Recently the oldest Hebrew Bible in the world sold at Sotheby’s New York for over US$38 million, making it the most valuable manuscript sold at auction.
It is called the Codex Sassoon and is thought to have been written about 1,100 years ago. It’s the earliest surviving example of the Hebrew Bible with punctuation, vowels, and accents.
The Codex Sassoon Bible is a veritable treasure. However, there are older ancient Bibles, scrolls and manuscripts, that are even more valuable and involve amazing stories of discovery.
Join us here in the Bible Lands as we search for the oldest scrolls, manuscripts, codices, and Bibles and discover the profound influence they’ve had on western civilisation and culture around the world. Our journey back to the ancient world will uncover some modern information regarding the Bible that is vitally important for us today.
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DRAMATIC DISCOVERY
Our search for the world’s oldest surviving Bible begins back in the year 1844 at a famous monastery in Egypt’s Sinai Desert. A dramatic discovery was made there by Constantine von Tischendorf, a German scholar who was on a journey round the churches and monasteries of the ancient Near East, searching for the oldest Christian Bible in the world. After twelve gruelling days travelling in the blistering hot sun of the Sinai desert, Tischendorf reached the monastery of St. Catherine, nestled at the base of the ‘traditional’ site of Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
It is the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery still in use – with a history dating back 17 centuries. It’s claimed that the complex was built around the very place where God appeared to Moses in a burning bush.
Now, Tischendorf had heard that the monastery possessed a great number of ancient texts and manuscripts. So it was the monastery library that most interested Tischendorf. To his delight, he found a treasure trove of religious art and all sorts of manuscripts stacked in the library.
Unfortunately, when he began to show unusual interest in any of the many rotting manuscripts stored in the monastery library, the monks grew suspicious. But one day, he came across a basket in the middle of the great hall.
It was filled with old parchments. He picked up a page from the basket. One of the monks accompanying him explained, “We plan to throw those away. We’ve already burned some pages like that.”
As Tischendorf took a closer look at the pages he realised that these were sheets from the oldest Bible he had ever seen, and here they were in a rubbish bin in the Monastery of St Catherine, only a hairs’ breadth from complete destruction!
On the discarded parchment pages were beautifully inscribed, four-column, uncial text written in capital letters, as was customary in ancient Greek manuscripts from before the ninth century AD.
When the monks sensed the importance of the condemned manuscript, they put it in safe keeping. Only after a lot of negotiation was Tischendorf permitted to examine the entire manuscript on another visit, fifteen years later in 1859.
Tischendorf persuaded the monks to give the precious manuscript to Tsar Alexander II of Russia. The manuscript remained in the Russian National Library until 1933, when the Soviet government sold it to the British Museum for £100,000. It can be seen in the British Library in London today.
CODEX SINAITICUS
This almost complete Christian Bible in Greek, now called the Codex Sinaiticus, is one of the oldest Bibles in the world. Handwritten well over 1600 years ago, the manuscript contains the oldest complete copy of the New Testament.
Now, why the name Codex Sinaiticus? Well, the codex was the historical ancestor of the modern book. Instead of being composed of sheets of paper, it used sheets of vellum, a specially prepared lamb skin, and also papyrus, or other materials, and usually had a leather cover.
The term codex is often used for ancient manuscript books, with handwritten contents. And, Sinaiticus refers to its discovery at St Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mt. Sinai – hence [the name] Codex Sinaiticus.
FAMOUS TRIO
Codex Sinaiticus is part of a famous trio of codices that contain, or originally contained, the entire text of the Greek Bible – the Old and New Testaments. All three date from around the same time and all three originally came from Egypt.
But why Egypt? Well, starting in the 2nd century BC, Alexandria established a very strong tradition of making accurate copies of Biblical books, and these scribes learnt how to make very, very careful copies of the Bible.
The other two famous codices that have survived are Codex Vaticanus, and Codex Alexandrinus. Codex Vaticanus is slightly older than Sinaiticus and is named after the Vatican Library, where it has been kept since at least the 15th Century.
Codex Alexandrinus isn’t quite as old as the other two and is named after Alexandria, where it was kept before being taken to Europe by the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch Cyril Lucaris. Today it is kept along with Codex Sinaiticus in the British Library in London.
