How Old is The Bible?

It is a bit difficult to estimate how old the Bible is, because it was written in different periods. The Bible is basically a very old religious book and it is believed by Christians as well as Jews and other religions and for them it is a holy book.

The Origin of The Bible

The first final form of the book of the Old Testament, this Bible began with the Torah, which consists of 1500 books, was revealed to Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and was written in 1200 BC. The purpose of these books was to inspire moral and religious principles. After that came the books of wisdom such as psalms which contained the prophecies of the prophets and it was written in the Hebrew language and also after Moses (peace be upon him) various prophets came and Books were revealed to them. During the reign of David, the books were written in 1000 BC and its final form was in 400 BC.

Verse

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

Verse

And God spoke all these words:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

 “You shall have no other gods before me.”

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

“You shall not murder.”

“You shall not commit adultery.”

“You shall not steal.”

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:1-17)

Development of The Old Testament

The Old Testament was compiled over a period of about 1,000 years, from 1500 BC to 400 BC. These books contain teachings about political, social and religious life. There are books by Solomon, David (peace be upon him) such as The Book of Psalms and Wisdom. Apart from this, it also contains important parts of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah etc. These books contain the messages of God’s justice, wisdom and the good of the nation. All of them were completed in 400 BC.

Verse

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalms 23:1-6)

Verse

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

The Septuagint

The Greek translation of the Bible was done in (246-285) BC. The importance of this translation is because it introduced the Bible to the Greek-speaking people and the Jewish religion grew. People began to understand it. When a book is translated into the language of the living people, people will understand it quickly and easily. Due to this translation, the spread of the Bible was also very high. In addition, this translation made the Bible more understandable. And this led to the development of religious thought and biblical teachings among the people.

Verse

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The Formation of The New Testament

The New Testament is the second part of the modern Bible, which is based on the teachings and life of Jesus. These books were written in the first century AD. It also contains Acts and the Gospels, The New Testament was included in the Bible between 200 and 400 AD.

Verse

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Verse

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

The Canonization Process

The Bible was finalized at the Council of Nicaea in (325-400) AD. This council recognized the New Testament and the Old Testament and gave them theological and historical significance.

Verse

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”(2 Timothy 3:16)

Discovery of Ancient Manuscripts

Between 100 and 200 BC, manuscripts of the Old Testament were discovered in caves near the Dead Sea. This strengthened the authenticity of the Bible. The Dead Sea Scrolls (1947) made great progress and shed light on the understanding that the Bible is an ancient book.

Verse

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

The Bible in Middle Ages

The Bible was written by hand in the Middle Ages mostly in Latin. Access to the common people was difficult and was limited mostly to religious leaders and church scholars. It was used for religious teachings. It was often written in silver and gold and took many years to complete.

Verse

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

The Bible in Modern Translations

If we talk about the modern era, there are also many translations in English, which are widely used as a source of guidance for Christians. The Bible is a highly translated book and the most important English translation is the King’s James Version.

Verse

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusions

The Bible is a very old book and it has been translated into many languages ​​which have become a source of guidance for mankind. It started from Moses (peace be upon him) and ended with Jesus (peace be upon him) and it is a complete code of life