Cambridge University 'hope' for biblical manuscript bid

Cambridge University has said an appeal to raise £1.1 million (U$1.8 million) to buy an early biblical manuscript it has held for 30 years is "progressing well", reports the BBC.

The Codex Zacynthius, which dates back to the 6th or 7th century, has been in the university's library since 1984. Now its owner – the Bible Society, in Swindon – is offering the manuscript for sale in order to raise money. Anne Jarvis, university librarian, said they were hopeful of raising the money before a 28 February deadline.

The university’s Dr Ben Outhwaite said the manuscript was "unique" and "must be in the top 20 of New Testament manuscripts". The university said Codex Zacynthius was a palimpsest – "a manuscript from which text has been scraped or washed off so it can be used again". The pages are made of treated animal hide and it is believed they were first used in the 6th or 7th century when inscribed in Greek with a portion of the gospel of Luke.
Full report on the BBC site