The summary below was prepared by Claude.ai of the Biblical Archaeology Society article What’s Missing from Codex Sinaiticus, the Oldest New Testament? Compare differences between the King James Version and Codex Sinaiticus. BAS Staff August 18, 2026. Examines the textual differences between Codex Sinaiticus, dated to the mid-fourth century C.E. and the oldest complete New Testament manuscript, and the authorized King James Version. The article explores the implications of these omissions while addressing the controversial figure of Constantine Tischendorf, who discovered and removed the manuscript from St. Catherine’s Monastery.
Major Omissions with Theological Implications
The article identifies several significant passages missing from Codex Sinaiticus:
- The Markan Resurrection (Mark 16:9–20): The longer resurrection narrative ending Mark’s Gospel is entirely absent. According to the article, Tischendorf was unconcerned by this omission, having believed that Matthew was written first and Mark was an abridged version of Matthew’s account.
- The Lord’s Prayer Conclusion (Matthew 6:13): Codex Sinaiticus omits the doxology “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (NRSV: “for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen”).
- The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 7:53–8:11): This entire pericope is completely absent from Codex Sinaiticus.
- Jesus’ Ascension (Luke 24:51): The phrase about being “carried up into heaven” is omitted, leaving no explicit ascension narrative in the Gospels.
- Mark 1:1: The original hand of the manuscript omits “the Son of God,” though this phrase appears as a later interlinear addition above the line.
Additional Textual Variations
The article notes Luke 9:55–56 is abbreviated in Codex Sinaiticus, removing Jesus’ explanation that the Son of Man came “not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (NRSV).
Alterations Reflecting Later Theological Development
Matthew 24:36 shows evidence of theological alteration. The King James Version reads “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only,” while Codex Sinaiticus includes “nor the Son,” explicitly limiting Christ’s knowledge—a change potentially reflecting later theological controversies about Christ’s omniscience.
Scholarly Context
The article cites James Bentley regarding Tischendorf’s interpretive framework, while noting that modern scholarship generally recognizes Mark as the oldest of the Synoptic Gospels—a position that raises theological concerns about the omission of the resurrection in Mark.
The Markan Resurrection – (Mark 16: 1–14)
King James Version
1“And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
The following verses were not in Codex Sinaiticus
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Codex Sinaiticus
1 “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
The Lord’s Prayer – (Matthew 6:9–13)
King James Version – v.13 was added
9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Codex Sinaiticus
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
The woman caught in adultery – (John 7:53–8:11)
Codex Sinaiticus – Completely absent.
King James Version
7:53 And every man went unto his own house.
8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 and early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him: and he sat down, and taught them
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Significant omitted verses –
King James Version
Luke 24:51: “And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.”
Mark 1:1: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;”
Luke 9:55–56: “But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”
Codex Sinaiticus – What is in the KJV that is not in the Codex.
Luke 24:51 Omits “carried up into heaven.” Leaving no ascension in the Gospels.
Mark 1:1 Adds the phrase “the Son of God” only above the line, as a later addition.
Luke 9:55–56: “But he turned and rebuked them. And they went to another village.” See above text in bold that is not in the Codex.
