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How was the Bible formed?


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This discussion came up in another thread
 

 

Before we proceed, could you tell me whether Jesus Christs, or, perhaps, Apostles, or, perhaps, God (through His prophet) directed people to build a collection of literature called Bible?

 

 

1. How as the Bible formed?

2. Who inspired it?

3. Who wrote it?

4. How was it compiled or canonized?

5. Why was it compiled or canonized?

 

Feel free to answer one or all the questions.

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  1. How was the Bible formed?

 

The Bible was formed from the inspired writings of ~ 39 people from circa 1500 BC to circa 90 AD and is dedicated to the revelations of Jesus Christ the Lord Who saves us. It is post cards from God :).

 

1Pe 1:9-12  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.  (10)  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  (11)  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  (12)  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

 

 


  1.  Who inspired it?

 

Jesus Christ.

 

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 


  1. Who wrote it?

 

 Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Gad, Nathan, Jeremiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Mordecai, David et al, Solomon, Agur, Lamuel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, James, Peter, Jude.

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How was the Bible compiled? The books of the old testament I think were taken from the list of books in the Greek translation.

The new testament was taken from the letters and Gospels that had been written by the apostles who were first hand witnesses to the teachings of Christ as well as from Paul. So as a whole they had to be written by the apostles or people who had known and seen Jesus. Some were taken by dictation and the apostle signed his name to it.. The letter to the Hebrews was not signed and so it was not received as authentic by all churches at first. In fact, the various areas had slightly different lists of books that compiled the New Testament at first because some letters had not circulated to all churches

By the end of the first century cults of Gnosticism started creeping into the church. Gnosticism was an eastern mystic religion that believed all matter is evil and only the spiritual is good and real.. Therefore some even thought all women were evil. Tradition says that Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-24) who tried to buy the ability to lay hands on people and was admonished for this, that he was the one who tried to combine Christianity with gnosticism, creating some of the first cults. John warned us about this when he said that we should test the spirits and if they do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, they are not of God. Gnostic were in the habit of waiting till someone died and then writing a false gospel and signing the dead person's name to it. But the disciples of the the apostles were still around and could authenticate or reject the false writings.

People often made their own copies on papyrus of the books and letters. Usually they were scrolls and the best were on fine leather called vellum. But from the 2nd century 4 gospels were recognized by all churches and most of the major letters by the apostles were held by all. Remember that this was close to the time that John died. The various people who had been disciples of the apostlles wrote to each other to better define and understand the teachings of the apostles and quoted various epistles and gospels. We have many of these and most of the new testament has been quoted in these letters of the church fathers, the disciples of the apostle. We also have fragments of the copies of the epistles and gospels. But due to persecution and the fact that the ceasars had ordered the letters and gospels destroyed, they are not abundant. The Eastern (antioch orthodox) church, the Greek orthodox church, and the Roman church all had slight variation in which letters were recognized, like 3rd John. but eventually they mostly came into agreement. The Didache was kept in the Bible by the Eastern Church for a couple of centuries, even though it was never ascribed as from an apostle or from God but was a first century teaching on baptism and church practice.

The various books held as cannon did not contradict each other. They were of the same Spirit and revealed a consistancy in the nature of God. One of the false gnostic books, for instance, told of Jesus during his childhood using his powers to kill children who taunted him. This is not consistant with the nature of Jesus Who was without sin that we find in the accepted gospels. So it is usually pretty easy to tell fact from fiction.

It was not till the last of the 4th century that the scrolls were copied into books.. The Bible looked more like a library of scrolls at one time. That is why ignorant people claim that the Bible was not composed till then, because they were only not bound into one book and it was not till then that they had arrived at uniformity of cannon. This is still not complete since the Catholic church still accepts the Old Testament appochrapha as cannon while the protestant church does not; but some accept it as OK for reading but not for doctrine.

Please correct this as necessary. This is only my somewhat dim recollection. But I made a stab at it.

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This discussion came up in another thread

 

 

Before we proceed, could you tell me whether Jesus Christs, or, perhaps, Apostles, or, perhaps, God (through His prophet) directed people to build a collection of literature called Bible?

 

 

1. How as the Bible formed?

2. Who inspired it?

3. Who wrote it?

4. How was it compiled or canonized?

5. Why was it compiled or canonized?

 

Feel free to answer one or all the questions.

 

 

1.  How was the Bible formed?   

 

