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Codex Sinaiticus

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[[Image:Codex sinaticus.jpg|thumb|A portion of the Codex Sinaiticus, containing [[Book of Esther|Esther]] 2:3-8.]]
The '''Codex Sinaiticus''' (London, Brit. Libr., Add. 43725; Gregory-Aland no. '''א''' (Aleph) or '''01''') is a [[4th fourth century]] [[uncial]] manuscript of the Holy Bible in the Greek Biblelanguage, written between 330–350330 and 350. Originally containing held at the whole of both Testaments, only portions of the Greek Old Testament or [[Septuagint]] survive along with a complete [[New TestamentSt. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)|Monastery of Saint Catherine]]on Mount Sinai, the [[Epistle of Barnabas]] and portions of [[The Shepherd of Hermas]]manuscript is now split among British Library in London, St. Along with [[Codex Vaticanus]]Catherine's Monastery, Codex Sinaiticus is one of the most valuable manuscripts for [[Textual criticism]] of the Greek New TestamentLeipzig University Library, as well as and the SeptuagintRussian National Library in St Petersburg.
== Description ==
The major part of the manuscript held by the British Library is identified (London, Brit. Libr., Add. 43725; Gregory-Aland no. '''א''' (Aleph) or '''01'''). Originally the manuscript contained the whole of both the Testaments. Now only portions of the [[Old Testament]] in Greek or [[Septuagint]] survive along with a complete [[New Testament]], the [[Epistle of Barnabas]] and portions of The [[Shepherd of Hermas]]. Along with Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus is one of the most valuable manuscripts for Textual criticism of the Greek New Testament, as well as the Septuagint.
The entire codex consists of 346 1/2 [[Bookbinding|folio]]sfolios, written in four columns. Of these, 199 belong to the Old Testament and 147 1/2 belong to the New Testament, along with two other books, the [[Epistle of Barnabas]] and part of [[The Shepherd of Hermas]]. The books of the New Testament are arranged in this order: the four [[Gospels]], the [[Pauline epistles|epistles of Paul]], the [[Acts of the Apostles]], the [[General Epistles]], [[Book of Revelation]].
Of its Little is known of the manuscript’s prior history, little is known. It is speculated to have been written in [[Egypt]] and it is sometimes associated with the 50 fifty copies of the scriptures commissioned by Roman Emperor [[Constantine I (emperor)the Great|Constantine]] after his conversion to Christianity
A paleographical study at the British Museum in 1938 found that the text had undergone several corrections. The first corrections were done by several scribes before the manuscript left the scriptorium. In Many alterations were made in the sixth or seventh century many alterations were made, which, according to a [[colophon (book)|colophon]] at the end of the book of [[Esdras]] and [[Book of Esther|Esther]] , states, that the source of these alterations was ''"a very ancient manuscript that had been corrected by the hand of the holy [[martyr ]] [[Pamphilius of Caesarea|Pamphylus]]"''. From this is concluded, that it the manuscript had been in [[Caesarea Palaestina]] Palaestina in the 6th sixth or 7th seventh centuries.<ref>Bruce A. Metzger, the Text of the New Testament, it's Transmission, Corruption and Restoration, Oxford University Press, 1992, p46.</ref> Uncorrected is the pervasive [[iotacism]], especially of the ει diphthong.
== Discovery ==
Codex Sinaiticus was found, in 1859, by Constantine von Tischendorf on his third visit to the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai in Egypt. The first two trips had yielded parts of the Old Testament, some found in a basket of manuscripts pieces, which Tischendorf was told by a librarian that "they were rubbish which was to be destroyed by burning it in the ovens of the monastery".<ref>Skeat, T. C. "The Last Chapter in the History of the Codex Sinaiticus." ''Novum Testamentum''. Vol. 42, Fasc. 3, Jul., 2000. p. 313</ref> The emperor Alexander II of Russia sent him to search for manuscripts, which he was convinced were still to be found in the monastery at Mount Sinai. In May 1975, during restoration work, the [[monk]]s of St. Catherine's monastery at Sinai discovered a room under the St. George [[chapel]] that contained many parchment fragments. Among these fragments, twelve missing leaves from the Sinaiticus Old Testament were found.
