ABSTRACT
Aside from the text of the four gospels itself and the codex form in which it was transmitted, perhaps the most consistent element of early medieval gospel books was the series of ten gospel canons created by Eusebius of Caesarea in the fourth century. This chapter describes the reception of the canon tables in the Hiberno-Latin exegetical tradition, because the Irish are exceptional in the degree of interest they demonstrate in Eusebius' system, going well beyond the mere copying of the system in their gospel books. It considers four representative texts which illustrate the way in which early medieval Irish scholars exploited the potential of the canon tables for understanding the gospels. The chapter suggests that these four texts are similar enough to one another that they form a distinct and identifiable tradition, belonging to the world of Hiberno-Latin exegesis. It argues that these texts demonstrate that their authors thought of the canon tables as more than merely ornamental decoration.
