Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus – What are they?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The word codex means these manuscripts were handwritten in codex or book form rather than on a scroll. They are considered excellent manuscript witnesses for reconstructing the original biblical text.

The name Codex Sinaiticus is based on the location of its discovery in 1859 at the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai. It consists of more than four hundred pages that include much of the Old Testament in Greek along with the complete New Testament. Scholars estimate its date to the middle of the fourth century.

Codex Vaticanus is based on its location in the Vatican Library. It is a much larger manuscript of 759 pages and includes nearly the entire Old and New Testaments. It has been known to have remained in the Vatican Library since at least 1475. It was written sometime in the fourth century.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Through the prophet Isaiah, God assured us that His word would last forever: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8). God preserved His word through the ages so that believers today have it as the inspired Word.
• Psalm 119 testifies that God’s word is “firmly fixed in the heavens” (v. 89) and that “every one of . . . [His] righteous rules endures forever” (v. 160). God preserved His word for us through the manuscript copies used to compile the books of the Bible.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Paul said the Jewish people were given the enormous privilege by being “trusted with the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2). Scribes faithfully continued this tradition until the invention of the printing press.
• Jesus assured us that His word would remain forever: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Luke 21:33; cf. Matthew 24:35). The Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, and other preserved Scripture are evidence of the fulfillment of that promise.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Much research has been invested into understanding the history and significance of each of these manuscripts. The Codex Sinaiticus has been digitized for public usage online at codexsinaiticus.com. The site includes a wealth of information that helps researchers understand details regarding the manuscript's history and the significance of textual variants.

Codex Vaticanus has been known for much longer and has been used in research of the New Testament text since the earliest printed editions of the Greek New Testament. While Sinaiticus was produced by several scribes, Vaticanus appears to have been produced by one scribe copying the New Testament and two scribes copying the Old Testament.

These two early manuscripts faithfully pass down the teachings of Scripture God desires for His people to study and apply today.

UNDERSTAND

• Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus are two of the oldest, nearly complete copies of the New Testament in Greek.
• Codex Sinaiticus got its name from its discovery at a monastery on Mt. Sinai, and Codex Vatincanus is named after its location in the Vatican.
• These codexes are evidence of God’s promises throughout Scripture that His word would remain forever.

REFLECT

• How does God’s preservation of His word throughout thousands of years impact your appreciation of the Bible?
• Do you enjoy looking into the origins and history of the Bible? Why or why not?
• How do you apply the teachings of the Bible in your everyday life?

ENGAGE

• How might informing more people about preserved texts like the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus impact how the wider culture views the Bible?
• What are some ways that Christians can overcome the unbelievers’ view that the Bible is merely “a book written by men”?
• How can the church help its congregants become more informed about the reliability of the Bible?