The Meaning of Εὐαγγέλιον in the Inscriptiones of the Canonical Gospels

Abstract

The most common form of the inscriptiones of the canonical gospels in the vast majority of Greek manuscripts is eὐαγγέλιον κατά + personal name in the accusative. In a very few uncial manuscripts containing all four Gospels, the shorter form κατά + personal name in the accusative occurs. In trying to determine the meaning of eὐαγγέλιον in these inscriptiones , an important consideration is determining the approximate date when they were added to the text of the Gospels. Some maintain that the inscriptiones were added to the Gospels as early as the end of the first century or beginning of the second, while others argue that this paratextual addition occurred late in the second century. Keywords:eὐαγγέλιον; κατά; canonical gospels; Greek manuscripts; inscriptiones