Codex Sinaiticus

[Furrowed Brow]

More than 1600 years old the Codex Sinaiticus is the oldest bible in the world. The Codex is in Greek and written on Vellum or parchment. In the 19th century its 800 hundred pages were split between England, Russia, Germany and Egypt. However, whilst still physically divided a digital online version is now available www.codexsinaiticus.org.

There are some differences to the modern bible. E.G.

The Codex contains “The Shepherd of Hermas� and “The Epistle of Barnabas�.
The text says Jesus was “angry� as he healed the leper, the word “compassion� not used.

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone� is not there nor “Father forgive them for they know not what they do�.

The Gospel of Mark omits the 12 versus on the appearance of the resurrected Christ.

(Reference: Paul Valley, Independent, 7, July, 2009)

Questions for debate:

1] Are modern translation of the modern bible the inerrant and unaltered word of God?

2] In the oldest bible in the world why is the resurrection missing from Mark?

[McCulloch]

1] Are modern translation of the modern bible the inerrant and unaltered word of God?

You know my answer to this one, but I don't believe that the originals were the word of God. Perhaps the question could be rephrased as, "If the originals were the word of God, can we conclude that any modern translation of the modern bible the inerrant and unaltered word of God?"

2] In the oldest bible in the world why is the resurrection missing from Mark?

The oldest existing complete Bible is not necessarily the most authentic source for each piece of text.

But the Comma Johanneum, the long ending of Mark, Pericope Adulterae and Matthew 16:2b–3 (the signs of the times) all demand explanation. These are not simple copyist errors. Are they insertions? If so, did the editors who inserted them not realize the error of adding to God's word? Or did they not regard these texts as being divinely inspired? Are they deletions? If so, why do they not appear in the oldest manuscript evidence? Were those who made the copies careless? Did they not realize the huge importance of handling the very revelation from the Creator to humanity?

[kayky]

I just want to add one correction. The resurrection isn't missing in the Codex's Mark--the appearance of the resurrected Christ is missing.