Constantin von Tischendorf

The article deals with the origin and translation of the writings of the New Testament. It examines the Greek manuscripts and various critical editions, as well as their importance for the accuracy of modern translations.

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

The Codex Sinaiticus is a Greek biblical manuscript dating from the 4th century, discovered at Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai by Tischendorf in 1844. It contains the entire New Testament, a large part of the Old Testament in Greek (Septuagint), as well as the Epistle of Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermas. An Alexandrian-type text, it is crucial for textual criticism. Divided among the British Library, Saint Petersburg, Leipzig and Sinai, it is fully digitized and can be consulted online.

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

In 1844, Constantin von Tischendorf discovered ancient parchments at Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai that were destined to be burned. After three journeys, in 1859 he identified and recovered the Codex Sinaiticus, one of the oldest complete manuscripts of the Greek Bible (4th century), containing the Old and New Testaments as well as the Epistle of Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermas. This major discovery profoundly influenced biblical textual criticism.

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

The Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus is a palimpsest manuscript of the 5th century (AD 400-440), discovered by Tischendorf in 1840 and held in the National Library of France. Written in Greek uncial script, it contains portions of the Old and New Testaments and belongs to the Alexandrian family of the biblical text, regarded as close to the originals. It is fundamental for textual criticism and the history of the transmission of the Scriptures.

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate