“Rose Publishing”
Bruce L. Shelly
Kent Powderly
“Bible”
“τὰ βιβλία” (“tà biblía”)
meaning "the books"
1
Key Points
The Bible is inspired by God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
2 Peter 1:20-21
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV84)
“All
Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of
God may be thoroughly equipped
for every good work.”
2 Peter 1:20–21 (NLT)
“Above all, you must realize that
no prophecy in Scripture ever
came from the prophet’s own
understanding, or from human
initiative. No, those prophets were
moved by the Holy Spirit, and they
spoke from God.”
Old Testament:
Clay
39 books
Written
approximately
1500-400 BC
Stone
Leather
New Testament:
papyrus
27 books
Written
approximately
AD 45-100
The oldest New Testament fragment
(from John 18) that we have today was
copied in Greek on a papyrus codex
(folded book) around AD 110-130.
3
Key Points
The Old Testament was
written mainly in
Hebrew, with some
Aramaic.
A sample of
Aramaic letters.
The letter “aleph”
in Hebrew script.
The New Testament
was written in
Greek.
A sample of
Greek letters.
The letter “alpha” in
Koine Greek dialect.
Matthew 5:18 (ESV)
“For truly, I say to you, until heaven
and earth pass away, not an iota,
not a dot, will pass from the Law
until all is accomplished.”
In Aramaic the “iota” is highlighted
in red.
4
Key Points
The books of the Bible were
collected and arranged and
recognized as inspired sacred
authority by councils of rabbis and
councils of church leaders based
on careful guidelines.
(The “Cannon” of Scripture)
5
Key Points
Before the printing press was
invented, the Bible was copied
by hand, very accurately. In
many cases it was copied by
special scribes who develop
intricate methods of counting
words and letters to insure that
no errors were made.
6
Key Points
The Bible was the first book
ever printed on the printing
press with moveable type on
Gutenberg’s Press, in 1455, it
was the Latin Bible (Vulgate).
7
Key Points
There is much evidence that the
Bible we have today is remarkably
true to the original writings. Of the
thousands of copies made by hand
before AD 1500, more than 5,300
Greek manuscripts from the New
Testament alone still exist today.
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
“The grass withers, the flower
fades, but the word of our God will
stand forever…” 55:11 “…so shall
my word be that goes out from my
mouth; it shall not return to me
empty, but it shall accomplish that
which I purpose, and shall succeed
in the thing for which I sent it.”
AUTHOR
DATE
Homer
850 B.C.
EARLIEST TIME SPAN NUMBER
ACCURACY
643
95%
1,350
8
not enough
copies
Euripedes 440 B.C. A.D. 1100 1,500
9
not enough
copies
1,300
8
not enough
copies
Herodotus 450 B.C. A.D. 900
Thucydides 420 B.C. A.D. 900
Plato
380 B.C. A.D. 900
1,300
7
reconstruct
Aristotle
350 B.C. A.D. 1100
1,400
5
reconstruct
Caesar
60 B.C. A.D. 900
950
10
reconstruct
Catullus
50 B.C. A.D. 1500
1,600
3
Tacitus
A.D. 100 A.D. 1100
1,000
20
original
NT
A.D. 60 A.D. 130
100
14,000
99.5%
AD 500
The Masoretes
• The Masoretic Jews develop a meticulous
system of counting the number of
words in each book of the Bible to
make sure it was copied accurately.
• Any scroll found to have an error is
buried according to Jewish law.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
ow We Got the
ible
A Time Line of Key Events in the
History of the Bible
Original Manuscripts
1500 BC - AD 100
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
1500-400 BC
Old Testament
Events are written down in Hebrew
(Aramaic) over many centuries. In
Exodus, the LORD tells Moses to write
in a book. Other writers, inspired by
God, include leaders, kings and
prophets. Together, these writings on
leather scrolls and other materials are
called the Hebrew Scriptures or Old
Testament.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
450 BC
Ezra
According to Jewish
tradition, Ezra, a priest
and scribe, collects
and arranges some of
the books of the
Hebrew Bible and
updates the language.
(450 BC)
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
Nehemiah 8:8 (NIV84)
“They (Ezra & the Scribes) read
from the Book of the Law of God,
making it clear and giving the
meaning so that the people could
understand what was being
read.”
250-100 BC
The Septuagint
The Septuagint (70) is the first Greek
translation of the Hebrew Bible.
It was translated in 250-100 BC by
Jewish scholars in Alexandria, Egypt.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
250-100 BC
The Septuagint
The 53 books of this translation are
arranged by subject.




1500 BC
Torah
History
Poetry
Prophecy
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
Papyrus
200 BC
The papyrus plant is
cut into strips and
pressed into sheets of
writing material and
can be made into a
scroll or a codex.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
Papyrus
200 BC
A papyrus codex is a
bound volume made
from sheets folded and
sewn together,
sometimes with a cover.
They are used
more than scrolls after
AD 1-100.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 45-100
Followers of Jesus
Followers of Jesus write eye-witness
reports (Gospels), history, letters to other
believers, and the Revelation.
•
•
•
•
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
•
•
•
•
Paul
James
Peter
Jude
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
Luke 1:1–4 (NIV84)
“Many have undertaken to draw up
an account of the things that have
been fulfilled among us, just as
they were handed down to us by
those who from the first were
eyewitnesses and servants of the
word…
Therefore, since I myself have
carefully investigated everything
from the beginning, it seemed
good also to me to write an
orderly account for you, most
excellent Theophilus, so that you
may know the certainty of the
things you have been taught.”
