The Bible: A Brief History

Summary

This video explores the history and formation of the Bible, from its origins in Hebrew scriptures to the establishment of the Christian canon. It highlights the role of the Septuagint, early Christian debates on which texts to include, and the decisions made by Church councils to affirm the canon. The video contrasts the Catholic and Protestant versions of the Bible, discussing the impact of the Reformation and Martin Luther’s objections to certain books. Ultimately, it emphasizes the Catholic Church’s authority in determining the inspired Word of God, providing a historical context to the Bible we know today.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Bible is considered by Christians to be the inspired word of God, but many do not know its history or how it came into existence.
• 😀 The Bible, meaning 'books' in Greek, is a record of God's love for humanity, tracing the history of His chosen family from fall to redemption.
• 😀 The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew and contains God's covenant with His people leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ.
• 😀 The Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek (Septuagint) around 280 BC, which became the version used by Jesus and His disciples.
• 😀 The Septuagint included 46 books, which were used by early Christians and referred to in the New Testament writings.
• 😀 The Hebrew Bible's canon was finalized around the end of the first century, but this decision excluded seven books from the Septuagint.
• 😀 There were disagreements within Judaism regarding the canon, and the Ethiopian Jews still use the same Old Testament as Catholics today.
• 😀 The New Testament was written between 50 and 100 AD, but early Christian churches did not have the complete New Testament to guide them.
• 😀 The early Christian church faced disputes over which writings were inspired, with many apocryphal books and gospels circulating.
• 😀 The canon of the Bible was finalized under the guidance of the Catholic Church through several councils in the 4th century, establishing 73 books as the true scripture.
• 😀 The Protestant Reformation in the 1500s led to Martin Luther rejecting seven Old Testament books and questioning the inspiration of some New Testament books, resulting in the Protestant Bible containing only 66 books.

Q & A

What is the primary belief of Christians about the Bible?

Christians believe that the Bible is a revelation from God, and they base their beliefs around the words of scripture.

Why do many Christians accept the Bible without understanding its origins?

Many Christians accept the Bible as the complete word of God without fully understanding how, when, by whom, and by what authority it came into existence.

What is the Greek word for 'Bible,' and what does it signify?

The Greek word for 'Bible' is 'biblia,' meaning 'books,' which refers to the Bible as God's divine love letter and the history of God's relationship with His people.

When was the Bible written, and how was it composed?

The complete Bible was written approximately between 2,000 BC and 100 AD. It is made up of writings inspired by God but composed in human language.

Why is the Old Testament called the 'Old Testament'?

The Old Testament is called so because it was written before the birth of Jesus Christ and contains the story of God's people and their journey to becoming His chosen family.

What is the significance of the Septuagint in the history of the Bible?

The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, made around 280 BC. It was the version used by Christ and his disciples, and it contains 46 books.

How did the Babylonian exile influence the language of the Bible?

After the Babylonian exile, the Hebrew language was replaced by Greek for Jews living outside of Palestine, leading to the translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek in the form of the Septuagint.

How did the Jewish leaders in Jamnia impact the canon of the Bible?

In about 80 AD, Jewish leaders in Jamnia decided on the Hebrew canon, rejecting seven books from the Septuagint and establishing the Jewish Scriptures. This was done after most of the apostles had died and much of the New Testament had been written.

What role did the Catholic Church play in determining the canon of the Bible?

The Catholic Church played a key role in determining the canon of the Bible. Through councils like those in Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD), the Church officially confirmed the 27 books of the New Testament and 46 books of the Old Testament, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

How did Martin Luther's views on the Bible differ from the Catholic Church's teachings?

Martin Luther rejected the authority of the Catholic Church during the Reformation and questioned the inspiration of seven books in the Old Testament. He also raised doubts about the inspiration of four New Testament books, leading to a Bible with only 66 books, in contrast to the Catholic Bible's 73.