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[[Image:Sinaiticus.jpg|thumb|right|A leaf from Codex Sinaiticus]]The '''Codex Sinaiticus''', or '''ℵ''' (aleph), is a fourth century Greek manuscript of the Bible. It is second only to [[Codex Vaticanus]] as a manuscript witness for the text of the New Testament. Despite the age of the codex, the numerous mistakes found in the original text makes it a less reliable witness than Vaticanus. Over the millennia, nine scribes attempted to correct it.<ref>"Bible (texts)," ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'' (2003)</ref>

[[Image:Sinaiticus.jpg|thumb|right|A leaf from Codex Sinaiticus]]The '''Codex Sinaiticus''', or '''ℵ''' (aleph), is a fourth century Greek manuscript of the Bible. It is second only to [[Codex Vaticanus]] as a manuscript witness for the text of the New Testament. Despite the age of the codex, the numerous mistakes found in the original text makes it a less reliable witness than Vaticanus. Over the millennia, nine scribes attempted to correct it.<ref>"Bible (texts)," ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'' (2003)</ref>

The codex was found in 1859 by German Bible scholar Tischendorf at the Monastery of St. Catherine at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Tischendorf published a print facsimile in 1862 and presented the manuscript to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, his sponsor. A photographic facsimile edition was published by Oxford University Press in 1911. In 1933, the Soviet government sold the manuscript to the British Museum. There are 347 leaves in the British Library in London (199 of the Old Testament, 148 of the New Testament), forty-three Old Testament leaves at the University of Leipzig in Germany, twelve at St. Catherine's Monastery, and six at the National Library of Russia.  

The codex was found in 1859 by German Bible scholar Tischendorf at the Monastery of St. Catherine at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Tischendorf claimed to have saved the codex from being fed to a fire by monks. Vellum does not burn easily, so this dramatic tale is unlikely. Tischendorf had an obvious motive to lie. He wanted to justify taking the codex from the monastery.

 

Tischendorf published a print facsimile in 1862 and presented the manuscript to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, his sponsor. A photographic facsimile edition was published by Oxford University Press in 1911. In 1933, the Soviet government sold the manuscript to the British Museum. There are 347 leaves in the British Library in London (199 of the Old Testament, 148 of the New Testament), forty-three Old Testament leaves at the University of Leipzig in Germany, twelve at St. Catherine's Monastery, and six at the National Library of Russia.  

In addition to the now standard 27 books of the New Testament, Sinaiticus includes the Letter of Barnabas and most of the Shepherd of Hermas. The Old Testament given in the codex is a Greek translation called the [[Septuagint]]. This is the version of scripture quoted by Jesus and the apostles. Sinaiticus includes various works now classified as apocryphal, including 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, 1 and 4 Maccabees, Wisdom, and Sirach.

In addition to the now standard 27 books of the New Testament, Sinaiticus includes the Letter of Barnabas and most of the Shepherd of Hermas. The Old Testament given in the codex is a Greek translation called the [[Septuagint]]. This is the version of scripture quoted by Jesus and the apostles. Sinaiticus includes various works now classified as apocryphal, including 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, 1 and 4 Maccabees, Wisdom, and Sirach.