Coptic Version of the New Testament

This version in the Northern Dialect is also known as Memphitic or Bohairic. The work was undertaken at the suggestion of Dr. Wallis Budge, Keeper of the Egyptian Department of the British Museum. The original idea was to ascertain the character of the MSS., and to print a text with various readings of ten or twelve authorities. The process of collating MSS. began in 1890. Printing began in 1894.

The object of the translation was to supply the English reader with some knowledge of the Greek text which was translated by the Egyptians of the North-Western province, whose dialect had survived to the time of this work in the liturgical books of the Coptic church. This being the main object, it was also intended by literal treatment to give an idea of the peculiarities of the language and the method of the version.

Care has been taken with the vocabulary, yet no claim is made to secure and fix absolutely the best meaning of Coptic words in English. The translated word must be regarded as a token for a Greek word. The Revised Version was used at times as an aid.

The preface gives details of the collating of the manuscripts. The introduction gives details of the text, the translation, and the description of the manuscripts. Both the Coptic and the English have been printed.

Coptic is the Hamitic language of the Copts, the latest form of the ancient Egyptian: a dead language since 1500 but still the liturgical language of the Coptic Church. (Standard Dictionary of the English Language, vol. 1. Page 287.)

It contains the New Testament in four volumes.

John 1: 1 – 3
In (the) beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word: this (one) was from beginning with God: all things became through him; and without him not anything became of that which became.

The following comparative studies include this version:

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