The Codex Legionensis, designated l or 67 (in the Beuron system), is a 7th century Latin script of the Old and New Testament. The text, written on vellum, is in a fragmentary condition. In some parts it represents the Old Latin version, while follows Jerome's Vulgate in others. The codex is a palimpsest.[1]
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The text of the New Testament has survived on 40 leaves of the codex. The leaves have measures 37 by 24 cm. The text is written in 2 columns of 38-55 lines per page.[2] The text is written in a semi-uncial hand, in Visigothic characters. The fragments contain texts of James 4:4 - 1 Peter 3:14; 1 John 1:5 - 3 John 10; Acts 7:27-11:13; 14:21-17:25. It contains also a fragment of the Books of Maccabees.[3] The text of the codex represent a Vulgate with Old Latin elements, especially in the First Epistle of John.[1] The text is close to the Liber Comicus.[3] Te codex also contains the spurious text of the Comma Johanneum (1 John 5:7).[4] As it is a palimpsest, the text could be overwritten. The younger upper text contains a Rufinus' translation of Eusebius' Church history.[3] The whole book contains 275 leaves.[2]
F. H. A. Scrivener, Samuel Berger, and Bruce M. Metzger dated it to the 10th century.[5][1] Recently it was re-dated to the 7th century.[6] It was discovered by Rudolf Beer. It was examined and described by Samuel Berger [7][1] and the first collation of the codex was made in 1584 by Fr. Trugillo for Cardinal Carafa.[8] It is housed now in the Vatican Library (Lat 4859).[7] It was examined by Bonifatius Fischer and Thiele.[3] Fischer edited its text in 1963.[5] Currently it is housed at the Basilica of San Isidoro (15) at León.[3] The manuscript is cited in several critical texts of the Greek and Latin New Testament.[6]