The Codex Sinaiticus is a handwritten copy of the Greek bible, considered one of the earliest manuscripts that contains a mostly-complete version of the Bible as is recognized today, with both the old and new testaments. It was copied some time during the fourth century. It was discovered in the 19th century at the Greek Monastery of Mount Sinai, and most of it is today in the British Library. Originally it contained the whole of both Testaments. The Greek Old Testament (or Septuagint) survived almost complete, along with a complete New Testament, plus 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 establishing the original text of the Greek New Testament, as well as the Septuagint. It is the only uncial manuscript with the complete text of the New Testament, and the only ancient manuscript of the New Testament written in four columns per page which has survived to the present day
Last updated by Nelson Feb 12, 2009.