The Evolution of the First Bible: A Journey Through Time
The concept of a Bible has evolved significantly over the centuries. What exactly does the first Bible refer to depends on how one defines the term. In this article, we will explore the oldest known Bibles and their impact on the development of the Christian canon.
Understanding the First Bibles
There are two of the oldest Bibles from the 4th century that I am aware of: the Textus Receptus and the Septuagint. However, these Bibles contain 4 books not included in modern English Bibles, and they refer to the Apocrypha, which means hidden rather than false scripture.
The process of the Bible being created is detailed in several videos available on YouTube, such as those found on Tubitv, and documentaries from sources like ArtBell, mentioned by Glenn Kimball, a historian.
Proto-Bibles and the Bible Canon
To clarify, any Christian collection of documents that includes an agreed-upon content of the New Testament is considered a Bible. Those that predates or otherwise ignore this agreed-upon content are classified as proto-Bibles.
The Oldest Proto-Bible: Codex Vaticanus, dating to the early 4th century CE, is the oldest known proto-Bible. Although not complete, it has a New Testament different from any modern New Testament and different from later proto-Bibles.
Second Oldest: Codex Alexandrinus (5th century) was more complete but has several repairs. Another significant manuscript, the Codex Amiatinus (8th century), is the first book actually called the Bible. It is considered the first actual Bible as opposed to a proto-Bible.
Shedding Light on the First Fully Illustrated Christian Bible
A less-known detail is the discovery of the World's First Illustrated Christian Bible at an Ethiopian Monastery: the Garima Gospels. These were created in the 5th century by a monk who is said to have copied the scriptures in just one day. This unique manuscript offers a glimpse into the early Christian iconography and practice in Africa.
The Septuagint: A Historical and Religiously Significant Document
The Septuagint is a critical religious and historical document. It is the Greek translation of the Jewish Bible (Tanakh), which includes the Torah, Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). Additionally, it contains the Deuterocanonical books, also known as the Apocrypha, which were written in Greek.
The origin of the Septuagint dates back to the 3rd century BCE in Alexandria, Egypt. It was commissioned during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphos by 70 (or 72) Jewish scholars. This translation was created due to the growing use of Greek among Egyptian Jews. Although it predates the birth of Jesus, it is significant as it forms the first standardized and uniform set of biblical texts in the ancient world.
Dead Sea Scrolls (1st century BCE to ~70 CE) offer critical insights into these texts. These manuscripts, written in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Nabatean, include parts of the Tanakh and some deuterocanonical books. Their discovery in the 20th century has provided immense archaeological and scholarly value.
The Codex Alexandrinus and the New Testament
Codex Alexandrinus, dating to 325 AD, is an integral part of the Byzantine tradition. It contains both the Septuagint and the New Testament, providing valuable insights into early Christian texts.
The New Testament is believed to have been originally written in Greek, with the possible exception of the Gospel of Matthew, which may have been written in Aramaic. The oldest New Testament manuscript (Gospel of John) dates back to around 125 AD, written on papyrus in a degraded condition.
The Evolution of Translation and Canon
Early translations like the Vetus Latina (an early Latin translation from the Septuagint) and the Versio Vulgata (St. Jerome's translation from Hebrew and Greek) played pivotal roles in shaping the Christian biblical canon. These translations not only preserved the original texts but also laid the foundation for subsequent translations, including the versions used today.
In Finland, the first Bible was translated in 1542, and the current Finnish Bible translation, used by all Christian denominations, is from 1992. Historical translations like the 1776 version remain significant to certain sectarians.
Conclusion
The journey of the first Bible is a fascinating one, filled with historical and religious significance. From the early translations of the Septuagint to the illustrative texts like the Garima Gospels, each chapter of the Bible's history adds to our understanding of the Christian faith and its evolution over time.