Canon and the Ancient Christian Bible — Major Manuscripts

Codex Sinaiticus

Fourth century

Codex Sinaiticus preserves the earliest complete New Testament together with much of the Greek Old Testament.

Full Account

Sinaiticus was produced by several scribes on parchment and corrected repeatedly. Its New Testament contains all twenty-seven books, followed by the Epistle of Barnabas and part of the Shepherd of Hermas.

The additional works do not by themselves prove equal canonical status; placement, reading practice, and judgments about authority could differ. The manuscript's corrections provide rich evidence of careful review over centuries.

Historical Significance

Sinaiticus is a central witness to the fourth-century biblical text, early whole-Bible production, and the history of correction.

People, Places and Sources

Key people: Unknown scribes and correctors; Constantine Tischendorf in its modern history
Key places: Possibly Egypt or Caesarea; Sinai; now four institutions
Languages: Greek