How the Bible Was Written
The Bible is a collection of sacred texts that has been central to the faith and culture of
millions throughout history. Its writing is a complex process that spans centuries, cultures,
and diverse authors. The Bible is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament and the
New Testament. Here, we will explore how these sections were written and compiled into the
text we know today.
The Old Testament
The Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible, is a collection of writings that cover
from the creation of the world to the era before the birth of Jesus. These texts were written
over more than a thousand years, from approximately 1200 BCE to 165 BCE.
The books of the Old Testament can be grouped into several categories: the books of the
Law (Torah), historical books, poetic and wisdom books, and prophetic books.
The Torah: Also known as the Pentateuch, it includes the first five books of the Bible:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books are traditionally
attributed to Moses, although modern criticism suggests they were compiled by multiple
authors and editors over time.
Historical Books: They recount the history of the people of Israel from the conquest of
Canaan to the post-exilic restoration. These books include Joshua, Judges, Ruth, the books
of Samuel, the books of Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
Poetic and Wisdom Books: Contain poetry, prose, and philosophical reflections. Among
them are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
Prophetic Books: Include the works of the major and minor prophets who conveyed God's
messages to the people of Israel. Among them are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel,
Daniel, and the twelve minor prophets.
The New Testament
The New Testament focuses on the life, teaching, and work of Jesus Christ and the
emergence of the Christian Church. It was written in a much shorter period, from
approximately 50 CE to 100 CE. It consists of the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, the
Epistles, and Revelation.
Gospels: The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—narrate the life and teachings
of Jesus from different perspectives. Mark is generally considered the oldest, written around
70 CE. Matthew and Luke followed, using Mark and another common source (known as Q)
as a basis. John is the most theological and was written later, around 90-100 CE.
Acts of the Apostles: Written by the same author as the Gospel of Luke, it narrates the
history of the early Church and the activities of the apostles after Jesus' ascension.
Epistles: Letters written by Church leaders, primarily the apostle Paul, addressed to various
Christian communities. These letters address theological, ethical, and organizational issues.
Among them are Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians,
Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, Peter, John, and Jude.
Revelation: Also known as the Book of Revelation, it is a prophetic and apocalyptic text
attributed to John, offering a symbolic vision of the end times and the final victory of God.
Compilation Process
The compilation of the Bible involved several stages of collection, editing, and canonization.
The texts of the Old Testament were orally transmitted before being written and compiled.
The oldest Hebrew manuscripts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, date from the 2nd century
BCE.
The New Testament was written in Koine Greek and its texts circulated among Christian
communities before being compiled into a canon. Early Christians used the Septuagint, a
Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, as their Old Testament.
The canonization of the New Testament began in the 2nd century CE with the creation of
lists of authoritative books. This process culminated in the 4th century with the Councils of
Hippo and Carthage, which officially recognized the 27 books of the New Testament.
The translation of the Bible into different languages has also been crucial to its
dissemination. St. Jerome translated the Bible into Latin in the Vulgate, and during the
Protestant Reformation, figures like Martin Luther and William Tyndale made significant
translations into German and English, respectively.
In summary, the Bible is the result of a complex historical process involving multiple authors,
traditions, and historical contexts. Its formation and transmission reflect the rich diversity of
human experiences and the profound quest for the divine.
