Biblical History & Background
Understanding the Historical Context of God's Word
Biblical Timeline
The Formation of the Biblical Canon
The process of recognizing and collecting the books that would become the Bible took place over many centuries. The Old Testament canon was largely established by the time of Jesus, with the Hebrew Scriptures being recognized as authoritative by Jewish religious leaders.
The New Testament canon developed gradually as the early church recognized which writings were truly apostolic and inspired by God. Key criteria included apostolic authorship or approval, consistency with established doctrine, and widespread acceptance by the early church communities.
By 367 AD, Athanasius listed the 27 books that comprise our current New Testament. The Council of Carthage in 397 AD formally ratified this list, though these councils were recognizing what the church had already accepted rather than creating new doctrine.
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."- 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
Biblical Languages
The Old Testament was primarily written in Hebrew, with some portions in Aramaic (Daniel, Ezra, and one verse in Jeremiah). The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the common language of the Roman Empire. Understanding these original languages helps scholars provide accurate translations.
Manuscript Evidence
The Bible has more manuscript evidence than any other ancient document. For the New Testament alone, we have over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, with some fragments dating to within decades of the original writings. The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1947, confirmed the accuracy of Old Testament transmission.
Archaeological Support
Archaeological discoveries continue to confirm biblical accounts. Findings include evidence of King David's dynasty, the Pool of Siloam, Pontius Pilate's inscription, and numerous cities and peoples mentioned in Scripture. These discoveries support the historical reliability of biblical narratives.
Translation History
The Bible has been translated into over 3,000 languages. Major English translations include the King James Version (1611), Revised Standard Version (1952), New International Version (1978), and English Standard Version (2001). Each translation seeks to balance accuracy with readability.
The Cultural Context of Biblical Times
Understanding the cultural context of biblical times enhances our comprehension of Scripture. The ancient Near East was a world of city-states, empires, and nomadic tribes. Agriculture and shepherding were primary occupations, and extended families formed the basic social unit.
Religious practices in the ancient world often involved multiple gods, temple prostitution, and child sacrifice. Against this backdrop, the monotheism of Israel and the moral standards of biblical law stood in stark contrast to surrounding cultures.
The Roman Empire provided the political context for the New Testament period. Roman roads, law, and the Pax Romana facilitated the spread of Christianity. The Greek language and culture (Hellenism) provided intellectual and linguistic frameworks that influenced how the Gospel was communicated.
Preservation Through the Ages
The preservation of Scripture through the centuries demonstrates God's faithfulness to His Word. Jewish scribes, particularly the Masoretes (6th-10th centuries AD), developed meticulous copying procedures to ensure textual accuracy. They counted every letter and word, noting any variations.
During the medieval period, monasteries became centers of biblical preservation and copying. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century revolutionized biblical distribution, making Scripture accessible to common people for the first time in history.
Modern textual criticism, using scientific methods to analyze manuscripts, has confirmed the remarkable accuracy of biblical transmission. Scholars can reconstruct the original text with over 99% accuracy, with remaining questions affecting no major doctrine.