Constantine Tischendorf: The Life and Work of a 19th Century Bible Hunter

by Stanley E. Porter

Constantin von Tischendorf was a pioneer. He existed in an age when biblical studies as we know it was being formed, when the quest for forgotten manuscripts and lost treasures was being undertaken with no less zeal and intrigue than it is today. It was Tischendorf who found, and preserved, the oldest extant version of the complete bible that we know of, the so-called Codex Sinaiticus, which he discovered in poor condition at St Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai, in 1846.With the discovery of the Codex Tischendorf, and others, was to take the study of biblical texts further than ever before, through linguistic methods, and attention to the most ancient sources available. In many ways Tischendorf was a father figure of the modern Historical Critical Method.In this short biography, Stanley E. Porter, himself one of the most respected scholars of the New Testament and Koine Greek currently writing, gives a portrait of Tischendorf's life and work, together with an annotated republication of Tischendorf's influential work on the Gospels. Published to celebrate Tischendorf's bicentenary, in 2015, this volume will be a must for those seeking to understand how the study of biblical manuscripts began, and to understand the man who discovered the oldest version of the bible as we know it.

Genres: Biography, Church History, History

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 18, 2014

About the author

Stanley E. Porter (PhD, University of Sheffield) is president, dean, and professor of New Testament, and Roy A. Hope Chair in Christian Wolrdview at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario. He has authored or edited dozens of books, including How We Got the New Testament and Fundamentals of New Testament Greek.

Reviews

[Mark Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief but enjoyable.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serviceable short biography largely focused on Tischendorf's academy life and achievements. If you are interested in the man of discovered Codex Sinaiticus, this will help you become a little more acquainted with his story. In addition to being brilliant, he was a staunch defender of the faith, something I had not previously known.

Included also is Tischendorf's "When Were Our Gospels Written?" This is a helpful little pamphlet that covers much of the basic ground in defense of the Gospels' authenticity. The language is slightly dated, but I think it would still be helpful in the present.

[Ben Montoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Work

Excellent work explaining both in life and work of Tischendorf in a simple and easy to understand fashion. A must read for anyone who engages in textual criticism of the New Testament.