About Bibles
Bibles are a collection of religious writings of the Christian and Jewish religions. The composition of bibles depends on the specific religious tradition. The word "Bible" originates from the Latin "biblia," meaning holy. The bible contains 66 books separated into two sections known as the New Testament and the Old Testament.
History
The history of modern bibles begins thousands of years ago. Bibles were first written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. In the Middle Ages, they were translated into Latin. The first English bible was written in the 1380s by John Wycliffe, an Oxford professor, scholar and theologian. With the help of his assistants and followers, dozens of English manuscripts were translated from Latin. The first printing of the English bible took place in 1535 and is known as the Coverdale Bible. The name was derived from the translator, Miles Coverdale. Since these early days, many different versions of the English bible have been translated, printed and distributed.
Time Frame
Bibles are compilations of many books that were written over a very long period of time. The books of the New Testament are thought to have been written between 50 and 95 A.D. The Old Testament books of the bible are believed to have been written much earlier than this, somewhere between 440 and 1400 B.C.
Significance
The significance of the bible among Christians is theological. It is believed to be the word of God in written form. It provides a doctrine of creation, spirituality and beliefs. Each Christian finds hope and significance in the bible in a different way. However, the bible is also a life guide, a history book and a holy text.
Function
Bibles are used as study guides to accompany the Christian and Jewish religions. The bible is a collection of books written by many different authors. It describes the origin of man, the work of God in history, His purpose with creation and the way to salvation according to the Christian religion. The bible is known as "The Word of God" amongst the followers of Christianity and Judaism.
Types
There are three basic types of bible translations. Literal translations attempt to preserve the exact words and phrases used in the traditional texts. The King James Version and New American Standard are examples of literal translations. Dynamic equivalent translations of the bible keep accurate historical details but update the grammar and words used in the text. The New International Version and the New English Bible are both dynamic equivalent translations. Free translations of the bible translate the ideas from the original texts without being constrained by exact words or phrases. The Contemporary English Version is an example of a free translation, also known as paraphrase bibles.
Amongst the various translations of bibles, there are also several different types. Traditional bibles are text only with minimal footnotes. Study bibles feature extensive footnotes and explanations. Reference bibles usually have encyclopedic indexes, a concordance and maps. One-year bibles are divided into 365 readings for each of the days of the year. A pastor’s bible includes recommended verses for specific events and answers to frequently asked questions. Children’s bibles include illustrations and simplified stories. Parallel bibles offer several translations side-by-side.
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