Uncial 098: A Grottaferrata Fragment of 2 Corinthians
Uncial 098: A Grottaferrata Fragment of 2 Corinthians is the independently registered Greek New Testament witness GA 098, controlled by its manuscript number, present shelfmark, physical form, and surviving biblical contents.
- Artifact date
- Seventh century AD
- Findspot
- Preserved at the Greek abbey of Grottaferrata; its earlier copying place and route are not documented
- Current location
- Biblioteca della Badia Greca, Grottaferrata, Codex Cryptoferratensis
What archaeologists can actually examine
one parchment leaf fragment, preserving 2 Corinthians 11:9–19, including Paul’s refusal to burden Corinth and his ironic response to rival claims. The surviving writing surface uses one parchment leaf about 22.2 by 16 centimeters written in Greek majuscule.
A controlled physical identity
GA 098 and Biblioteca della Badia Greca, Grottaferrata, Codex Cryptoferratensis identify this witness independently of broad manuscript names or subject matter.
The writing surface is evidence
one parchment leaf fragment, preserving 2 Corinthians 11:9–19, including Paul’s refusal to burden Corinth and his ironic response to rival claims. The surviving writing surface uses one parchment leaf about 22.2 by 16 centimeters written in Greek majuscule.
Directly preserved Scripture
The extant leaves physically preserve 2 Corinthians 11:9–19; the connection is textual and material rather than merely thematic.
The limits remain visible
This is a seventh century ad witness rather than an autograph or an object from the events narrated in 2 Corinthians 11:9–19. Only one parchment leaf fragment survive, the stated date is palaeographic, and the original copying center and early ownership are not fully documented. Broken margins, erased writing, later reuse, or lacunae must not be silently reconstructed as surviving text.
Follow the evidence from discovery to debate
Move through the find in a deliberate order: establish its provenance, examine the surviving object, place it in time, and then weigh the scholarly interpretation.
How the find came to light
Preserved at the Greek abbey of Grottaferrata; its earlier copying place and route are not documented. The Gregory–Aland number GA 098 and the repository designation Biblioteca della Badia Greca, Grottaferrata, Codex Cryptoferratensis control identity independently of generic labels such as “uncial fragment.” Modern custody does not establish ancient provenance, so this dossier separates find or collection history, likely copying context, publication, and present location. The record was also checked against the live Watchman 33 inventory by GA number, shelfmark, contents, and source URLs before selection. Digital photographs extend access, but the parchment itself remains the archaeological object.
What you are looking at
one parchment leaf fragment, preserving 2 Corinthians 11:9–19, including Paul’s refusal to burden Corinth and his ironic response to rival claims. The surviving writing surface uses one parchment leaf about 22.2 by 16 centimeters written in Greek majuscule. Material, ruling, lineation, ink, letter formation, corrections, marginal systems, bilingual writing, and reuse are evidence alongside the copied words. The selected image depicts GA 098 itself, not a generic manuscript. It represents one photographed side or leaf and must not be mistaken for every missing page of the original codex.
Where it belongs in history
The display date “Seventh century AD” follows current registry and palaeographic assessment. Letter forms, ruling, page design, material, ink, and comparison with related hands can support a range, but they do not supply an exact calendar year. This manuscript directly preserves 2 Corinthians 11:9–19 in the period when it was copied. That is evidence for the transmission and use of those texts, not proof that the physical leaf was present when the narrated events occurred.
Consensus, questions, and debate
GA 098 contributes a physically controlled witness to the textual history of 2 Corinthians. Its readings are evaluated passage by passage against other Greek witnesses, early translations, patristic citations, scribal corrections, and the history of the codex. A text-type or Aland-category label summarizes patterns; it does not decide every reading or rank the manuscript’s theological value. The INTF registry controls the international manuscript identity, CSNTM provides an independent manuscript catalog and images where available, and published bibliography locates editions and collations.
The biblical record beside the artifact
The surviving parchment directly preserves 2 Corinthians 11:9–19. It materially witnesses the copying, reading, organization, and transmission of these biblical passages in seventh century ad.
2 Corinthians 11:9–19
9And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all [things] I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [so] will I keep [myself].
10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
16I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
17That which I speak, I speak [it] not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye [yourselves] are wise.
A responsible historical conclusion
Uncial 098: A Grottaferrata Fragment of 2 Corinthians makes textual transmission visible at human scale. Its surviving surface shows how a biblical book was copied, formatted, corrected, translated, read, erased, or preserved. The connected Bible pages let readers move from the object to the precise passages it contains, while stable registry and repository identifiers make the claims independently checkable. Its fragmentary condition is instructive rather than embarrassing: confidence rests on comparing bounded evidence, not on asking one leaf to carry more history than it preserves.
Authoritative sources
Institutional catalogs, excavation reports, and academic publications let you examine the evidence beyond this summary.
NT.VMR manuscript workspace: GA 098
University of Münster INTFOfficial registry workspace used to confirm the identity, contents, date, and current repository of GA 098.
Gregory, Die griechischen Handschriften des Neuen Testament
Internet Archive scan of C. R. GregoryHistorical manuscript catalog used to check the Cryptoferratensis designation, physical description, and early catalog history of GA 098.
A Bibliography of Greek New Testament Manuscripts
Cambridge University PressScholarly bibliographic framework for tracing published catalogs, facsimiles, collations, and textual studies of registered Greek New Testament manuscripts.
Uncial 098: A Grottaferrata Fragment of 2 Corinthians image and rights record
Wikimedia CommonsSource page for the authentic GA 098 manuscript image used here; the historical manuscript image is marked public domain.
The surviving 2 Corinthians leaf known as Uncial 098 · Historical manuscript image via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
View the image source and license