Minuscule 181 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), α 101 (Soden),^[1] is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century.^[2]

Formerly it was labelled by 40^a, 46^p, and 12^r.^[3] It has marginalia.

The codex contains the text of the Acts of the Apostles, Catholic epistles, and Pauline epistles with only one lacunae (Titus 3:3 – Philemon), on 169 elegant parchment leaves (size 25 cm by 19.1 cm).^[2][3] The Book of Revelation contained in this codex has been re-numbed Gregory-Aland 2919. The text is written in one column per page, in 26-32 lines per page.^[2]

The text is divided according to the κεφαλαια (chapters), whose numbers are given at the margin, and their τιτλοι (titles of chapters) at the top of the pages.^[3]

It contains Prolegomena, lectionary markings at the margin (for liturgical reading), subscriptions at the end of each book, with numbers of στιχοι, Menologion, and the Euthalian Apparatus.^[4] Book of Revelation was added in the 15th century, and has been re-numbered GA-2919.^[3]

The Greek text of the codex is a mixture of text-types in Acts and Catholic epistles.^[5] The Text of the Pauline epistles is a representative of the Western text-type.^[5] The text of the Apocalypse is a representative of the Byzantine. Aland placed it in Category V. The text of the rest of book Aland placed in Category III.^[6]

In Acts 7:18 it reads Εγυπτον for Αιγυπτον.^[7]

In Acts 12:25 it reads απο Ιερουσαλημ (from Jerusalem) along with D, Ψ, 436, 614, 2412, ℓ 147, ℓ 809, ℓ 1021, ℓ 1141, ℓ 1364, ℓ 1439, ar, d, gig, vg, Chrysostom; majority reads εις Ιερουσαλημ (to Jerusalem);^[8]

In Acts 16:10 it reads θεος along with P⁷⁴, Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Vaticanus, Ephraemi, E, 044, 33, 81, 326, 630, 945, 1739, ar, e, l, vg, cop^bo, geo; other reading κυριος, is supported by D, P, 049, 056, 0142, 88, 104, 330, 436, 451, 614, 629, 1241, 1505, 1877, 2127, 2412, 2492, 2495, Byz, c, d, gig, syr^p,h, cop^sa.^[9]

In Acts 18:26 it reads την οδον του θεου along with P⁷⁴, א, A, B, 33, 88, 326, 436, 614, 2412, ℓ 60, ℓ 1356.^[10]

In Romans 8:1 it reads Ιησου κατα σαρκα περιπατουσιν αλλα κατα πνευμα, for Ιησου. The reading of the manuscript is supported by א^c, D^c, K, P, 33, 88, 104, 326, 330, (436 omit μη), 456, 614, 630, 1241, 1877, 1962, 1984, 1985, 2492, 2495, Byz, Lect.^[11]

The text of Romans 16:25-27 is following 14:23, as in Codex Angelicus Codex Athous Lavrensis, Uncial 0209 326 330 451 460 614 1241 1877 1881 1984 1985 2492 2495.^[12]

In 1 Corinthians 2:1 it reads μαρτυριον along with B D G P Ψ 33 81 104 326 330 451 614 629 630 1241 1739 1877 1881 1962 1984 2127 2492 2495 Byz Lect it vg syr^h cop^sa arm eth. Other manuscripts read μυστηριον or σωτηριον.^[13]

In 1 Corinthians 7:5 it reads τη προσευχη (prayer) along with 𝔓¹¹, 𝔓⁴⁶, א*, A, B, C, D, F, G, P, Ψ, 6, 33, 81, 104, 629, 630, 1739, 1877, 1881, 1962, it vg, cop, arm, eth. Other manuscripts read τη νηστεια και τη προσευχη (fasting and prayer) or τη προσευχη και νηστεια (prayer and fasting).^[14][15]

In 1 Timothy 3:16 it has textual variant θεός ἐφανερώθη (God manifested) (Sinaiticus^e, A², C², D^c, K, L, P, Ψ, 81, 104, 326, 330, 436, 451, 614, 629, 630, 1241, 1739, 1877, 1881, 1962, 1984, 1985, 2492, 2495, Byz, Lect), against ὃς ἐφανερώθη (he was manifested) supported by Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus, Ephraemi, Boernerianus, 33, 365, 442, 2127, ℓ 599.^[16][17]

In 2 Timothy 4:19 it has additional reading Λεκτραν την γυναικα αυτου και Σιμαιαν και Ζηνωνα τους υιους αυτου, this reading occurs in several other manuscripts and in Acta Pauli and Tecla.^[18]

It is dated by the INTF to the 11th century.^[2]

The manuscript was given by Christina of Sweden to Cardinal Dezio Azzolino, and bought from him by Alexander VIII (1689-1691) — like codices 154, 155, 156.^[3][4] The text of the manuscript was examined by Bandini, Birch (about 1782), Scholz, and Burgon. C. R. Gregory saw it in 1886.^[3]

Formerly it was labelled by 40^a, 46^p, and 12^r. Gregory in 1908 gave it the number 181.^[1]

It is currently housed at the Vatican Library (Reg. gr. 179), at Rome.^[2]

• List of New Testament minuscules
• Biblical manuscript
• Textual criticism

• Herman C. Hoskier, Concerning the Text of the Apocalypse 1 (London, 1929), pp. 17–24

• Minuscule 181 at the Encyclopedia of Textual Criticism