The Holy Bible: A Journey Through Time and Translations
The word "Bible" in English is derived from the Greek term "Tabiblia" (ta biblia). Its significance encompasses the collective wisdom of numerous compact books. With a history spanning 3,500 years and contributions from various authors over 1,500 years, the Bible stands as a monumental work inspired by the divine, according to scholars and writers.
Key Divisions of the Bible:
The Bible is divided into two main parts— the Old Testament, written in Hebrew and Aramaic, and the New Testament.
The former includes ancient texts scribed in languages like Hebrew and Aramaic. The latter, introduced by the advent of Jesus Christ, contains teachings, parables, and accounts written in Greek, portraying the life and teachings of Jesus.
Sources of the Bible:
The primary sources of the Bible include various documents and manuscripts that form the foundation of the sacred text. Here are some of the most important primary sources of the Bible:
1. Received as Autographs (Original Writings):
All the books of the Old Testament were written either in Hebrew or in Aramaic. It is believed that Abraham was called by God to Canaan in 1875 BC and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt was in 1450 BC. 'Genesis and Deuteronomy' are believed to have been written during the time of Moses around 1450 - 1400 BC.
When we discussed about the sources through which documents were received for compiling the true Bible that we see today, we have mentioned about Autographs and oral evidences.In Autograph category the text were written personally either by the author himself or sought the assistance of another person. An example we can see in chapter 31; 19 to. Here LORD GOD of Israel commands Moses to write and he wrote and taught the Israelites orally also by song.
i. Deuteronomy
31:19 "Therefore write this hymn and teach it to the children of Israel; Commit to memory this praise to the children of Israel, that it may be a testimony to me.
31:24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished.
31:25 God commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the law:
31:26 You shall take this book of the law and put it next to the ark of the law of the Lord your God; There it will be a witness against you. So they passed down orally from generation to generation the historical events - God's dealings - that were written down from the time of Moses and taught to them by their forefathers from generation to generation."
ii. Era of Written documents about the Old Testament
* BC 1450 to BC 1400 - The books of Genesis and Deuteronomy were written in Hebrew.
* BC 586 Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and took the Jews as captives to Babylon. They began to speak Aramaic from that time.
* BC 555 to BC 545 - Daniel chapter 2;4, to 7; up to 28 were written in Aramaic.
* BC 425 - The book of Malachi was written in Hebrew.
* BC 400 Ezra chapters 4:8 to 6, 18 & 7; Chapters 12 - 26 were written in Aramaic.
2. Manuscripts:
Manuscripts are true copy of the original and were written on the leaves of the Papyrus plant or kept in scrolls on goat skins (parchment). The oldest and most significant manuscripts include the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Aleppo Codex, and the Leningrad Codex.
New Testament Manuscripts include the Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, and Codex Alexandrinus.
i. The Dead Sea Scrolls:
These important Old Testament writings were discovered in 1947 by His Grace, Samuel Mar Athanasios, Archbishop of Jerusalem of the Church of Antioch. Many inscriptions written on parchment scrolls were found sealed in various jars and stored in a cave. Written in Aramaic from 200 BC to AD 70, these parchment scrolls contained the entire book of the prophet Isaiah and many parts of the Old Testament except for Esther.
ii. Geniza Fragments:
In 1947, several fragments of Old Testament books written in Hebrew and Aramaic were found in an old synagogue in Cairo, Egypt.
2. Translations:
Translations of the Bible into various languages serve as important sources.
During BC - 250 The Old Testament was translated into Greek. This translation is known as the Septuagint. This translation is called so because the translation was carried out by 70 people, according to the Roman numeral system seventy have this name. This Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, important for understanding early Christian interpretation.
Vulgate: A Latin translation by Jerome, commissioned by the Catholic Church in the 4th century.
The translation of the Old Testament into Aramaic began in 400 BC. This translation is called Aramaic Targums.
3. Oral Traditions:
Some parts of the Bible were transmitted orally before being written down. The oral traditions include stories, hymns, and teachings that were passed down through generations.
4. Historical and Archaeological Records:
Inscriptions, artifacts, and records from ancient civilizations provide historical context and corroborate certain biblical events and figures.