These three codices are the earliest and most complete manuscripts of the Bible, and so are some of the most remarkable and important Bibles in existence today. But these codices are not the only ancient Bible texts that we have. There are other, even older ones.
DEAD SEA SCROLLS
In 67 AD, members of a mysterious Jewish religious sect, called the Essenes, hid a collection of over 900 sacred scrolls in caves in the Judean desert bordering the Dead Sea.
The chance discovery of the ancient scrolls 2000 years later in 1947 was considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. These ancient scrolls are around 400 years older than the Codex Sinaiticus.
The Dead Sea Scrolls included copies and sections of virtually all the books of the Old Testament. But even these scrolls are not the oldest Bible texts in existence. That honour goes to the Silver Scrolls, that were part of an ancient treasure trove discovered in a burial cave at Ketef Hinom by Gabi Barkay, just outside the walls of the old city of Jerusalem, in 1979.
These silver scrolls are about 400 to 600 years older than the Dead Sea scrolls, and were inscribed with the priestly benediction found in Numbers 6:24-26.
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Now, to put the age of these silver scrolls into context, consider this: When the ancient craftsmen inscribed the priestly benediction on these silver scrolls over 2600 years ago, Solomon’s Temple was still standing; the prophet Jeremiah was still alive; the heirs of King David were still on the throne; and the Dead Sea scrolls would not be written for another 600 years.
LIFE-CHANGING POWER
Now here’s the big question: Why are these ancient codices, manuscripts, and scrolls so valuable, and why are people so interested in them today? Well, firstly, these artefacts are priceless. They can never be replaced.
[Secondly,] they are the oldest copies of the world’s most popular and most loved book – the Bible. Over 5 billion copies of the Bible have been sold.
And thirdly because this book, the Bible, has made a huge impact on western civilisation, and has the power to change people’s lives for the better.
This wonderful life-changing power is in every copy of the Bible. It’s in every version, every language edition and it’s in your Bible too. The good news is that it is available to you right now.
So if you have a Bible in your home or would like to get one and read it, you may not be sure just where to begin. Should you start right in with page one and read on resolutely to the last page, from Genesis to Revelation, as if it were a textbook of some kind – or possibly a novel? Well, not necessarily.
Too many of us get through Genesis and Exodus all right but we get bogged down permanently in Leviticus or Deuteronomy. Many people, even if they manage to struggle through these heavier books, they almost certainly will give up by the time they reach Ezekiel, Daniel, or the Minor Prophets.
So then, is there another way – perhaps a better way for beginners to read the Bible and receive its blessings? I believe there is. Let’s look at a few suggestions that will help you to enjoy the Bible and discover what a wonderful Book it really is.
GETTING STARTED
Firstly, begin with one of the simplest books, such as the Gospel of Mark. Read it through. It’s easy to read and won’t take more than an hour at the most. Here is the earliest record of the life and death of Jesus Christ, as told by eyewitnesses to John Mark.
This Gospel is full of action, and it will introduce you not only to the New Testament but also to the great basic facts of the Christian faith.
Next, read the Gospel of Matthew. This book was written several years after the Gospel of Mark and repeats quite a lot of the information. In addition, Matthew records six of the sermons of Jesus. The first and most familiar is the Sermon on the Mount, which includes the Beatitudes, the Golden Rule, and the Lord’s Prayer.
The others record the parables, or stories Jesus told along with some of His other teachings and predictions. These six sermons will give you a clear picture of the beautiful message Jesus gave to the people of his day.
Next, read the Gospel written by Luke, who has been called the first church historian because of his attention to important details such as the name and year of the Roman emperor who was on the throne when John the Baptist began to preach in Luke 3:1.
Luke’s obvious interest in medical matters gave him a humanitarian outlook, which no doubt is the reason why he recorded the parables of the good Samaritan, the prodigal son, and the rich man and Lazarus.
When you’ve completed Luke – and it won’t take you much more than an hour and a half – you’ll have a better idea of how great Jesus really is.
Next, let’s read the Gospel of John, which is very different from the others, but in some respects is the most beautiful of all. It was written at least half a century after the Gospel of Luke, and many changes had taken place during that time.
