The History of the Bible

The bible has been around for a long time, since it was first written in ancient times. Scrolls have been passed down from generation to generation sharing stories, laws, historical accounts and prophecies of a coming Messiah and the salvation of a Savior. The bible has been translated in to hundreds of languages world-wide and within those languages; different versions to help the reader better understand the language of the bible.

Many treasure the bible as the inspired word of God and study it daily and use it as a guide to learn more about God’s plan for their lives. God’s character is revealed and His plan for the salvation of mankind is featured again and again through stories of love and redemption. For a deeper meaning and understanding of some of the stories in the bible, however, one can research the history of the bible and find a whole new way of seeing things. For example, you can use the internet to search for pictures of Jerusalem and see places where Jesus was believed to have actually been.

Research the people and places of the bible. Do any biblical characters appear in other historical accounts? For example, you can browse the internet and discover that Abraham is a revered character in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. You can also find images to depict traditional sites where other important events occurred such as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where Peter was crucified, or where Paul was held captive. Access to such images can help you create a more realistic picture in your mind when you read of Paul’s imprisonment or Jesus walking on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. This is a wonderful tool to help with your bible studies and research!

Consider researching the words of the text you are reading. While we read the bible in English, it was written in many other languages including Hebrew and Greek. If you have a favorite passage, write down each word on a piece of paper and then find a translation website to translate the English to the original word meaning. You can also use a concordance to find original word meanings as well as other verses that use the same words, ideas or concepts elsewhere in the bible. A bible dictionary can be another valuable tool to research and study more in-depth meanings and images from biblical times.

Look up and study the tools, trades, hierarchy, rulers and leaders, laws, tribes, wars and maps of ancient biblical times. Read about the historic accounts of the pharaohs who enslaved the Israelites. See if there are images online or in a library showing the earliest known Roman coins. Read up on the stones used in the breastplates of the Levite priests or reread the directions God gave to build the ark, then look up the types of wood and measurements given.

The bible is a timeless book of wonder, love and God’s plan for eternal salvation. Reading it every day can feed your soul and your mind and help you on your way to being more Christlike. Pairing daily reading with practical applications of ancient times can help you understand some of the “why” questions that come up when reading and can help bible stories be more real in our minds when we have a picture to use to envision a place or a time that is mentioned in the bible, making it come alive today!

About the Author: A Raleigh Baptist Church parishioner in North Carolina has provided the information in this article. For more on this and other Bible Study information, visit them today.