Five Unique Readings in Codex Sinaiticus

Codex Sinaiticus is perhaps the most important uncial manuscript of the New Testament. It is the oldest complete Bible containing both the Septuagint and the New Testament. In this article, I will give somewhat of a list of the unique textual variants in this manuscript. By "unique", I refer to variants that are only present in Sinaiticus (א), or only present in א and a very small number of other manuscripts, usually minuscules.


Matthew 7:22

When the verse says "καὶ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι δαιμόνια ἐξεβάλομεν" ("...and cast out demons in your name"), א adds the Greek word πολλα, thus making it "cast out numerous demons in your name".




Matthew 13:54

Most manuscripts read "εις την πατριδα αυτου" ("to his own country"), where א reads "εις την αντιπατριδα αυτου" ("to his own Antipatris"). The writings is a bit faded out on this particular folio:




Luke 2:37

All other manuscripts read "καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων" ("...and then as a widow until she was eighty-four"), contrast that with א which instead reads "καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν εβδομηκοντα τεσσάρων" ("...and then as a widow until she was seventy-four").



Acts 11:20

Codex Sinaiticus reads as "οἵτινες ἐλθόντες εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν ἐλάλουν καὶ πρὸς τοὺς εὐαγγελιστας" ("...who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Evangelists"), contrary to other manuscripts which all read :οἵτινες ἐλθόντες εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν ἐλάλουν καὶ πρὸς τοὺς Ἑλληνιστάς" ("...who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Evangelists")





2 Timothy 4:10

Most (not all) manuscripts read "Κρήσκης εἰς Γαλατίαν" (Crescens [has gone] to Galatia"), whereas א reads "Κρήσκης εἰς Γαλλιαν" ("Crescens [has gone] to Gaul"). Codex Sinaiticus' reading is supported by Ephraemi Rescriptus and Minuscules 81,104,326, and 436.