Who Wrote The Bible: 10 Key Things To Know

Who Wrote The Bible: 10 Key Things To Know

The Bible is the most widely circulated book in the world. The sacred texts and scriptures that Jews and Christians consider to come from divine inspiration as well as show the relationship between God and humans. It has been divided into two main parts; the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the sacred text of Judaism that contains the Torah which are the first five books of the Bible. The New Testament is the Christian Bible which contains the Gospels, the Epistles, and the Book of Revelation.

The Bible is a complex text that has been interpreted in many different ways over the centuries. Over the course of 1,500 years with about 40 different authors who wrote it in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

Here are 10 Key Things to Know about the origin of the Bible;

1. It has Over Different Authors

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The Bible has been recorded to have been written by 40 different authors who came from varying backgrounds. Some of them were priests, prophets, kings, and shepherds. However, it should be noted that the bible took 1,500 years to be fully completed. Some of the authors who are named in the Bible include Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul, and John. The collection of books in the Bible was each written by a different author at different times.

Many people note that the authors of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit in order to record real events. Even though they are human writings that record in detail every special event that took place from Genesis to Revelation.

2. It has Three Original Languages

The Bible is divided into two parts each with different languages. Scholars have noted that Hebrew and Aramaic can be found in the Old Testament. As for the New Testament, it was entirely written in Greek. Hebrew can be noted in the Torah books which are the first five books of the Bible. The old Aramaic language is said to be spoken by Jesus and his disciples. Aramaic can be found in parts of the New Testament and some books of the Old Testament.

Greek was the language of the Roman Empire. The New Testament was written in Greek because the audience spoke about the language. The original languages of the Bible are still important for scholars and theologians.

3. The Bible has been Translated into Over 3,000 languages

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The first translation of the Bible was into Latin in the 4th century AD. However, since then the Bible has been translated into many languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and Hindi. Due to the fact that it is an important text to many people, the translation of the Bible makes it possible for everyone around the world to have access to it. Scholars have noted that the Bible is a complex text that becomes easier when understood in one’s language. Making the Bible accessible to everyone in the world is a very important thing.

4. Scholars can Trace The Bible’s History

There have been a number of scholars who have dedicated their lives to studying the history of the Bible. Scholars like Bart Ehrman, James Kugel, Carol Meyers, John J. Collins, and N.T. Wright. Each of these scholars has authored books based on the bible. Bart Ehrman has authored the book Lost Christianities, James Kugel has authored The Great Shift, and John J. Collins has authored the book Daniel: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel.

5. It was Originally Written in Scrolls

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The Bible was written in scrolls that were made of parchment or vellum. The parchment was made from animal skin while the vellum is a material made from calfskin. At the time, scrolls were the most common form of writing material, they were used by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans as well as other civilizations. Early Christians used scrolls to write down the Bible. It should be noted that there are still some Bibles that are written on scrolls during recent times. They are often used in traditional Jewish and Christian services.

6. It was Completed in the 4th Century AD

The first bible was completed during the 4th Century AD. It was written on a codex which is a book with pages. Codices were very popular during the 4th century AD due to the fact that they were easier to read and write in than scrolls. It wasn’t until recent times that the Bible was printed in books. The first Bible was written in black on a light-colored background and was decorated with colorful illustrations and borders.

7. The Bible has Famous Translations

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The King James Version Bible was published in 1611. It is based on the Vulgate which was the standard bible for many centuries. It slowly became the standard Bible for English-speaking Protestants for many centuries. Some of the other new translations of the Bible include the New International Version, the English Standard Version, and the New Revised Standard Version. They are all based on the original manuscripts of the Bible.

8. It had a Vulgate Version Bible

For many centuries, the Vulgate was the standard Bible. Even though it wasn’t accessible to most people, it was widely spread. It was a Latin translation of the Bible that was completed by Jerome in the early 5th century AD. Jerome consulted with other scholars and theologians to ensure the translation was accurate. The Vulgate was used by many Western churches for over a thousand years. Through the Vulgate, Christians were able to understand as well as interpret the Bible for centuries.

9. Jerome is Among the First Recorded Translators

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Jerome is the author of the Vulgate Bible. He was a scholar and theologian who was born in 347 AD.  He studied in Rome and then traveled to the East where he learned Hebrew and Aramaic. in 382 AD, Jerome returned to Rome where he was commissioned by Pope Damasus I to translate the Bible into Latin. Jerome translated the Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testament accurately. However, in order for him to perfect his work, he consulted other scholars and theologians.

10. It is a Sacred and Historical Book

The Bible has an estimated 5 billion copies that have been sold and distributed. It is popular because it is important to billions of people around the world. Aside from being a religious text, it is also historically important. The Bible tells the story of the ancient Israelites and their journey from slavery in Egypt. The Bible is also an engaging book that contains stories about love, loss, and redemption.