Codex Sinaiticus, a manuscript of the Christian Bible written in the middle of the fourth century, contains the earliest complete copy of the Christian New Testament. The hand-written text is in Greek. The New Testament appears in the original vernacular language (koine) and the Old Testament in the version, known as the Septuagint, that was adopted by early Greek-speaking Christians. In the Codex, the text of both the Septuagint and the New Testament has been heavily annotated by a series of early correctors.
The significance of Codex Sinaiticus for the reconstruction of the Christian Bible's original text, the history of the Bible and the history of Western book-making is immense.
Interesting isn't it ?
The Greek Septuagint in the Codex includes books not found in the Hebrew Bible and regarded in the Protestant tradition as apocryphal, such as 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, 1 & 4 Maccabees, Wisdom and Sirach. Appended to the New Testament are the Epistle of Barnabas and 'The Shepherd' of Hermas.
The idiosyncratic sequence of books is also remarkable: within the New Testament the Letter to the Hebrews is placed after Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians, and the Acts of the Apostles between the Pastoral and Catholic Epistles. The content and arrangement of the books in Codex Sinaiticus shed light on the history of the construction of the Christian Bible
I remember from seminary days that this text is fundamental in biblical studies e.g. when translating a passage where the various surviving manuscripts don't agree, this one carries a great amount of weight.
It was found at the monastery at Mt. Sinai by a guy named Tischendorf. The monks had a large collection of old manuscripts and he was looking for old biblical texts when he came across one in a wastebasket. The monks were planning to use it for starting fires. Tischendorf recognized it was priceless and it was preserved.
If a person is serious about Biblical scholarship and study, particularly in establishing the original text, translating, etc., this manuscript is absolutely critical.
If a person is serious about Biblical scholarship and study, particularly in establishing the original text, translating, etc., this manuscript is absolutely critical.
if that is true, and yours is the only reply how serious is everyone who's read this post or seen it huh ?
The Greek Septuagint in the Codex includes books not found in the Hebrew Bible and regarded in the Protestant tradition as apocryphal, such as 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, 1 & 4 Maccabees, Wisdom and Sirach.
Well This is kind of misleading as the books here mentioned are part of the Hebrew everyday reading in Hebrew school, also there is no such thing as the Hebrew Bible, We call it The Torah and The tenach, those other books are considered in Judaism as good as any of the tenach and the book of prophets, also Enoch which is not mentioned here.
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The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:14
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if that is true, and yours is the only reply how serious is everyone who's read this post or seen it huh ?
I mean someone who shows up in the department of Biblical studies at a school of theology, and has the credentials to write a biblical commentary. They'd have the knowledge and training to discuss a particular verb tense of a passage in the original Greek, for example, and could suggest alternative ways a passage could be translated.
We probably don't fit in that category in most cases--I know I don't.
This may sound obscure, but as a preacher and pastor, those insights can be very valuable when preparing a sermon. They can also enhance your prayer and reflection by opening up new dimensions to the Word.
I mean someone who shows up in the department of Biblical studies at a school of theology, and has the credentials to write a biblical commentary. They'd have the knowledge and training to discuss a particular verb tense of a passage in the original Greek, for example, and could suggest alternative ways a passage could be translated.
We probably don't fit in that category in most cases--I know I don't.
This may sound obscure, but as a preacher and pastor, those insights can be very valuable when preparing a sermon. They can also enhance your prayer and reflection by opening up new dimensions to the Word.
I'm able to do that, both in Greek and Hebrew But I don't base my sermons on that, why ? Because then people will accuse you of making up doctrines or having your own interpretations, I rely mostly on what the Holy spirit wants to preach, for the last 30 years 8 out of 10 sermons I prepared, the Holy Spirit has preached through me a different sermon, LOL, Today I just pick a subject and let Him say what he wants to say ? LOL
At the Seminary I do get into debating the meanings of the Greek and The Hebrew.
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The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:14
פרץ
I'm able to do that, both in Greek and Hebrew But I don't base my sermons on that, why ? Because then people will accuse you of making up doctrines or having your own interpretations, I rely mostly on what the Holy spirit wants to preach, for the last 30 years 8 out of 10 sermons I prepared, the Holy Spirit has preached through me a different sermon, LOL, Today I just pick a subject and let Him say what he wants to say ? LOL
At the Seminary I do get into debating the meanings of the Greek and The Hebrew.
The reason I do it is to be sure that I properly understand the text as the inspired author meant it. Then, I apply it to life and the people to whom I'm preaching.
A translation can obscure or enhance the meaning of a passage. I want to see what the experts say and how they translate it. Also, as you know, meaning may not always be immediately evident, either and that's where those commentaries help out. Obviously, prayer and the Holy Spirit are fundamental to this.
Last edited by Father Forkhorn; 07-13-2009 at 11:50 AM.
codex sinaiticus does anyone have any thoughts?
