Denison University Leaf 11
Otto Ege provided the following description for leaves from this manuscript:
Bible (Biblia Sacra Latina, Versio Vulgata). Italy; Middle 13th Century. Latin Text; Rotunda Gothic Script.
In 1217, St. Dominic, the founder of the order which bears his name, withdrew from France and settled in Italy. Here, in the next four and last years of his life, he founded sixty more chapters of the Dominican order. Many of the younger members of the order studied at the University of Bologna and, while there, produced a great number of these small portable Bibles, just as did their brothers at the University of Paris in France and the University of Oxford in England.
There was a difference in the art of the scriptoria in the various countries. In England and France the ideal of craftsmanship was very high, while at this time, in Italy, a rather casual attitude prevailed. In the 13th century, Italy was distraught by the long struggle between the papal and anti-imperialistic Guelphs and the autocratic and imperialistic Ghibellines. Little encouragement was given by either party to the arts. This leaf reveals, however, the skill and keen eyesight which were necessary for the writing of ten of these lines to the inch.
Size: 19.5 x 13 cm
Observations: This leaf's vellum is thin and supple, with minimal yellowing. It is lead-lined and includes blue, red, and black ink. Though not illuminated, this leaf includes decorative initials with flourishes, as well as red and blue book numbers and chapter names. Phrases are highlighted in red, which also marks the first letter of each sentence.
Text: 3 John 3-15; Jude (entire) (recto); prologue to Apocalypse and Apocalypse 1:1-2:7 (verso).
Denison Leaf 11 Recto
Denison University Leaf 11 Recto
Denison Leaf 11 Recto Transcription
[column A]
testimónium perhibéntibus veritáti tuæ, sicut tu in veritáte ámbulas. Majórem horum non hábeo grátiam, quam ut áudiam fílios meos in veritáte ambuláre. Caríssime, fidéliter facis quidquid operáris in fratres, et hoc in peregrínos, qui testimónium reddidérunt caritáti tuæ in conspéctu ecclésiæ: quos, benefáciens, dedúces digne Deo. Pro nómine enim ejus profécti sunt, nihil accipiéntes a géntibus. Nos ergo debémus suscípere hujúsmodi, ut cooperatóres simus veritátis. Scripsíssem fórsitan ecclésiæ: sed is qui amat primátum génere in eis, Diótrephes, non récipit nos: propter hoc si vénero, commonébo ejus ópera, quæ facit, verbis malígnis gárriens in nos: et quasi non ei ista suffíciant, neque ipse súscipit fratres: et eos qui suscípiunt, próhibet, et de ecclésia éjicit. Caríssime, noli imitári malum, sed quod bonum est. Qui benefácit, ex Deo est: qui malefácit, non vidit Deum. Demétrio testimónium rédditur ab ómnibus, et ab ipsa veritáte, sed et nos testimónium perhibémus: et nosti quóniam testimónium nostrum verum est. Multa hábui tibi scríbere: sed nólui per atraméntum et cálamum scríbere tibi. Spero autem prótinus te vidére, et os ad os loquémur. Pax tibi. Salútant te amíci. Salúta amícos nominátim.
Explicit epistola Iohanni. Incipit epistola Iudae apostoli.
Judas Jesu Christi servus, frater autem Jacóbi, his qui sunt in Deo Patre diléctis, et Christo Jesu conservátis, et vocátis. Misericórdia vobis, et pax, et cáritas adimpleátur. Caríssimi, omnem sollicitúdinem fáciens scribéndi vobis de commúni vestra salúte, necésse hábui scríbere vobis: déprecans supercertári semel tráditæ sanctis fídei. Subintroiérunt enim quidam hómines (qui olim præscrípti sunt in hoc judícium) ímpii, Dei nostri grátiam transferéntes in luxúriam, et solum Dominatórem, et Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum negántes. Commónere autem vos volo, sciéntes semel ómnia, quóniam Jesus pópulum de terra Ægýpti salvans, secúndo eos, qui non credidérunt, pérdidit: ángelos vero, qui non servavérunt suum principátum, sed dereliquérunt suum domicílium, in judícium magni diéi, vínculis ætérnis sub calígine reservávit. Sicut Sodóma, et Gomórrha, et finítimæ civitátes símili modo exfornicátæ, et abeúntes post carnem álteram, factæ sunt exémplum, ignis ætérni pœnam sustinéntes. Simíliter et hi carnem quidem máculant, dominatiónem autem spernunt, majestátem autem blas-
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-phémant. Cum Míchaël Archángelus cum diábolo dísputans altercarétur de Móysi córpore, non est ausus judícium inférre blasphémiæ: sed dixit: Ímperet tibi Dóminus. Hi autem quæcúmque quidem ignórant, blasphémant: quæcúmque autem naturáliter, tamquam muta animália, norunt, in his corrumpúntur. Væ illis, quia in via Cain abiérunt, et erróre Bálaam mercéde effúsi sunt, et in contradictióne Core periérunt! Hi sunt in épulis suis máculæ, convivántes sine timóre, semetípsos pascéntes, nubes sine aqua, quæ a ventis circumferéntur, árbores autumnáles, infructuósæ, bis mórtuæ, eradicátæ, fluctus feri maris, despumántes suas confusiónes, sídera errántia: quibus procélla tenebrárum serváta est in ætérnum. Prophetávit autem et de his séptimus ab Adam Enoch, dicens: Ecce venit Dóminus in sanctis míllibus suis fácere judícium contra omnes, et argúere omnes ímpios de ómnibus opéribus impietátis eórum, quibus ímpie égerunt, et de ómnibus duris, quæ locúti sunt contra Deum peccatóres ímpii. Hi sunt murmuratóres querulósi, secúndum desidéria sua ambulántes, et os eórum lóquitur supérba, mirántes persónas quæstus causa. Vos autem caríssimi, mémores estóte verbórum, quæ prædícta sunt ab apóstolis Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, qui dicébant vobis, quóniam in novíssimo témpore vénient illusóres, secúndum desidéria sua ambulántes in impietátibus. Hi sunt, qui ségregant semetípsos, animáles, Spíritum non habéntes. Vos autem caríssimi superædificántes vosmetípsos sanctíssimæ vestræ fídei, in Spíritu Sancto orántes, vosmetípsos in dilectióne Dei serváte, exspectántes misericórdiam Dómini nostri Jesu Christi in vitam ætérnam. Et hos quidem argúite judicátos: illos vero salváte, de igne rapiéntes. Áliis autem miserémini in timóre: odiéntes et eam, quæ carnális est, maculátam túnicam. Ei autem qui potens est vos conserváre sine peccáto et constitúere ante conspéctum glóriæ suæ immaculátos in exsultatióne in advéntu Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, soli Deo Salvatóri nostro, per Jesum Christum Dóminum nostrum, glória et magnificéntia, impérium et potéstas ante omne sǽculum, et nunc, et in ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Explicit epistola Iude apostoli. Incipit prologus in apocalyptum Iohannis apostolorum.
