμα. In Romans 13:9 it has additional phrase ου ψευδομαρτυρησεις, the reading is supported by the manuscripts: א 048 104 365 1506 a b vgcl copbo. Romans 16:24 is omitted as in Codex Sinaiticus A B C 5263623 1739 1838 1962 2127 itz vgww copsa,bo ethro Origenlat). In 1 Corinthians 2:1 it reads μαρτυριον along with B D G P Ψ 33 104 181 326 330 451 614 629 630 1241 1739 1877 1881 1962 1984 2127 2492 2495 Byz Lect it vg syrh copsaarm eth. Other manuscripts read μυστηριον or σωτηριον. In 1 Corinthians 7:5 it reads τη προσευχη along with 11, 46, א*, A, B, C, D, F, G, P, Ψ, 6, 33, 104, 181, 629, 630, 1739, 1877, 1881, 1962, it vg, cop, arm, eth. Other manuscripts read τη νηστεια και τη προσευχη or τη προσευχη και νηστεια. In 1 Timothy 3:16 it has textual variant θεός ἐφανερώθη , against ὃς ἐφανερώθη supported by Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus, Ephraemi, Boernerianus, 33, 365, 442, 2127, ℓ599. In 2 Timothy 4:10 it reads Γαλλιαν, along with Sinaiticus C 104 326 436; other manuscript read Γαλατιαν or Γαλιλαιαν. In Hebrews 8:11 it reads πλησιον for πολιτην, the reading is supported by Codex Porphyrianus, 104, 436, 629, 630, and 1985. In 1 John 5:6 it has textual variant δι' ὕδατος καὶ πνεύματος καὶ αἵματος together with the manuscripts: Codex Porphyrianus, 88, 442, 630, 915, 2492, arm, eth Bart D. Ehrman identified it as Orthodox corrupt reading.
History
According to the colophon, it was written on April 20, 1044, by a scribe named John at the request of another monk, named Jakob. The codex was discovered by Constantin von Tischendorf in Egypt in 1853, who took 57 leaves of the codex with himself. He sold it to the Trustees of the British Museum in 1854. Now it is located in the British Library in London. 225 leaves are still in Alexandria, where they are held in the Patriarchat Library. Formerly it was labelled by 61a and 61p. In 1908 C. R. Gregory gave for it number 81. Tischendorf collated and published text of it in 1854. C. R. Gregory saw it in 1883.
