Bible

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The Bible takes its name from the Latin 'Biblia’ (book or books) which comes from the Greek 'Ta Biblia’ (the books) traced to the Phonecian port city of Gebal, known as Byblos to the Greeks because it was an exporter of papyrus (used in writing) and the Greek name for papyrus was 'bublos’, linking the city with the written word.

The book is a collection of writings by many different authors over many centuries on the subject of the creation of the world by a supreme deity and said deity’s continual intervention in the affairs of human beings, most notably the Hebrews of what is today known as the Middle-East.

In Judaism the scriptures are called the Tanakh and are recognized as comprising twenty-four books divided into three categories: The Pentateuch (or 'Teachings of the Five Books of Moses) The Prophets and The Writings. Christianity, which appropriated the Tanakh and claimed it as their own early theological history, call it the Old Testament. Early Christian writers (years after the historical death of the charismatic preacher Jeshua bar Joseph the Nazarene, known today as Jesus Christ) penned the gospels and Saul of Tarsus (who converted to Christianity and became Paul the Apostle) wrote most of the epistles which make up the twenty-seven books of the Christian New Testament along with The Book of the Revelation of St. John which is the last book of the Christian Bible.

It is difficult to accurately date the composition of the books which make up the Bible but scholars generally agree that the Pentateuch dates to the 10th and 6th centuries BCE and that the Tanakh was fixed as scripture well before the 1st century CE. The books of the Christian New Testament were composed between 60-110 CE (the Gospels) 45-130 CE (the Epistles) and 68-100 (The Book of the Revelation of St. John). Many people of the ancient world, and even today, believe the Bible to have been written by God. It is held to be the best-selling book in history and has influenced religious thought world-wide for centuries.

Written by Joshua J. Mark, published 02 September 2009.

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Timeline

Visual Timeline
  • c. 1446 BC
    Date of composition of the Biblical Book of Exodus.
  • c. 1400 BC
    The Biblical Book of Genesis is written.
  • 1000 BC
    Rise of the kingdom of Israel.
  • 1000 BC
    David captures Jerusalem.
  • 965 BC - 928 BC
    Solomon is king of Israel.
  • 950 BC
    Solomon builds the first Temple of Jerusalem.
  • 597 BC
    Babylonian king Nebuchadnezar captures Jerusalem.
  • 597 BC - 587 BC
    Jews are deported to Babylonia.
  • 587 BC - 539 BC
    Jewish exile in Babylonia. Old Testament is written.
  • 37 BC - 4 BC
    Herod the Great is installed as King of Judaea. Rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem.
  • 6 BC - 30 AD
    Life of Jesus of Nazareth (most probably).