Textus Receptus — Editio Regia, Stephanus (1550)
Robert Estienne's (Stephanus) 1550 Editio Regia is one of the most influential printed Greek New Testaments ever produced. Published in Paris with royal privilege, it established the 'Received Text' (Textus Receptus) tradition that would become the basis for Protestant Reformation-era translations, including Tyndale, the Geneva Bible, and ultimately the King James Version. Stephanus also introduced the modern verse-division system still used in all Bibles today.
History & Background
These ancient manuscripts and early printed editions represent the foundational textual tradition of the Bible. From the great Greek codices — Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus — to the Hebrew Masoretic text, the Latin Vulgate, and the Septuagint, these documents form the bedrock upon which all modern Bible translations rest. They are the raw materials of biblical scholarship, preserved across centuries through the dedication of scribes, monks, and scholars who understood their eternal value.
Canon Proximity Rating
These ancient manuscripts represent the earliest surviving witnesses to the biblical text and are the primary sources for all modern critical editions of the Old and New Testaments.