Bible (Christianity)
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| Bible (Christianity) | |
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| Name | Bible (Christianity) |
| Caption | Folio from the Codex Sinaiticus containing the Gospel of Matthew (4th century) |
| Language | Hebrew, Koine Greek, Aramaic |
| Period | circa 12th–1st century BCE to 2nd century CE (composition) |
| Genre | Religious text, anthology |
Bible (Christianity) is the canonical collection of sacred texts central to Christianity, comprising writings associated with ancient Israel, Judaism, and early Christian communities. It is the foundational scripture for diverse denominations including Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and various Protestantism traditions such as Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism. The Bible functions as liturgical scripture, doctrinal source, and literary corpus, intersecting with institutions like the Vatican, Ecumenical Councils, and movements such as the Reformation.
Overview
The Christian Bible is typically divided into two major sections: the Hebrew Bible (often called the Old Testament in Christian contexts) and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains books associated with the history and laws of ancient Israel and includes works like the Pentateuch, Book of Isaiah, and the Psalms. The New Testament contains writings attributed to early Christian figures such as Paul the Apostle, Peter, John the Apostle, and Luke the Evangelist, including the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles, and the Book of Revelation. Varied canons—such as those affirmed at the Council of Trent, by the Synod of Hippo, or in the Muratorian fragment—reflect historical disagreements over authoritative texts.
Composition and Canon
Composition of the corpus spans centuries and involves authors linked to traditions around Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezra the Scribe, and apostolic figures including James the Just. Canon formation occurred through regional processes in Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Rome where lists such as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text influenced reception. Western and Eastern canons differ: the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church accept several deuterocanonical books like Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees that many Protestant traditions classify as Apocrypha following reforms by figures like Martin Luther and ratifications at bodies such as the Council of Trent and the Synod of Carthage.
Historical Development and Transmission
Manuscript transmission includes major witnesses such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, and Codex Alexandrinus. The Jewish textual tradition preserved the Tanakh through the Masoretes producing the Masoretic Text while Hellenistic Jews produced the Septuagint in Alexandria. Early Christian scribes and monasteries—like those at Mount Athos and St. Catherine's Monastery—copied and disseminated manuscripts. Major historical episodes affecting transmission include the Council of Nicaea era controversies, the Byzantine Empire’s liturgical traditions, the Islamic conquests’s effect on eastern Christianity, and Crusades-era exchanges.
Textual Criticism and Translations
Textual criticism applies methods developed by scholars such as Karl Lachmann, B. F. Westcott, F. J. A. Hort, and modern teams producing editions like the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece. Critical apparatuses compare witnesses including Peshitta, Vulgate, and Coptic versions. Notable translations include Jerome’s Latin Vulgate, King James Version commissioned under James I of England, the Luther Bible, Revised Standard Version, and contemporary versions like the New International Version. Translation debates have involved literal versus dynamic equivalence controversies championed by translators such as Eugene Nida and institutional bodies like the United Bible Societies.
Interpretation and Use in Christian Traditions
Interpretive frameworks include literalism, historical-critical method, allegorical interpretation as in Origen, and theological readings by figures such as Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, and John Calvin. Liturgical use varies: the Catholic Church follows lectionaries promulgated after the Council of Trent and the Second Vatican Council, while Eastern Orthodoxy employs the Easter cycle and Divine Liturgy readings. Protestant churches emphasize preaching from the Sola Scriptura principle articulated by reformers like John Calvin and Martin Luther, influencing denominational practices in Baptist and Methodist communions.
Influence on Culture, Art, and Society
The Bible has shaped Western literature, visual arts, music, and law through works by creators engaging with its narratives: painters like Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Caravaggio; composers such as J. S. Bach and Handel; writers including Dante Alighieri, John Milton, William Shakespeare, and Fyodor Dostoevsky; and modern authors like T. S. Eliot. Biblical themes influenced legal documents and institutions such as the Magna Carta, English Common Law, and abolitionist movements led by figures like William Wilberforce. Archaeological initiatives—from excavations at Megiddo and Jerusalem to surveys by William F. Albright—have interacted with biblical studies.
Contemporary Issues and Debates
Current debates involve biblical hermeneutics, gender and sexuality readings influenced by scholars like Elizabeth Schüssler Fiorenza and movements such as Evangelicalism and Progressive Christianity, questions of historical reliability addressed by biblical archaeology, and ethical applications in politics including discussions around secularism and public policy. Digital humanities projects, open-access manuscript databases, and translations by organizations like Bible Societys shape access, while controversies persist over censorship, textual authority, and interdenominational recognition exemplified in dialogues among the Roman Catholic Church, World Council of Churches, and evangelical bodies.
Category:Christian texts