5. Early Christian Writings:
Early Christian writings and letters, such as the works of the apostles Paul, Peter, and John, contribute to the understanding of the New Testament.
6. Church Fathers' Quotations:
The writings of early Christian theologians, known as the Church Fathers, contain quotations from and references to biblical texts, aiding in the reconstruction of the biblical text.
7. Dead Sea Scrolls:
Discovered in the mid-20th century, the Dead Sea Scrolls include fragments of almost every book of the Old Testament and provide valuable insights into the text's preservation.
8. Septuagint (LXX):
The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, created in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. It is particularly significant for understanding the Old Testament in the Hellenistic Jewish context.
These primary sources, along with scholarly analysis and historical research, contribute to the study and understanding of the Bible's development and transmission throughout history.
The Bible encompasses narratives of Abraham's liberation from servitude, the crossing of the Red Sea, divine commandments, the observance of Passover, and the generational transmission of these sacred events. It also highlights the actions of King David, the Psalms in his praise, and prophecies delivered by prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah.
The Holy Bible includes the teachings of patriarchs, the wisdom of King David, the prophecies of Isaiah, and the insights of Jeremiah. These timeless teachings have been passed down from the era of the Old Testament to the inception of the New Testament, serving as an invaluable guide for humanity.
Records Received in Old Testament Times
All the books of the Old Testament were written in Hebrew and Aramaic. It is believed that Abraham was called by God to Canaan in 1875 BC and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt was in 1450 BC. 'Genesis and Deuteronomy' are believed to have been written during the time of Moses around 1450 - 1400 BC.
When we discussed sources above, we saw that the codification of the Bible accepted both written and oral evidence as authoritative. See what is written about it in the book of Deuteronomy.
31:19 Therefore write this hymn and teach it to the children of Israel; Commit to memory this praise to the children of Israel, that it may be a testimony to me.
31:24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished.
31:25 God commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the law.
31:26 You shall take this book of the law and put it next to the ark of the law of the Lord your God; There it will be a witness against you. So they passed down orally from generation to generation the historical events - God's dealings - that were written down from the time of Moses and taught to them by their forefathers from generation to generation.
Old Testament books
The books of the Old Testament were written together as one and considered by the Old Testament church as their scripture. The Jewish Bible, written in Hebrew, divides the books of the Old Testament into three. Those are:
1. The Torah: The Jewish people believed that Moses himself wrote the five books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
2. 8 prophetic books called Nebium
Writings of the prophets written before and after the exile
Previous Prophets
Joshua, Judges: 1,2 Samuel; 1, 2, Kings
Although these are historical books, they state the will of God revealed through the histories of the Israelites, so these are also called prophecies.
Later Prophets
Name ................ Period
Jonah 810 BC to 700 BC
Amos 780 BC to 760 BC
Isaiah 750 BC to 695 BC
Yovel 790 BC to 760 BC
Hosea 785 BC to 725 BC
Isaiah 740 BC to 725 BC
3. Immediately before exile and during exile.
Nahum 660 BC to 630 BC
Zephaniah 630 BC to 620 BC
Habakkuk 620 BC to 610 BC
Daniel 606 BC to 534 BC
Haskiel 596 BC to 574 BC
Obadiah 587 BC
3) After exile
Haggai 520 BC to 518 BC
Zechariah 520 BC to 510 BC
Malachi 420 BC to 397 BC
4) Ketubim (other books written)
Psalms, Proverbs, Job (books of verse) and
a) 'Megilotha' (scrolls) read on five feasts :- Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes one, Lamentations, Esther
b) Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah
The Jews equated the Torah with the Holy Place, the Nebiah with the Holy Place, and the Ketubim with the Temple.
The Jewish scriptures were written in Hebrew. However, scholars suggest that Daniel 2:4-7, 28, Ezra 4:8, 6:18, and 7:12-26 were written in Aramaic.
Eg: Mene Mene Thekel Upharsheen - Syriac.
After returning from the Babylonian exile, the Hebrew language declined a bit. All the people started speaking in Aramaya (Syriac) which they had used during their exile. But the language of worship was Hebrew. After the reader read the Hebrew text, it was customary to describe and interpret its meaning in a language that the people could understand. It was said that these were Targum.