SCRIPTURE began with the two tablets, literally written by God on Mount Sinai, perhaps around 1400 BC.   Other writings came to be seen as Scripture (written by God - albeit indirectly) AND as canonical ( a 'rule' or 'measuring stick' for evaluating the validity and truth of positions) - and thus the "collection," the "library" (the meaning of the word "Bible") slowly grew.....   No one knows for sure WHEN all this happened....  In Jesus' day, all Jews accepted the Pentetuch (the first 5 books, sometimes called the Torah), many also accepted the Prophets and History books, some  the "Wisdom Literature."   The LXX, a Greek translation common in Jesus' day, had some 80 books in it - many of which are unfamiliar to many today (for example, Psalm 151).  The Jews "settled" all this at the Council of Jamnia in 90 AD - ending up with the same CONTENT as the typical Protestant OT, but this of course was a Jewish meeting that had little impact on Christians.   Today, all Christians accept the content of the 39 books that all always accepted and that Jamnia officially embraced.  But there are additional books, considered "secondary" (the meaning of the word DEUTERO);  The Oriental Othrodox Churches accept several of these (and ALWAYS has), the Eastern Orthrodox fewer (and always has), and the Roman Catholic Church now accepts just 7 of them (made official at it's meeting at Trent in the 16th Century).   The Anglican Church has  more of these than the RCC but regards them as under the others.   These "extra" books are called "DEUTEROcanonical."   Most don't consider them or their content of particular significance and so there has historically been VERY little debate or interest in this subject or disagreement:  the "extra" DEUTERO books don't seem to be of much significance.

 

The New Testament was written over a MUCH shorter time.   James is often considered the earliest, around 45 AD.  Paul's epistles were likely written in the mid 50's to mid 60's.   Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts probably about this same time, maybe a year or two later  - the epistles of Peter also about this time.   John's Gospel, epistles and Revelation are often dates as last, perhaps as late as 90 AD.   Paul's 13 letters were accepted as Scripture and as canonical almost immediately; the 3 "synoptic" Gospels and Acts also very shortly after their creation.  There were, however, several debated:  2 Peter, Jude, Hebrews, Revelation are examples of questioned books that finally got in.  There were a few unfamiliar to us today that were consider Scripture for awhile.   While about 20 books were accepted almost immediately, it took awhile to "settle" on an exact group of 27.   This was pretty much complete by the end of the 4th century - although for centuries after that, Revelation was questions, and for some 1000 years, Catholic Bibles often contained 28 NT books - the Epistle to the Leodiceans appeared in some Catholic bibles as late as the 17th century.  

 

 

2.  Who Inspired it?    The belief is that God did.  HOW this happened is a mystery.....   The penmen (most unknown) often SEEM unaware that they were penning Scripture - the written word of God, but sometimes - they seem very aware, even stating, "Thus says the Lord." 

 

 

3.  Who Wrote it?   The "penmen" are mostly unknown.....   The men WE attribute are mostly by tradition.  For example, nowhere in the Gospel of Matthew identify Matthew as the penmen - that Matthew wrote it is just ancient tradition. The same with the Gospels of Mark, Luke and John.  Most of the Epistles DO state the penmen (and often note that others were involved, too).   Some Old Testament books:  the Pentetuch, 1-2 Kings, etc. seem to be compelations.

 

 

4.  How was it complied?   See above....  It was a slow process, mostly of CONSENSUS.   For Jews, the OT was "set" in 90 AD - but among Christians, it's still a matter of some dispute (although not one any considers very significant).   For the NT, it was less formal but quicker.   Most (20) of the books were embraced by 100 AD or so.   Other books (Hebrews, James 2 & 3 John, 2 Peter, Jude, Revelation) were not universally and solidly affirmed - that took awhile,  and some others were bounced around that eventually were not embraced.  Certainly by the late 300's, it was done - but again, not ENTIRELY.   The Epistle to the Leodiceans shows up for 1000 + years in Catholic Bibles (but not OOC or EOC ones), Revelation doesn't always appear or if it does, isn't always considered equal to the others.   Today, the Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglicans have unique Bibles - but the difference is those disputed DEUTERO books that none seem to regard as terribly significant.

 

 

5.  Why was it embraced?    We can only speculate......  With the Apostles dying or dead, with the Apostles not able to speak to all congregations in a rapidly growing faith - Scripture came to be the divine witness:  solid, objective, black-and-white, divine, written words (in a sense, like those two tablets Moses brought down).  We see the same in the OT:   Prophets wrote down their story and message near the end of their lives - an everlasting, objective record.  

 

 

I hope that helps!

 

 

- Josiah

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited by CaliforniaJosiah
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2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB95)
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB95)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

 

John 16:13 (NASB95)
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

 

The Bible is from the Holy Spirit.

 

The Bible is interpreted by the Holy Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit interpretation is verified by the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:21 / 1 John 4:1 / Acts 17:11).

 

The Bible was written in such a way as to confirm it is the Word of God through predictive prophecy that is accurately fulfilled (Isaiah 46:10), by revealing to ancient man medical practices and scientific information...  for example the circumcision of males 8 days old even on sabbath... when the male's immune system is at its lifetime peak. This one I love:

 

Job 26:7 (NASB95)
7 “He stretches out the north over empty space And hangs the earth on nothing.

 

The oldest book of the Bible teaches about astrophysics at least 5000 years before man discovers astrophysics.

 

Most ancient societies taught that the world is the universe and the stars are lights up in the expanse like an attic... or that the earth is suspended (the Hindus believe) on turtle's backs. 

 

Someone asked a Hindu lady, what's under the turtles? Antagonized she said "Turtles. Turtles. Turtles all the way down."

 

This is not getting into the evidences in the ancient writing that anticipated foreknowledge before it was written.