Codex Sinaiticus was The story of how von Tischendorf found by the manuscript, which contained most of the Old Testament and all of the New Testament, has all the interest of a romance. Von Tischendorf reached the monastery on [[Constantin von TischendorfJanuary 31]] on ; but his third visit inquiries appeared to the be fruitless. On [[Saint Catherine's MonasteryFebruary 4]], Mount Sinai|Monastery he had resolved to return home without having gained his object. : On the afternoon of this day I was taking a walk with the steward of Saint Catherine]]the convent in the neighbourhood, and as we returned, towards sunset, on [[Mount Sinai]] he begged me to take some refreshment with him in Egypthis cell. Scarcely had he entered the room, when, resuming our former subject of conversation, he said: "And I, too, have read a Septuagint"&mdash;i.e. a copy of the Greek translation made by the Seventy. And so saying, he took down from the corner of the room a bulky kind of volume, wrapped up in [[1859]]a red cloth, and laid it before me. The first two trips I unrolled the cover, and discovered, to my great surprise, not only those very fragments which, fifteen years before, I had yielded taken out of the basket, but also other parts of the [[Old Testament]], some found the New Testament complete, and, in addition, the Epistle of Barnabas and a basket part of the Shepherd of Hermas.<ref>See [http://rosetta.reltech.org/TC/extras/tischendorf-sinaiticus.html Constantin von Tischendorf, The Discovery of manuscripts piecesthe Sinaitic Manuscript], which Extract from Constantin von Tischendorf was told , ''When Were Our Gospels Written? An Argument by Constantine Tischendorf. With a librarian that "they were rubbish which was to be destroyed by burning it in Narrative of the ovens Discovery of the monestary"Sinaitic Manuscript'' [New York: American Tract Society, 1866].</ref>Skeat After some negotiations, he obtained possession of this precious fragment, and conveyed it to Emperor Alexander, Twho fully appreciated its importance, and caused it to be published as nearly as possible in facsimile, so as to exhibit correctly the ancient handwriting. As a compensation, the tsar sent 9000 rubles to the monastery.  Regarding Tischendorf's role in the transfer to St. CPetersburg, there are several views. "The Last Chapter Although when parts of [[Genesis]] and [[Numbers]] were later found in the History binding of other books, they were amicably sent to Tischendorf, the ''Codex Sinaiticus'' is currently regarded by the monastery as having been stolen, a view hotly contested by several scholars in Europe.In a more neutral spirit, New Testament scholar Bruce Metzger writes: " Certain aspects of the negotiations leading to the transfer of the codex to the Czar's possession are open to an interpretation that reflects adversely on Tischendorf'Novum Testamentums candour and good faith with the monks at St. Catherine's. For a recent account intended to exculpate him of blame, see Erhard Lauch's article 'Nichts gegen Tischendorf'in ''Bekenntnis zur Kirche: Frestabe für Ernst Sommerlath zum 70. Geburtstag'' (Berlin, c. 1961); for an account that includes a hitherto unknown receipt given by Tischendorf to the authorities at the monastery promising to return the manuscript from St. VolPetersburg 'to the Holy Confraternity of Sinai at its earliest request'. 42<ref>See Ihor Šev�?enko's article 'New Documents on Tischendorf and the Codex Sinaiticus', Fasc published in the journal ''Scriptorium'', xviii (1964) pp 55-80."<br /> Bruce A. 3Metzger, ''The Text of the New Testament: it's Transmission, Corruption and Restoration'', Oxford University Press, Jul.1992, 2000p. p45. 313</ref> The emperor [[Russian Emperor Alexander II|Alexander II]] of [[Russia]] sent him to search for manuscripts For many decades, which he the manuscript was convinced were still to be found preserved in the Sinai monasteryRussian National Library. In May 1975 during restoration work1933, the monks of Soviet Union sold the Codex to the British Library for &pound;100,000. == Present location ==The Codex is now split into four unequal portions: 347 leaves in the British Library in London, 12 leaves and 14 fragments in St. Catherine's monastery Monastery at Mount Sinai discovered a room under , 43 leaves in the Leipzig University Library, and fragments of 3 leaves in the Russian National Library in StPetersburg. George chapel which contained many parchment fragments In June 2005, a joint project to produce a new digital edition of the manuscript (involving all four holding libraries) and a series of other studies was announced. Among these fragmentsThe project, done in cooperation with the British Library, twelve missing leaves from will include the use of hyperspectral imaging to photograph the Sinaiticus Old Testament were foundmanuscripts to look for hidden information such as erased or faded text.