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CONTENTS OF INTRODUCTION
| PAR. | PAGES | |
| 297. | The primitiveness of text thus established for the common source of אB is compatible with either (1) the primitiveness and consequent extreme remoteness of the actual common source, or (2) transcription from a primitive MS, or (3) inheritance from a singularly incorrupt ancestry | 220 |
| 298. | But (b) the two latter alternatives are excluded by the second kind of genealogical considerations; that is, each MS is shown by readings having a small very ancient accessory attestation to contain a separate text of its own, at once analogous in character to the other and distinct from it; | 221 |
| 299. | these two separate texts being likewise perceptible in ternary variations: | 221 |
| 300. | so that it is unnatural to take the text of אB as a third independent text rather than as representing the coincidences of the independent texts of א and of Β. | 222 |
| 301. | Hence א and Β are descended through separate and divergent ancestries from a common original not far from the autographs | 222 |
| 302. | Readings of אB are virtually readings of a lost MS above two centuries older. The strong presumption of relative purity due to this high antiquity is confirmed by Internal Evidence of Groups | 223 |
| 303. | Absolute purity is negatived by Western non-interpolations, possible concurrences of א and Β in wrong Western readings in St Paul, and 'primitive' errors, besides accidental coincidences in e. g. itacistic errors. With these exceptions, readings of אB should be accepted when not contravened by strong internal evidence, and then only treated as doubtful | 224 |
| 304. | Illustrative examples of good but prima facie difficult readings of אB | 226 |
| D. 305—307. Binary uncial combinations containing Β and א respectively | 227—230 | |
| 305. | Peculiar excellence of the binary combinations BL, BC, BT &c. | 227 |
| 306. | Exceptional and variable character of BD2 in the Pauline Epistles | 228 |
| 307. | Questionable character of most binary combinations containing א | 229 |
| Ε. 308—325. Singular and subsingular readings of B | 230—246 | |
| 308. | Definition of ' singular ' and ' subsingular ' readings | 230 |
| 309. | The authority of the singular readings of any document variable according to the number and genealogical relations of all the extant documents: in a complex pedigree no presumption against singular readings of a document known to have an exceptional ancestry | 230 |
| 310. | Separation of the singular readings of the proper text of a document, due to its ancestry, from its mere 'individualisms' originating with the scribe | 231 |
| 311. | Use of the determination of characteristic individualisms, whether clerical or mental, in the examination of singular readings | 232 |
| 312. | Individualisms of Β chiefly slight mechanical inaccuracies: | 233 |
