Key Persons Who Shaped the Bible

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King Hezekiah commissioned royal scribes to record royal history and heroic ______.

legends

King Josiah compiled and added the books of ______ and Judges.

Deuteronomy

King Ptolemy II Philadelphus commissioned the translation of the Hebrew Torah into ______.

Greek

Emperor Constantine commissioned 50 copies of the Bible that motivated the development of ______ lists.

canon Signup and view all the answers

Athanasius of Alexandria identified the complete New Testament canon of ______ books.

27 Signup and view all the answers

Saint Jerome translated the New Testament from Greek to ______.

Latin Signup and view all the answers

John Wycliffe was a predecessor to ______ and advocated for the translation of the Bible into the vernacular.

Protestantism Signup and view all the answers

Martin Luther translated the New Testament into ______ for the first time.

German Signup and view all the answers

Robert Estienne published a French Bible with chapter and ______ divisions.

verse Signup and view all the answers

Venerable Bede translated the Gospels into ______-Saxon.

Anglo Signup and view all the answers

The Bible is considered to be the _______ of God set down in writing.

Word Signup and view all the answers

The Old Testament includes _______ books in the Catholic Edition.

46 Signup and view all the answers

The New Testament of the Bible contains a total of _______ books.

27 Signup and view all the answers

The language in which the New Testament was written is known as _______ Greek.

Koine Signup and view all the answers

The Tanakh is the Hebrew Bible, which is sacred to the _______ people.

Hebrew Signup and view all the answers

The earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible is known as the _______.

Septuagint Signup and view all the answers

The _______ is an important Latin version of the Bible, produced in the 4th century AD.

Vulgate Signup and view all the answers

The term 'sacred' signifies that the Bible is regarded as a _______ artifact.

venerated Signup and view all the answers

The _______ is considered the most influential book of all time, shaping history and culture.

Bible Signup and view all the answers

Deutero-canonical books in the Catholic Edition are excluded from the Protestant Edition and referred to as _______.

apocrypha Signup and view all the answers

The term 'Inspirare' means 'God-breathed', indicating the concept of divine ______.

inspiration Signup and view all the answers

The Old Testament records the old covenant between God and His chosen ______.

people Signup and view all the answers

The New Testament is a record of the new covenant made by God through the life, death, and ______ of Jesus Christ.

resurrection Signup and view all the answers

The first five books of the Bible are collectively known as the ______.

Pentateuch Signup and view all the answers

The Old Testament consists of ______ major parts.

four Signup and view all the answers

The Gospels in the New Testament tell about the life and deeds of ______.

Jesus Signup and view all the answers

Major Prophets in the Bible include Isaiah, Jeremiah, and ______.

Ezekiel Signup and view all the answers

The book of Revelation is intended to give ______ to those who are near despair.

hope Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Figures in the Development of the Bible

King Hezekiah commissioned royal scribes in the 8th century BC to compile an early form of the Old Testament, recording histories and legends.
King Josiah (6th century BC) contributed to the Bible by compiling the books of Deuteronomy and Judges, referenced in the second books of Kings and Chronicles.
King Ptolemy II Philadelphus (283-246 BC) commissioned the Greek translation of the Hebrew Torah, known as the Septuagint.
Emperor Constantine (272-337 AD), as the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity, commissioned 50 copies of the Bible, influencing the development of canon lists in 331 AD.
Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373 AD) identified the complete New Testament canon of 27 books, a significant milestone for the Church.
Saint Jerome (347-420 AD) translated the New Testament from Greek to Latin and later translated the Hebrew Bible, resulting in the Vulgate with 73 books.
Venerable Bede (672-735 AD) translated the Gospels into Anglo-Saxon, making scripture more accessible to English speakers.
Stephen Langton (1150-1228 AD) created the first chapter divisions in the Bible, enhancing usability for study.
John Wycliffe (1320-1384 AD) translated the entire Bible into English, advocating for access to scripture for the common people.
Johannes Gutenberg (1400-1468 AD) introduced the printing press to Europe, producing the first printed Bible known as the Gutenberg Bible.
Martin Luther (1483-1546 AD) translated and published the New Testament into German, promoting Protestant Reformation principles.
Robert Estienne (1503-1559 AD) published a French Bible with chapter and verse divisions, contributing to Bible accessibility.

Key Terminologies

The term "Bible" derives from the Greek "ta biblia," translating to "the books," referencing its composition.
"Scripture," from Latin "scriptura," evolved to refer to sacred writings specifically within religious contexts.
"Sacred" denotes writings regarded with reverence, distinguishing the Bible as a venerated religious artifact.

Definition and significance

The Holy Bible, or Sacred Scriptures, encapsulates the Word of God, chronicling human history, divine inspiration, and God’s relationship with humanity.
Recognized by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, it is the best-selling book globally, impacting culture, history, and literature significantly.

Composition of the Bible

Catholic Edition: 73 books (46 Old Testament, 27 New Testament)
Protestant Edition: 66 books (39 Old Testament, 27 New Testament) with apocryphal books excluded.

Languages of the Bible

Hebrew: Original language of the Old Testament; central to Jewish tradition.
Koine Greek: Language of the New Testament and the Septuagint, prevalent during Hellenistic and Roman eras.
Aramaic: Spoken by Jesus and his apostles; a common language in first-century Judea.
Latin: The language of the Roman Empire, necessitating translations of Christian texts.

Early Versions and Translations

Tanakh: The Hebrew Bible comprising Torah, Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).
Septuagint: The earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, containing additional apocryphal writings.
Vulgate: The standardized Latin Bible translated by Saint Jerome, commissioned by Pope Damasus I in the late 4th century.

Divine Inspiration

The term "inspirare" signifies “God-breathed”, indicating divine guidance without God being a direct author.
Human authors contributed their personal backgrounds and styles, making historical authenticity important in biblical interpretation.

Structure of the Bible

Old Testament: Chronicles the old covenant between God and His people; illustrates the preparation for the Messiah's coming.
New Testament: Documents the new covenant through Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection; serves as the central narrative of the Bible.

Old Testament Composition

Pentateuch: First five books of the Bible.
Historical Books: Narrate the Israelites’ journey, trials, and triumphs.
Wisdom Literature: Contains proverbs and prayers, emphasizing moral teachings.
Prophetic Books: Divided into Major (Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.) and Minor Prophets (Hosea to Malachi), focusing on prophecy and moral guidance.

New Testament Composition

Gospels: Account the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, with the first three known as the Synoptic Gospels.
Acts of the Apostles: Chronicles the early Christian community.
Apostolic Letters: Include writings by Paul and Catholic letters to the broader church.
Book of Revelation: Offers hope and encouragement amid despair, emphasizing the triumph of good over evil.

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Description

This quiz explores the influential figures in the history of the Bible, including Kings Hezekiah, Josiah, and Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Discover how their actions and decisions contributed to the compilation and shaping of biblical texts, from royal histories to the books of Deuteronomy and Judges.