Two generations had passed since Jesus had died on the cross. The Christian church had become established but had endured a lot of suffering and hardship. And so, in order to encourage the church John recorded his most treasured memories of Jesus.
So, when you have read the four Gospels you will have had the best possible introduction to the Bible. Now you’ll be prepared to go forward to the book of Acts to read Luke’s story of the early church.
Or if you prefer, turn back to Genesis to find the beginning of the tragedy of sin, which ultimately caused Christ’s death. Or you may branch out in any one of several directions, as you please.
A BIOGRAPHICAL APPROACH
Another interesting approach to the Bible is to look for the stories in the Bible. There are hundreds, covering an amazing variety of people and subjects. By reading these stories you will find lessons we can use in our daily lives.
These stories or biographies tell of struggles and challenges, many just like the ones we face today. But overall, they show how God demonstrates his love, and works in the lives of those who trust in Him.
You could choose to read the story of Joseph, in Genesis. He was the favoured son, despised brother, betrayed slave, helpless prisoner, who became a ruler of Egypt, the most powerful empire on Earth at that time.
Then take Moses, the great freedom fighter of the Hebrews. Hidden by his mother as an infant in an attempt to save his life, Moses was rescued by the most unlikely heroine – the daughter of Pharoah, the very man who threatened his life.
Adopted by an Egyptian princess, Moses grew up surrounded by the influences of the Egyptian royal court as a prince of Egypt. After a series of unfortunate events turned him from a prince of Egypt into a penniless fugitive, Moses found himself adrift in the wilds of Midian with nothing but the clothes on his back.
Follow his amazing journey back to Egypt, confronting Pharoah and then the escape from Egypt; the crossing of the Red Sea; to when he stood on Mount Sinai and talked with God. The Bible books Exodus and Numbers will bring you the highlights of this exciting story.
Then David’s story is one you’ll really enjoy. He’s one of the most loved Bible characters. From being a shepherd boy, to fighting Goliath, to becoming king of Israel, his story will grip your heart. Incidentally the story of David is the longest biography in the Old Testament. You’ll find most of it in 1 Samuel, chapters 16 to 31; all of 2 Samuel; and the first and second chapters of 1 Kings.
Then there is Solomon, a son of King David. As king, Solomon is renowned for his great wisdom, and for building a golden temple in Jerusalem. You can find all his story in the first eleven chapters of 1 Kings.
And then, in the New Testament the most notable story or biography, apart from the story of Jesus, is that of Paul. He steps onto the scene in the book of Acts as an official of the Sanhedrin at the stoning of Stephen, moves to the centre stage, and stays there until the end of the book.
His three missionary journeys are described in detail as he strives to bring the story of Jesus to Jerusalem, then across the Roman Empire and to the world. He was the great city evangelist of the first century AD, with an exciting story of adventure and challenges that you will thoroughly enjoy.
THE REFERENCE LIBRARY
Now, apart from the stories, another helpful approach to reading the Bible is to look at it as a library in which to pursue a variety of studies. To do this you’ll need a good concordance. Now, a concordance is like an index that lists all texts in the Bible where a particular word is found.
With this valuable aid you can choose any one of hundreds of subjects and find out what the Bible has to say about them.
For example, you might decide to study the subject of prayer. A glance at a concordance will show you a list of all the places in the Bible where the word ‘prayer’ occurs. You will read of how Jesus prayed for Himself and others, and how He taught us to pray.
Faith is another intriguing subject. What is faith? How does God value it, and why? How important is it in the Christian life? Your Bible will answer all these questions.
Now, another fascinating subject is prophecy. The Bible is full of it. All sorts of predictions are recorded, with their fulfillment. Nothing will increase your confidence in your Bible so much as the discovery that the predictions of its prophets have been accurately fulfilled down through the centuries.
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
Much more could be said on how to read the Bible, because the subject is, in fact, limitless. But more important than any plan or method is the attitude in which you read it. If you approach the Bible critically, looking for faults and flaws, it won’t do you much good.
But if you read the Bible with a prayer in your heart for God’s guidance and blessing, you will find it to be not only an endless source of wisdom and enjoyment, but it will also bring you assurance, peace, happiness and eternal life.
