I’m not only catching up on this blog, but I’m catching up on a pile of papers, exams, and bachelor’s theses that I have to grade! Fortunately, the weather looks like it will cooperate for me to be doing some of this on the balcony today.
Later, I will add the highlights from my travels to Tanzania and giving a message in Swedish, but for now, I will post a recent event.
On Thursday, my New Testament colleague, Jim, and I went to a special event for biblical scholars at the Uppsala University library, the Carolina Rediviva. There was a scholar in town from the Copenhagen, and with a local scholar, we looked at some of the ancient Greek manuscripts at the library and on loan to the library. We had special VIP tags that allowed us back into the recesses of this beautiful 1841 building.
If you want to check out the digitizing of manuscripts in Sweden, here’s the link: https://www.manuscripta.se/
It was fascinating, but unfortunately, I couldn’t keep the manuscripts straight. It is a nice problem to have, due to seeing several together at one time.
The most famous manuscript in Uppsala, the Silver Bible, from the 6th century, is currently not on display, as the library museum is undergoing renovations.
Our host also provided a link to recent news about returning one of the ancient manuscripts that was at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
http://myocn.net/ninth-century-bible-returns-greek-monastery/
It was interesting, but I’m glad that my scholarship allows me to dialogue with others in order to be of service to the global Church.
With blessings (and off to grading),
Beth
Before the trip, I would not have been interested in Byzantine anything. But since being in areas where the guide was very knowledgeable, I can visualize the land areas of where these may have been written. God bless the Greek Orthodox for preserving and caring about the Word so that generations to come ‘may know’. (Ps. 78)