In a clear and concise way, John Barton describes the development of the Bible. He explains how the Bible came to be written and collected into the authoritative Scriptures of the Christian Church. Barton untangles the web of history and lets the reader appreciate the journey from spoken word to written word.

The Bible comprises a large array of books, teachings, and stories woven into a longer narrative that opens with creation and ends with a vision of creation renewed. Although it is the best selling book in history, and notwithstanding its vast popularity and importance, very few of its readers have any idea who actually wrote its various segments or how they came to be assembled into the sacred work we know today. Moreover, history has shown that it can be wrongly interpreted with devastating consequences. In HOW THE BIBLE CAME TO BE, John W. Miller has written the first detailed study of the form and message of the Bible as a whole, along with carefully documented information on how, when, and why its diverse components were assembled. His pathbreaking work puts readers in touch, for the first time, with the intent and goals of those who created this large body of sacred scriptures. Taken together, the information in HOW THE BIBLE CAME TO BE shows how an awareness of the factors at play in the Bible's formation can greatly enrich our understanding and appreciation of the sacred scriptures and their major components. Since it is both historically objective and theologically meaningful, this work is ideally suited for introducing the Bible in college, university, or seminary courses. Its ecumenical approach should make it of interest to anyone wanting a better understanding of the Bible and its origins. +

This short ebook explores how the Bible came to be, with fascinating chapters on divine inspiration, the Septuagint, the shaping of the canon, translation, and much more.

How is the Bible still as applicable in the 21st century as it was when it was first penned? How did so many authors, with different backgrounds and over thousands of years, write something so perfectly fitting with one another? Lance Lambert breaks down these, and many other questions in this first volume of his series teaching through the Bible. He lays a firm foundation for going on to study the Word of the living God. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Discusses how the Bible came into being, who wrote it, early and modern translations, monks and manuscripts, and the importance of the Bible.

This book is for those who want to be true to the spirit of the Christ and want to use the Bible as a guide to their spiritual growth rather than as a literal instruction manual for evaluating and judging external behavior – especially the behavior of others. Spiritual growth pays little attention to controlling external behavior. Spirituality is always an inside job and is always gentle, kind, understanding and accepting – of others and of self. The fruit of this book is the presentation of biblical facts, which are sewn together in the recognition that the Kingdom of God is available right now for you: Having experiences where others see God in you; Gifting your life with experiences of seeing God in all others; and Experiencing Spirit’s daily guidance as you live your life. Clear spiritual thinking requires an understanding of what the Bible is – and isn’t.

In How the Bible Came to Be Lance investigates the text of both the Old and the New Testament, discovering that it is substantially and essentially that which was originally written, and that all the latest discoveries testify to its accuracy! Knowing the credibility of the text only draws us to search the Scriptures even more. The Word of God is living and active! In it we find salvation for our souls day after day! “Read God’s Word. You will find it cleanses you. Somehow it purifies the atmosphere; it purifies the mind. ‘You are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.’ (John 15:3)” (p136) Lance finishes this study with two chapters full of helps to begin searching out the Word of God!

What is wrong with Scripture scholarship today? Why is it that the last place one should go to study the Bible is a biblical studies program at virtually any university? Why are so many faithful priests and pastors, and the people in their pews, unaware of the centuries-long effort to turn the sacred Word of God into just another secular text? In The Decline and Fall of Sacred Scripture: How the Bible Became a Secular Book, authors Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker trace the various malformations of Scripture scholarship that have led to a devastating loss of trust in the inspired Word of God. From the Reformation to the Enlightenment and beyond, Hahn and Wiker sketch the revolutions and radical figures that led to the emergence of the historical-critical method and the pervasive ill effects that are still being felt today.

Drawing on historical and archaeological research, traces the history of the writings of the Bible and how they gradually gained authority until they were considered the sacred word of God.

Kamal Salibi reveals startling linguistic evidence which controversially suggests that Judaism originated not in Palestine but in west Arabia. Whilst looking at the gazetteer of Saudi place names, he noticed a remarkable concentration of Biblical place names in an area of 600km long by 200km wide (the region of 'Asir). Ancient Hebrew, like Arabic, was written without vowels, Salibi believes that scholars of the sixth century might have added the vowels wrongly when standardizing texts, and so he went back to the original unvowelled Old Testament to prove his theory - and it did. The geography of Palestine has never corresponded in any way to the apparently specific stories on the Bible. Salibi's research authenticates the events as history for the first time - but within an Arabian setting. This book has caused a predictable storm amongst academics and politicians. The issue is of such importance that everyone should read the evidence first-hand.