Scripture as Artefact

This chapter will examine the extant scriptural remains of the early Christians in order to elucidate the context in which early Christian Scriptures were produced, read, and interpreted. To this end, it will consider various issues relating to the earliest extant Christian Scriptures such as their physical formats (scrolls, codices, etc.), mise-en-page, literary conventions and extra-textual features, production (where and by whom), as well as their geographical distribution and circulation. By treating these early manuscripts as artefacts this chapter seeks to shed additional light on the early Christian interpretation of Scripture.