Arabic Gospels of 1684

Egypt · 1684 · Arabic · W.592

The four Gospels in Arabic, copied in Egypt in 1684 — the year 7192 from the creation of the world, as the colophon counts — by Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi, most likely a Coptic monk. About fifty pictures are set into the text where each story is told, painted on gold in a manner close to the icons of the time, and the goatskin binding is as old as the book.

All pages of the manuscript at OPenn

10 pages

Pages

fol. 3a · Matthew holding his Gospel under a red and gold arch; his name is written in Greek letters, as on an icon.Walters Art Museum · W.592 · CC0
fol. 3b · The first page of Matthew under a painted headpiece and a row of flowers: the title in red, then in black the genealogy of Jesus. Arabic is read from right to left.Walters Art Museum · W.592 · CC0
Matt 1:1This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
fol. 41a · Jesus takes Peter by the hand as he sinks beside the boat; the Arabic lines above and below tell the story.Walters Art Museum · W.592 · CC0
Matt 14:31Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
fol. 85b · Mark holds his Gospel against a gold arch on a green ground, before the Gospel of Mark begins.Walters Art Museum · W.592 · CC0
fol. 137b · The Annunciation: Gabriel, holding a staff, greets Mary, who stands by a reading desk; a ray comes down from heaven in the corner.Walters Art Museum · W.592 · CC0
Luke 1:31Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
fol. 166a · Before the feeding of the five thousand: Jesus speaks to the disciples beside a basket of bread, with the crowd waiting on the hillside.Walters Art Museum · W.592 · CC0
Luke 9:16Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
fol. 192b · The entry into Jerusalem: Jesus on a white donkey, a man in the tree, a boy laying a cloak on the road, and a figure at the city gate.Walters Art Museum · W.592 · CC0
Luke 19:35–36Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it. As He rode along, the people spread their cloaks on the road.
fol. 212a · The opening of John: the title under a painted headpiece, John writing on a long scroll, and below him the first words of his Gospel.Walters Art Museum · W.592 · CC0
John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
fol. 215a · The wedding at Cana: the bride and groom sit crowned at the table, Jesus beside them, and six water jars stand in front.Walters Art Museum · W.592 · CC0
John 2:7Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.
fol. 245a · The Last Supper: the disciples around the table, and one of them leaning against Jesus, as John’s Gospel tells it.Walters Art Museum · W.592 · CC0
John 13:23One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.