 

I realize a lot of silliness has come from equidistant lettering of the Bible but this is not to detract from the evidences that are true.

 

In the Torah / Pentateuch the Torah (TORH) appears every 49th letter forwards in Genesis Exodus and backwards in Numbers and Deuteronomy. In Leviticus the name of God (YHVH) appears every 7th letter. It can be said that the Torah points to the name of God.

 

Every attempts to discredit the Bible in all human history has failed.

 

The Bible records with accuracy found in no human writing. Jesus fulfilled 333 predictive prophecies about himself with many yet to come.

 

The Bible is an integrated message system from beyond time and space. It was written by the scribes of God (I call them) 40 different ones over thousands of years on three continents yet one consistent book (library system). There are 70 books of the Bible when you count the Psalms properly as 5 books.

 

The matter of canonization came from councils that compared texts written with those already canonized in the Old Testament and without glaring errors like descriptions of events long after the facts etc.

 

The Bible is an integrated message system. The Old Testament contains the New Testament concealed. The New Testament contains the Old Testament revealed.

 

And again, we have the Holy Spirit actively involved with all of the events so you can be sure the Bible is the Word of God.

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One more thing.

 

When some texts are brought out to seem to contradict the other, there are two things that come to mind.

 

1. copyist error / editorializing (Genesis 14:14 and 1 John 5:7)

2. the imperfection of human language (speech / understanding)

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This discussion came up in another thread

 

 

Before we proceed, could you tell me whether Jesus Christs, or, perhaps, Apostles, or, perhaps, God (through His prophet) directed people to build a collection of literature called Bible?

 

 

1. How as the Bible formed?

2. Who inspired it?

3. Who wrote it?

 

The Bible was formed over a period of approximately 1500 years.  Generally over an area from the Mideast area of the World, including Egypt, but especially dealing with Israel.   God made it as a love letter to the followers of Jesus Christ who the Bible was formed about so that we might learn of Him, Malachi 3:1 and John 5:39

God inspired it, by the Holy Spirit the Third Member of the Trinity.

Many human have written it,  but it was truly written by the finger of God.

 

4. How was it compiled or canonized?

5. Why was it compiled or canonized?

The Old Testament/Tanakh was given to the Christians from the Jews, as for the New Testament/B'rit Hadashah IMO early church leaders look at all the books that were available and if they where associated with an Apostle and noted if they quoted  OT for proof of Jesus as the Messiah/Christ that they where inspired by God.  As the Apostles where all filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2;  and as such they were well qualified to write the NT.

It was compiled and canonized because groups such as the gnostic had they own canon which we can now see in many gospel and letters being discover recently.  But none of these had any connection to the OT, or an Apostle (although some claimed to have been written by apostle).

 

Feel free to answer one or all the questions.

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This discussion came up in another thread

 

 

Before we proceed, could you tell me whether Jesus Christs, or, perhaps, Apostles, or, perhaps, God (through His prophet) directed people to build a collection of literature called Bible?

 

 

1. How as the Bible formed?

2. Who inspired it?

3. Who wrote it?

4. How was it compiled or canonized?

5. Why was it compiled or canonized?

 

Feel free to answer one or all the questions.

1./4. - Different cannons of the different denominations have different stories. In general, however,  a group of people who were considered leaders got together and debated about what stories belonged in the various collections.

 

2./5. - Our human need for answering questions inspired the writing of many of the stories in the Bible. Also, many of the stories may be based on real events or actual people and places. Finally, some of the laws in the Bible stories provide a code to attempt to organize people under a common belief.

 

3. Various authors wrote the Bible stories.

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3. Various authors wrote the Bible stories.

 

~

 

Many Voices

 

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

 

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

 

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:32-40

 

One God

 

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:21

 

~

 

Believe

 

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

 

Believe

 

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23

 

And Be Blessed

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

 

Beloved

 

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Psalms 119:160

 

Love, Joe

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This discussion came up in another thread

 

 

Before we proceed, could you tell me whether Jesus Christs, or, perhaps, Apostles, or, perhaps, God (through His prophet) directed people to build a collection of literature called Bible?

 

1. How as the Bible formed?

2. Who inspired it?

3. Who wrote it?

4. How was it compiled or canonized?

5. Why was it compiled or canonized?

 

Feel free to answer one or all the questions.

 

1. How is the Bible formed? By The Will of God and His Good Pleasure

unto a chosen people who were to evangelize the whole earth-

Ps 147:19;

Ex 20:1-17; 24:3; 34:27-28;

Deut 5:5; Isa 2:3

Mic 4:2;

Matt 15:6

Mark 7:13

2. Who inspired it? God testified it through statement, example,

Through His Son, and ultimately the fulfillment of every Word by

humanity experienced!

Jer 1:9; 1 Sam 3:1; Jer 25:3

1 Kings 17:24; 2 Kings 24:2;

2 Chron 36:12,15; Isa 16:13; 24:3;

Jer 7:1; 14:1; Amos 8:11-12; Mal 1:1

Pin pointed

WORD OF GOD

Dan 9:2

Rom 3:2; 15:4

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