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4739369.stm Oldest known Bible to go online]. ''BBC.com''. August 3, 2005. Accessed June 08, 2006.</ref>
The story of how von Tischendorf found the manuscript, which contained most of the Old Testament and all of the New Testament, has all the interest of a romance. Von Tischendorf reached the monastery on [[January 31]]; but his inquiries appeared to be fruitless. On [[February 4]], he had resolved to return home without having gained his object.==References==<references />
: On the afternoon of this day I was taking a walk with the steward of the convent in the neighbourhood, and as we returned, towards sunset, he begged me to take some refreshment with him in his cell. Scarcely had he entered the room, when, resuming our former subject of conversation, he said: "And I, too, have read a Septuagint"--i.e. a copy of the Greek translation made by the Seventy. And so saying, he took down from the corner of the room a bulky kind of volume, wrapped up in a red cloth, and laid it before me. I unrolled the cover, and discovered, to my great surprise, not only those very fragments which, fifteen years before, I had taken out of the basket, but also other parts of the Old Testament, the New Testament complete, and, in addition, the [==Source==*[Epistle of Barnabas]] and a part of the [[Shepherd of Hermas|Pastor of Hermas]].<ref>See [httpw://rosetta.reltech.org/TC/extras/tischendorf-sinaiticus.html Constantin von Tischendorf, The Discovery of the Sinaitic ManuscriptCodex_Sinaiticus], Extract from Constantin von Tischendorf, ''When Were Our Gospels Written? An Argument by Constantine Tischendorf. With a Narrative of the Discovery of the Sinaitic Manuscript'' [New York: American Tract Society, 1866].</ref>
After some negotiations, he obtained possession == External links ==* [http://www.bible-researcher.com/codex-aleph.html Codex Sinaiticus page at bible-researcher.com]* [http://www.earlham.edu/~seidti/iam/tc_codexs.html Earlham College facsimile of this precious fragment, and conveyed it to Emperor Alexander, who fully appreciated its importance, and caused it to be published as nearly as possible in facsimile, so as to exhibit correctly the ancient handwritingCodex Sinaiticus]* [http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/manuscripts/HITS0001.ASP?VPath=c!/inetpub/wwwroot/mss/data/msscat/html/31110. However, the tsar sent 9000 roubles to the monastery as a compensationhtm&Search=Add. +43725&Highlight=F British Library Catalogue entry]
Regarding Tischendorf's role in the transfer to Leningrad, there are several views. Although when parts of [[Genesis]] and [[Book of NumbersCategory:Scripture]] were later found in the binding of other books, they were amicably sent to Tischendorf, the ''Codex'' is currently regarded by the monastery as having been stolen, a view hotly contested by several scholars in Europe. In a more neutral spirit, New Testament scholar [[Bruce Metzger]] writes: "Certain aspects of the negotiations leading to the transfer of the codex to the Czar's possession are open to an interpretation that reflects adversely on Tischendorf's candour and good faith with the monks at St. Catherine's. For a recent account intended to exculpate him of blame, see Erhard Lauch's article 'Nichts gegen Tischendorf' in ''Bekenntnis zur Kirche: Frestabe für Ernst Sommerlath zum 70. Geburtstag'' (Berlin, c. 1961); for an account that includes a hitherto unknown receipt given by Tischendorf to the authorities at the monastery promising to return the manuscript from St. Petersburg 'to the Holy Confraternity of Sinai at its earliest request'.<ref>See Ihor Šev
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