[b]The Compilation of the Holy Bible[/b] I have compiled this information for educational purposes and hope not to offend, but to encourage intelligent discussion. This was no easy task, considering the vast amount of controversy surrounding biblical and historical texts. Not to mention the amount speculation made by theologians and historians alike. Most content is derived from wiki sources (Wikis use multiple sources, giving multiple perspectives.). The information has been edited and added to as to make the information more coherent once presented. Be aware that I am not intent on converting anyone, nor am I intent on creating hateful arguments. I sincerely hope that this thread garners sound historical discussion and debate. Any vitriolic, offensive, or ignorant comment will be ignored or called out as baiting for an argument. [quote]The Tanakh (also known as the Pentateuch or Torah) is a compilation of Jewish scripture that was (and is) originally written in Hebrew. This compilation of Jewish Scripture is considered the Old Testament to Christians. The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh. It defines the books of the Jewish canon, and also the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and accentuation. The oldest extant manuscripts of the Masoretic Text date from approximately the 9th century AD, and the Aleppo Codex (once the oldest complete copy of the Masoretic Text, but now missing its Torah section) dates from the 10th century. By the 2nd century BC Jewish groups had called the Bible books the "scriptures" and referred to them as "holy," or in Hebrew כִּתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ (Kitvei hakkodesh) The Christian New Testament contains twenty-seven books originally written in Koine Greek, which discuss the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christianity. The New Testament is divided into the four Canonical gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, twenty-one Epistles or didactic letters, and the Book of Revelation. Christians now commonly call the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible "The Holy Bible", in Greek (τὰ βιβλία τὰ ἅγια, tà biblía tà ágia) or "the Holy Scriptures" (η Αγία Γραφή, e Agía Graphḗ). The bible was compiled over the course of time. The biblical texts themselves are the result of a creative dialogue between ancient traditions and different communities through the ages. These biblical texts were produced over a period in which the living conditions of the writers – political, cultural, economic, and ecological – varied enormously. Despite being refined and compiled over a considerably large span of time, it is commonly accepted that Saint Athanasius also called Athanasius of Alexandria, introduced the first canonical scripture. Athanasius of Alexandria (A.D. 296-373) was the most prominent theologian of the fourth century, serving as bishop of Alexandria. His list of canonical books was published as part of his Thirty-Ninth Festal Epistle of AD 367. A clear acknowledgment of the New Testament canon of 27 books appears in the 39th Festal Letter of Athanasius. After the list he declares, “these are the wells of salvation, so that he who thirsts may be satisfied with the sayings in these. Let no one add to these. Let nothing be taken away.” It is said that these canonical books were accepted by emperor Constantine I during the Council of Nicaea as he felt the compilation of sacred writings would give authority to the newly unified Christian church. The oldest extant copy of a complete Bible is an early 4th-century parchment book preserved in the Vatican Library, and known as the Codex Vaticanus. The oldest copy of the Tanakh in Hebrew and Aramaic dates to the 10th century AD. The oldest copy of a complete Latin (Vulgate) Bible is the Codex Amiatinus, dating from the 8th century. With regard to how the bible is structured, the Bible was divided into chapters in the 13th century by Stephen Langton and into verses in the 16th century by French printer Robert Estienne and is now usually cited by book, chapter, and verse.[/quote]