John 21:24–25 (NIV84)
“This is the disciple who testifies
to these things and who wrote
them down. We know that his
testimony is true. Jesus did many
other things as well. If every one of
them were written down, I suppose
that even the whole world would
not have room for the books that
would be written.”
AD 45-100
Followers of Jesus
The writers quote from all but
eight of the Old Testament
books.
Examples:
Psalm 118:22-23 & Matthew 21:42
Isaiah 52:7 & Romans 10:15
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
“The stone the builders rejected has
become the capstone; the LORD has
done this, and it is marvelous in our
eyes.” Psalm 118:22-23
“Jesus said to them, “Have you never
read in the Scriptures: The stone the
builders rejected has become the
capstone; the Lord has done this, and it
is marvelous in our eyes.” Matthew 21:42
Romans 10:14–15 (NKJV)
How then shall they call on Him in
whom they have not believed? And
how shall they believe in Him of whom
they have not heard? And how shall
they hear without a preacher? 15 And
how shall they preach unless they are
sent? As it is written: “How beautiful
are the feet of those who preach the
gospel of peace, Who bring glad
tidings of good things!” (Is. 52:7)
AD 100
New Testament
The original writings are copied
and circulated so that by
approximately AD 150 there is
wide enough use of them to
speak of the “New Testament”
(“New Covenant”).
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 200-300
Early Translations
Earliest Translations:
 Latin
 Coptic (Egypt)
 Syriac (Syria)
Early Coptic
Translation
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 200-300
Church Fathers
Church fathers accept the writings
of the Gospels and Paul’s letters
as “canonical” (from a Greek word
referring to the rule of faith and truth) or
forming a “cannon”.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 397
The Canon
The 27 books of the
New Testament are
formally confirmed as
canonical by the
Synod of Carthage in
AD 397, thus
recognizing three
centuries of use by
followers of Christ.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 400
Jerome
Jerome starts translating
the Scriptures into Latin
in AD 410 and finishes 25
years later. This
translation, called the
Latin “Vulgate”, remains
the basic Bible for many
centuries.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
Jerome
AD 1900
AD 2000
The Latin Vulgate
Vulgate
AD 400
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
Sources Used: Ancient
Greek and Hebrew Copies
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 400
Bible Copies
Fine quality animal skins
from calves or antelope
(vellum) and sheep or
goats (parchment) are
used for over 1,000 years
to make copies of the
Bible. (AD 300-1400)
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 600
The Bible in Britain
Christianity reaches
Britain (England)
before AD 300, but
Anglo-Saxon pagans
drive Christian
Britons into Wales
(AD 450-600).
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
Britain
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 800-900
The Bible in Britain
Alfred The Great,
King of Wessex
(AD 871-901)
translates portions
of Exodus, Psalms,
and Acts into
Anglo-Saxon.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 955-1020
The Bible in Britain
Aelfric
(AD 955-1020)
translates portions
of the Latin Old
Testament into
Anglo-Saxon.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
A Portion of Psalm 50
in Anglo-Saxon
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 1300
The Bible in Britain
Normans (French)
conquer England
(AD 1066) and make
French the official
language. No English
translation of the Bible
is produced until the
1300s.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 1300
The Wycliffe Bible
The first translation of
the whole Bible into
English is named after
John Wycliffe, an
English priest , scholar,
and diplomat.
John Wycliffe 1330-1384
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 1300
The Wycliffe Bible
His followers,
derisively called
Lollards (“mumblers”),
include Wycliffe’s
criticisms of the
church in the preface
to the Wycliffe Bible.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
Wycliffe Bible, AD 1384
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
Wycliffe
AD 1380
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
Sources Used:
The Vulgate
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
John 1:1-5 (Middle English)
“In the bigynnyng was the word, and the
word was at God, and God was the word.
This was in the bigynnyng at God. Alle
thingis weren maad bi hym, and
withouten hym was maad no thing, that
thing that was maad. In hym was lijf,
and the lijf was the liyt of men; and the
liyt schyneth in derknessis, and
derknessis comprehendiden not it.”
AD 1408
The Wycliffe Bible
In AD 1408, in
England, it becomes
illegal to translate or
read the Bible in
common English
without permission
from a bishop.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 1428
The Wycliffe Bible
In AD 1415, the
Wycliffe Bible is
banned and burned.
Forty years after
Wycliffe’s death, in AD
1428, his bones are
exhumed and burned
for heresy.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 1455
The Printing Press
The first book
ever printed was
the Vulgate
translation of the
Bible.
Gutenberg and The
First Printing Press
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
The Gutenberg
Bible was often
illuminated by
artists who hand
paint letters and
ornaments on
each page.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
The last words of
John Hus were that,
“in 100 years, God
will raise up a man
whose calls for
reform cannot be
suppressed.”
Jan Hus 1369-1415
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 1517
Martin Luther
Martin Luther nailed his
famous 95 Theses of
Contention (a list of 95
issues of heretical
theology and crimes of
the Roman Catholic
Church) onto the church
door at Wittenberg.
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
Martin Luther
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 1496
Thomas Linacre
“Either these
(Greek
Manuscripts) are
not the Gospel…
or we are not
Christians”
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
AD 1496
John Colet
Oxford
Professor
(Son of the
Mayor of
London)
1500 BC
500 BC
AD 1
AD 500
AD 1000
AD 1500
AD 1900
AD 2000
St. Paul’s London
Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95)
“For the word of God is living and
active and sharper than any two-edged
sword, and piercing as far as the
division of soul and spirit, of both joints
and marrow, and able to judge the
thoughts and intentions of the heart.”