Denison Leaf 11 Recto Translation
[3 John 3-15]
3 I was exceedingly glad when the brethren came and gave testimony to the truth in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater grace than this, to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Dearly beloved, thou dost faithfully whatever thou dost for the brethren, and that for strangers, 6 Who have given testimony to thy charity in the sight of the church: whom thou shalt do well to bring forward on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 Because, for his name they went out, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow helpers of the truth. 9 I had written perhaps to the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, doth not receive us. 10 For this cause, if I come, I will advertise his works which he doth, with malicious words prating against us. And as if these things were not enough for him, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that do receive them he forbiddeth, and casteth out of the church. 11 Dearly beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doth good, is of God: he that doth evil, hath not seen God. 12 To Demetrius testimony is given by all, and by the truth itself, yea and we also give testimony: and thou knowest that our testimony is true. 13 I had many things to write unto thee: but I would not by ink and pen write to thee. 14 But I hope speedily to see thee, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.
Here ends the Letter of John. Here begins the letter of Jude the Apostle.
[Jude (entire)]
1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James: to them that are beloved in God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called. 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and charity be fulfilled. 3 Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men are secretly entered in, (who were written of long ago unto this judgment,) ungodly men, turning the grace of our Lord God into riotousness, and denying the only sovereign Ruler, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore admonish you, though ye once knew all things, that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, did afterwards destroy them that believed not: 6 And the angels who kept not their principality, but forsook their own habitation, he hath reserved under darkness in everlasting chains, unto the judgment of the great day. 7 As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. 8 In like manner these men also defile the flesh, and despise dominion, and blaspheme majesty. 9 When Michael the archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses, he durst not bring against him the judgment of railing speech, but said: The Lord command thee. 10 But these men blaspheme whatever things they know not: and what things soever they naturally know, like dumb beasts, in these they are corrupted. 11 Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain: and after the error of Balaam they have for reward poured out themselves, and have perished in the contradiction of Core. 12 These are spots in their banquets, feasting together without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water, which are carried about by winds, trees of the autumn, unfruitful, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own confusion; wandering stars, to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever. 14 Now of these Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying: Behold, the Lord cometh with thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to reprove all the ungodly for all the works of their ungodliness, whereby they have done ungodly, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against God. 16 These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking according to their own desires, and their mouth speaketh proud things, admiring persons for gain's sake. 17 But you, my dearly beloved, be mindful of the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 Who told you, that in the last time there should come mockers, walking according to their own desires in ungodlinesses. 19 These are they, who separate themselves, sensual men, having not the Spirit. 20 But you, my beloved, building yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto life everlasting. 22 And some indeed reprove, being judged: 23 But others save, pulling them out of the fire. And on others have mercy, in fear, hating also the spotted garment which is carnal. 24 Now to him who is able to preserve you without sin, and to present you spotless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 25 To the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and magnificence, empire and power, before all ages, and now, and for all ages of ages. Amen.
Here ends the letter of Jude the Apostle. Here begins the prologue to the apocalypse of John the Apostle.
