The Key to Deciphering γυμνοί: A Journey Through Paleographic Analysis

The Initial Inquiry

On April 28, 2024, I reached out to Alexandros Alexakis, a renowned expert in Byzantine paleography, seeking his insights on a critical line from the Letter to Theodore. Specifically, I asked him to determine whether the final letter of the word in question was an iota or a sigma. His prompt and straightforward response set the stage for a deeper investigation into the manuscript's authenticity.

Alexakis’s Response

Alexakis's initial assessment was unequivocal:

"I believe the answer is simple, and indeed the word in question is 'γυμνοί' with an iota at the end and a large acute accent over it, which merely appears to be connected to the long and calligraphic capital iota of the word 'Ἰάκωβος' in the line above. Observing the rest of the letter, it seems that the writer tends to place large accents slightly to the right of the accented vowel. Therefore, the reading 'γυμνοί' is correct. If it were 'γυμνός,' the accent would be clearly above the omicron."

Consistent Findings

Alexakis’s observations aligned with those of other experts I consulted. Responses consistently supported the reading of "γυμνοί" due to the placement of the accent on the final letter, a distinctive feature in the manuscript.

Further Consultation with Georgakopoulos

Following Alexakis’s suggestion, I consulted Dimitrios Georgakopoulos, another expert in Byzantine manuscripts from the University of Ioannina. Georgakopoulos echoed the earlier findings but sought additional context about the manuscript and its author. He highlighted the importance of examining the entire manuscript to assess the consistency of accent placement.

The Importance of Consistency

Elias Valiakos of the University of Thessaly also emphasized the manuscript’s consistent accent placement:

"In this particular manuscript, the author does not deviate from the accented letter as happens in other Byzantine manuscripts. Here, the accent is marked only on the vowel that is accented. For example, καὶ, Ἰωάννης, τὸ. In earlier manuscripts of the Byzantine era, the accent shifted by one letter and was not always marked on the accented letter. Therefore, indeed, based on the accent, I would say γυμνοὶ γυμνῷ."

A Deeper Analysis

Georgakopoulos, intrigued by the manuscript’s consistency, requested a comprehensive compilation of images illustrating occurrences of certain letters and accents. His detailed analysis focused on the author’s unique ligature for "νος" compared to "νοι." He noted:

"The different writing of 'νος,' as shown by the comparative study, I think leaves no doubt that it refers to 'γυμνοί' (gymnoi - naked)."

Developing Figure 1

Based on these expert insights, I developed Figure 1, a detailed graphical representation of all instances of "-νος" and "-νοι" in the manuscript. This visual aid confirmed that the scribe used a distinct ligature for "νος" and a different formation for "νοι." The comparative study reinforced the conclusion that the word in question was "γυμνοί."

Conclusion

The paleographic analysis, supported by expert opinions and detailed examination of the manuscript, strongly indicates that the word on the 67th line of the Letter to Theodore is "γυμνοί" and not "γυμνός." This finding challenges many of the forgery theories centered around Morton Smith and shifts the narrative away from a homoerotic interpretation.

The journey through this detailed analysis highlights the importance of consistency in paleographic studies and the value of expert collaboration. By meticulously comparing the scribe’s writing patterns, we have taken a significant step toward resolving one of the most contentious debates in biblical scholarship.

The insights gained from this analysis not only underscore the manuscript's authenticity but also pave the way for future studies in the field of paleography. With each discovery, we move closer to a deeper understanding of historical texts and their true origins.