Now let’s consider what the Bible says about itself. It’s interesting to note that the word ‘Bible’ doesn’t occur in the Bible itself.
So how does the Bible refer to itself if it doesn’t use the term Bible? Well, for the answer let’s turn to the book of Matthew. It says,
“Jesus said to them, ‘Did you never read in the Scriptures?” (Matthew 21:42)
Scriptures means ‘writings’.
Now, let’s notice another title given to the Bible in the gospel of Luke:
“But He answered and said to them, ‘My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:21)
THE WORD OF GOD
[The] books that make up the Bible are referred to as ‘The Word of God.” The Bible uses these phrases as “so the Lord said” or ‘God said’ about 3,800 times.
Now, if the Bible is ‘The Word of God,’ how did it come to us? Did God write it? Well, the answer is found in 2 Timothy 3:16.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16)
Notice that all Scripture comes from God. It does not say that God did the actual writing. Rather, God inspired certain men and told them what to write, and they recorded it in their own words.
We find the Bible gives us more information about this in 2 Peter.
“For Prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)
Men didn’t choose to write the Bible. God chose holy men to write it for Him. These men were called prophets. We’ve seen that the Scriptures were written by about 40 men over a period of 1600 years. Yet there is in fact only one Author – God. He is the source of the inspiration for the Bible.
Now, you may be wondering how God communicated with these specially chosen men. The Bible tells us how He did it in Numbers.
“Then He said, ‘Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision, and I speak to him in a dream.” (Numbers 12:6)
Generally, God used visions and dreams to communicate His message to the specially chosen holy men.
WHY THE SCRIPTURES?
Another question that is often asked is, “Why were the Scriptures given”? Well, it’s God’s main method of communicating with people, and the central purpose of the Bible is to reveal God’s plan for saving people. Notice what the Bible says in 2 Timothy.
“The Holy Scriptures… are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)
In the book of Timothy we also read what the Bible will do for us:
“All Scripture is given by inspiration for God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3: 16,17)
First, the Scriptures were given for doctrine. The Bible says one of its purposes is to provide doctrines or teachings. This is important, because doctrine provides a strong framework for Christianity.
Our religious beliefs must be based on some authority. Our religion must stand for something. We must believe something. And so the purpose of the Bible is to provide that authority. It claims to be God’s Word and it reveals God’s truth on matters of doctrine and belief.
Then there’s reproof and correction. The Scriptures reprove us and show us the right way. The Scriptures correct our wrong ideas. Listen to what the Bible says in the book of Psalms,
“Your Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)
You see, there’s nothing that keeps us on the correct path of life as does the Word of God. We live in a world that is messed up today and it’s only going to get worse. The only real source of guidance and hope is found here in this book – the Bible.
And now we come to the primary reason or purpose for the Bible. Notice what it says in the Gospel of John,
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” (John 5: 39)
Above all, the purpose of the Scriptures is to reveal Jesus Christ. Jesus himself says that the Bible tells us about Him. All aspects of His life and ministry are outlined in the Bible.
Have you ever seen one of those puzzle pictures in which you are supposed to discover the face of a man? You turn it this way and then that way, and finally you suddenly see it just as plain as day. Then you wonder why you hadn’t seen it before. And so, it is with the Scriptures. You will see in them the face of Jesus Christ. He said,
“They testify of me.” (John 5:39)
The Bible tells us about Jesus. And as we study the Bible, the power and love of Jesus Christ will change us. Let us read the Bible and accept it for what it is – the Word of God.” And you can be sure that it can change your life too. All we have to do is just open the Book.
SPECIAL OFFER
If you would like to open the Word of God and discover how it can change your life and bring you blessing, peace and happiness, then I’d like to recommend the free gift we have for all our Incredible Journey viewers today.
It’s the booklet, Finding Treasure: A Beginner’s Guide [to Reading the Bible]. This booklet is our gift to you and is absolutely free. I guarantee there are no costs or obligations whatsoever. So, make the most of this opportunity to get your free gift today.
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Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Word the Bible, which you’ve given to guide us through life and to share the Good News about Jesus and His gift of eternal life. Please bless us and our families as we read and study your word, for we ask it in Jesus’ name, Amen.
