221 – How We Got Our Modern Bibles, part two

221 – How We Got Our Modern Bibles, Part Two

A Brief History of How We Got Our Modern Bibles

No original texts are in existence today.   Just copies called manuscripts.

There were no chapter divisions in the original manuscripts.

There were no verse divisions in the original manuscripts.

Chapters were first put into the Bible in 1250 AD.

Verses first appeared in the Geneva Bible in 1560.

Then, in 1611 the translation known as the King James Bible was printed.

No Bibles originated in the English language.

The Old Testament has been translated from the Hebrew language.

The Gospels, Acts, church epistles, and the rest of the New Testament writings have all been translated from the Greek language.

John 3:16:

GODSOLOVEDTHEWORLDTHATHEGAVEHISONLYBRGOTTENSONTHATWHOSOEVERBELIEVETHINHIMSHOULDNOTPERISHBUTHAVEEVERLASTINGLIFE  

A  Timeline

II Timothy 4:11-13:  This is the last time any mention of the scriptures and the writings of Paul in the Bible.  Right near the end of Paul’s life.  Amazing revelation was given to the Church from God in the form of The Church Epistles.

In 64 AD, persecution under Nero began in Rome.

From 70 AD to 110 is some of the darkest times in history.

Because not much is still available in written form. 

All writings and buildings were ordered to be burned.

During this time, some believers went into the mountains to live in dens and caves.  They spend a great deal of time copying down scripture.

In 313 AD, Constantine comes onto the scene.

Pomp and ceremony started at this time to keep in step with the Roman Empire.

In 380 AD, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.   Pomp and ceremony continued even more at this time, and more power was given to the church.  The only ones who had access to the scripture were high-ranking officials within the Church.  They were still in Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and some Aramaic, but Latin became the official Language of the Roman Church.  The officials of the Church were the only ones who could read it, and they told others what it said.  Pope became the head authority of the Church, then tradition, then, finally, the scriptures.

John Wycliffe  (1328-1384):   He wanted to reform the Roman Church from within.    The Church leaders at that time were diplomats, administrators, and economists while finding little time to spend on spiritual matters.  He attacked the authority of the Pope by insisting that Christ and not the Pope was the head of the church.  The Bible, instead of the church, was the sole authority for the believer.  The Roman Church should model itself after the New Testament Church.  In 1382, he made the first complete translation into the English of the New Testament.  He died of a stroke in 1384.  Interestingly, he was hassled, ridiculed, laughed at, and despised by the church.  But that was not enough, 98 years after his death, in 1482, they dug up his bones, burned them, and then threw the ashes into the river.

Martin Luther (1483-1546)   In 1513, he lectured on Psalms, and then in 1515, he lectured on Romans.  His motto was: ‘Scripture alone’.

Romans 1:17:  The just shall live by faith.

John Calvin (1509-1565)  He founded The Geneva Academy.  Credited with the start of the Reform Ministries.

William Tyndale (1493-1536)   He translated the Bible into English in 1525.

The King James Bible was translated in 1611.  Some say that more than 80% of the phrases come from William Tyndale’s work.

Chapter heading

Paragraph markings

Paragraph divisions

Reference systems

Red-letters – words of Christ

Additions to the text [often italic type]

Punctuations

ALL ADDED

I will point these out as I continue to teach.

Until the next time we get together, may God bless you abundantly.

Agape,

The Teacher: Steve Jaynes

The Announcer: Maurice Coleman

Intro and Outro Music: Pamela LoVerme Janovyak, Her version of "Be Thou My Vision" from her CD Behold

But you don't have to wait till the next show to continue to learn and grow. Go to stevejaynes.com, where Steve has plenty to give in resources to help you continue to learn today.

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