The Bible is distinctive because it claims to be God’s

word given to man kind. II Timothy 3:16“ All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and isprofitable for doctrine, for reproof, for

correction, forinstruction in righteousness”.

A. Originally written in two languages. Hebrew and Greek.B.40 different men.C.Over 1600 years.D.Since 1947, over 9 billion copies have been

distributed.E.The Bible has been translated into 800

different languages.

The Bible was slowly written.Ancient writers used different materials. Stone, clay, wood, animal skins, and later

papyrus.• The books of the Bible were written on

scrolls.• Some scrolls were 30 feet long.• The N.T. was written on Vellum.

The Lord spoke directly to people in the Patriarchal Age. God spoke to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and

Joseph. * Moses authored the first five books of the

O.T. around 1500 B.C.

We have over 5, 000 manuscripts of the N.T.1.Pliny the Younger 72.Caesar 103.Plato 74.Aristotle 375.Euripedes 18

The Old Testament was assembled around 400 B.C

The New Testament around 96 A.D.N.T. books were read in assemblies. I Thess.

5:27, Col. 4:16 * In the 4th century a Roman, Jerome, wrote

the Latin Vulgate. (the Bible in Latin).

1. In the 1380’s John Wycliffe produced the first known English translation of Bible manuscripts.2. Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1450’s.3. In 1496 John Colet translated the Greek N.T into English.4. William Tyndale has the distinction of producing the first English Bible. 5. In 1611 the King James Bible was finished.

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1833 Noah Webster Bible1846 Illuminated Bible1885 English Revised Version1901 American Standard Version1971 New American Standard Version1973 New International Version1982 New King James Version2002 English Standard Version

Discovered in 1947.Probably put there by the “Essenes”. 70 A.D.Fragments of all most every O.T. book was

found.Two texts of Isaiah. One was as complete as

missing only a few words. The other is missing

chapters 41-59. * Most scrolls are in Amman, Jordan.

1. The word “Canon” comes from a Greek word meaning “measuring rod”. 2. “Canonizing” is recognizing and collecting

those writings that are inspired by God.3. The scriptures were not divinely inspired

because they were “Canonized”. They were inspired

by God when they were written.

1. Means hidden or secret.2. Not really accepted by the Catholic Church

until the 16th century.3. Never accepted or talked of by Jesus or His

apostles.4. Never accepted by ancient Jewish writers that

wrote about Christ and Christianity.5. Contains historical and geographical errors.6. Events are out of chronological order.