The layout of early Latin commentaries on the Pauline Epistles and their oldest manuscripts

This article examines the layout of the earliest Latin commentaries on Paul, with a particular focus on the treatment of the biblical text. Two types of evidence are used: the physical format of the oldest surviving manuscripts and internal evidence about the structure of the commentary. After an examination of the evidence for quotation prac- tice from the fourth to the sixth century, the following authors are considered: Marius Victorinus, Ambrosiaster, Jerome, Augustine, the Budapest Anonymous Commentary, Pelagius, Rufinus’ translation of Origen and the Latin version of Theodore of Mopsuestia. Commentary manuscripts copied between the fifth and ninth centuries exhibit a variety of layouts, and provide evidence for the substitution of the biblical text, the loss of distinguishing features and even changes in format. Nevertheless, each work has a textual tradition which reflects characteristics of its structure and may offer indications of the possible original layout. The significance of the presentation should be taken into consideration in the creation and use of modern critical editions of these writings.