The Textual Character of the Seventh century Corrections to Codex Sinaiticus in Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, and Hebrews :with a Comparison of the Textual Decision Reflected in the Equivalent Ebembe Text

Abstract

The present thesis sets out to ascertain the nature of the texts used by seventh century correctors of Codex Sinaiticus, symbolized. The thesis also seeks to determine how far the Ebembe New Testament agrees with either :A* or the seventh century corrections to Codex ~, and to assess the value of _the current Ebembe New Testament. The focus of this study is on Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians and Hebrews. Chapter One, the Introduction, gives the full name and details of the manuscript and its discovery. The place and date of writing of Codex ~, the main purpose of this research and the statement of the problem are all discussed in this introductory section. Dr. Bruce M. Metzger's conflicting statements about the textual character of the corrections brought to Codex Sinaiticus in the seventh century are also evaluated with the goal of determining whether these emendations are Byzantine or of a different text-type. This chapter also specifies the material to be consulted for this work and gives the definitions of terms. The second chapter begins with the fascinating story of the discovery of this important manuscript of the Bible. Then it spells out the previous research carried out and makes it plain that no major work has been published on the seventh century correctors. Hence, in this chapter, the present researcher seeks to ascertain the type of texts on which seventh century corrections to Codex ~ were based. Chapter Three comprises the full collation of all variants involved in comparing ~* and ~ 9.... , and is therefore the most extensive chapter of the thesis. This collation is used to determine the textual character of the seventh century corrections to the Sinai tic Codex. The Ebembe variants are also included in this chapter. Chapter Four includes the actual identification of the texts followed by the correctors of Codex Sinaiticus in the seventh century and final recommendations. In this chapter, arguments are raised against Dr. Bruce M. Metzger's view, and, in the light of the findings derived from the previous chapter, the sources used by seventh century correctors of Codex ~ are identified to be of various text-types. One appendix summarises the researcher's comments on the currently available translation of the Ebembe New Testament, with his conclusion.