Majuscule

Majuscule is a term used in palaeography (the study of ancient writing) to describe a style of script.

 

Definition of Majuscule

Majuscule refers to a script style in which all the letters are large, separate, and generally the same height, written as if contained between two parallel, imaginary horizontal lines.

• Capital Letters: It is essentially the ancient form of writing in uppercase or capital letters.
• Contrast with Minuscule: It is the direct opposite of minuscule script, which uses smaller, cursive (running-hand) letters that have ascenders (parts of letters that go above the line, like the top of 'h') and descenders (parts that go below the line, like the tail of 'g').

 

Majuscule in Biblical Manuscripts

In New Testament textual criticism, the term Majuscule is closely associated with two main types of early manuscripts:

Script Type	Description	Time Period (Approx.)	Writing Material
Papyri	The very earliest fragments (2nd-4th centuries) are written in an informal, rough form of majuscule script, often referred to as documentary hand or book hand.	2nd – 4th Century CE	Papyrus
Uncials	A more formal, beautiful, and rounded type of majuscule script, where the letters are carefully written. The most famous early complete codices are written in this script.	4th – 9th Century CE	Vellum/Parchment

 

Key Characteristics

• Lack of Spacing: Majuscule script in early manuscripts was typically written in scriptio continua, meaning there were no spaces between words and no punctuation.
• Age Indicator: The use of majuscule script generally ceased around the 9th or 10th century CE, when it was gradually replaced by the quicker and more efficient minuscule script. Therefore, any manuscript written in majuscule script is almost always older than any written in minuscule script.
• Famous Examples: The "Great Codices" are all Majuscule/Uncials:
• Codex Sinaiticus (aleph)
• Codex Vaticanus (B)
• Codex Alexandrinus (A)

 

In short, when scholars refer to early Greek New Testament manuscripts as Majuscules or Uncials, they are referring to the earliest, most important, and often largest manuscripts, written entirely in capital letters.