ABSTRACT This article examines the formatting of the Lukan genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:23–38) in Greek New Testament manuscripts and its impact on textual transmission. Unlike the continuous layout used in most manuscripts, many Greek copies arrange the genealogy in columns. This phenomenon led to significant copying errors, affecting nearly ten per cent of the extant manuscripts of Luke. The column format was initially conceived as a functional choice to aid copyists and readers, but ultimately contributed to textual variation. By analysing both codicological and textual evidence, this study offers new insights into the role of page layout in the transmission of Luke’s Gospel.
Andrew J. Patton (Wed,) studied this question.