This book details the transmission of the bible through the various stages of its eventful history from the original texts and early versions from the "Codex Sinaiticus" of the 4th century A.D. to the "Revised Standard Version" of 1881-1885. A brief sketch of the vicissitudes through which the Bible has passed in its descent is featured in the Preface. This book includes 22 magnificent woodcut images.

A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as "Holy Scripture," a non-negotiable authority straight from God, has prevailed in Western society for some time. And while it provides a firm foundation for centuries of Christian teaching, it denies the depth, variety, and richness of this fascinating text. In A History of the Bible, John Barton argues that the Bible is not a prescription to a complete, fixed religious system, but rather a product of a long and intriguing process, which has inspired Judaism and Christianity, but still does not describe the whole of either religion. Barton shows how the Bible is indeed an important source of religious insight for Jews and Christians alike, yet argues that it must be read in its historical context--from its beginnings in myth and folklore to its many interpretations throughout the centuries. It is a book full of narratives, laws, proverbs, prophecies, poems, and letters, each with their own character and origin stories. Barton explains how and by whom these disparate pieces were written, how they were canonized (and which ones weren't), and how they were assembled, disseminated, and interpreted around the world--and, importantly, to what effect. Ultimately, A History of the Bible argues that a thorough understanding of the history and context of its writing encourages religious communities to move away from the Bible's literal wording--which is impossible to determine--and focus instead on the broader meanings of scripture.

This volume covers a wide range of topics that bear on the textual criticism of the Greek Bible including: the relationship between Jewish scribal culture and early Christian literary practices; Greek biblical texts uncovered in the Judean Desert; the New Testament minuscule tradition; and New Testament biblical papyri. Fresh studies are presented of the Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Bezae, and Codex Alexandrinus. Featuring contributions from an international group of biblical scholars, this work represents a significant contribution to the history and study of the Greek Bible. Publication date is May 2003.

These lessons are meant to provide only a very simple and brief overview of 1) the Bible, 2) its completion, 3) its subject, central thought, and sections, and 4) the principles for interpreting the Bible.

Bruce Metzger calls the Westcott-Hort text "The most noteworthy critical edition of the Greek Testament ever produced by British scholarship." In their monumental critical edition of "The New Testament in the Original Greek," Cambridge professors B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort established the Greek text that has become the essential basis for nearly all subsequent editions and English translations. Through their groundbreaking reconstruction of New Testament textual history and their rigorous reexamination of the manuscript evidence, Westcott and Hort inaugurated a new era of textual study that has set the stage for all subsequent work. Beyond preserving the landmark text, this new edition offers students and scholars alike a handy and affordable Greek Testament for day-to-day use that includes English headings, synoptic parallels, and complete references to Old Testament quotations. This edition also includes a revision and expansion of Alexander Souter's "A Pocket Lexicon of the Greek New Testament." Long a favorite among biblical scholars, Souter's "Pocket Lexicon" offers concise yet clear English definitions and helpful grammatical information on every Greek word used in the New Testament. A Foreword by renowned New Testament textual scholar, Dr. Eldon J. Epp, sets the Westcott-Hort text in historical perspective for contemporary readers. FEATURES - Detailed apparatus comparing the Westcott/Hort text with differences in the 27th edition of Nestle/Aland and Robinson/Pierpont Byzantine editions - Complete references to Old Testament citations and synoptic gospel parallels - English section headings for easy navigation - Revised and expanded Souter Greek dictionary - Bible maps

One of the World's Foremost Bible Experts Offers a Groundbreaking Presentation of the Five Books of Moses In The Bible with Sources Revealed, Richard Elliott Friedman offers a new, visual presentation of the Five Books of Moses -- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy -- unlocking the complex and fascinating tapestry of their origins. Different colors and type styles allow readers to easily identify each of the distinct sources, showcasing Friedman's highly acclaimed and dynamic translation. NOTE: This book is meant to be experienced in color and the eBook is not compatible with black and white devices.

This is the thoroughly updated and expanded third edition of the successful The Formation of the Christian Biblical Canon. It represents a fresh attempt to understand some of the many perplexing questions related to the origins and canonicity of the Bible.