History of the Bible

Not many really look at the history of the Word. Oh we all look at little things, like how the Word gives us a history of Israel and so on. Yet have we ever looked at the history of the Word it's self? Not many really have. It is the hope that this threat will open that topic in ways we never thought.
Now if there is no one willing to give it a look, and talk about this, we will stop the thread. After all what is the point of trying to engage others that hold no will to seek the truth.
So what will be looked at.
1 How the word has changed in both it's cannon, and language.
2 Has any part of it ever been changed? If so by who, and why?
3 How has it been used in the past?
We know that from the 3 topics we placed here, it can grow into a list so large we have little hope of seeing the end. Yet by addressing what is here, we may learn some things we over looked, or have just never heard. So if there is an interest in this, let it be known. if not there is no reason to move any further.

It would have been better, if you would have phrased the title the history of the Holy Bible

Sometimes, I ask myself, why debate at all? I will only end up with coffee nerves and hating my pet dog.

Let me start this conversation off with the following.

The Bible has a fascinating history. It began hundreds of years ago. The problem was, the Word of God was trapped in Latin only. Let’s turn the pages back and go to the 14th century when the scriptures were first written in English. The man who took center stage, and against all odds, was John Wycliffe.

His work was handwritten and produced in the 1380s. A.D. Wycliffe was a professor at Oxford, a scholar, and a theologian. He was opposed to the teaching of the Latin Church, which he butted heads with concerning Gods word. With the help of the Lollards and others, Wycliffe produced dozens of English-language manuscript copies of the scriptures. He translated out of the Latin Vulgate, which was his only source. Of course, the Pope was infuriated by his translation of the Bible into English. When Wycliffe passed away, the Roman Church ordered that his bones be dug up, crushed, and scattered in the river. Nice people!

Really Philip? That's the whole story of The Bible? "It began hundreds of years ago, around the year 1400"?

And this:
The history of Israel is a little thing? Really!?!?!?!?!?!?!? .

No, just getting the conversation started.

All right, let's start with the end.
Why did you begin with this particular year? Prelude to the Protestant Reformation i'm guessing?
What is special to you about this year or this period?

For me by the way, the most interesting historical points about the Bible is when the New Testament wasn't even written for a period or more than 50 years and the council of Nicaea. It was during these crucial years that it was decided how many books to allow into the Bible, what to reject and what to keep. So these folks determined what was inspired actually.
This is why in different denominations they accept different books which are not accepted in the west for example.
This is why the Ethiopian Bible has more books as an example.

From 500 A.D. the Roman Catholic church ruled the then known civilized world. Kings bowed before the Popes. Armies were gathered together to fight against Jews, Muslims and Christians. Those who disagreed with Rome were jailed, tortured or murdered. Rome was nothing put a tyrant, hiding behind the cross.

Yes, I agree the period of Constantine was a turning point Christianity. Constantine the Great (AD 280—337) was one of Rome’s most powerful and successful emperors and the first to self-identify as a Christian. He is known for his economic, political, and military achievements, as well as his religious reforms. Medieval writers praised him as the ideal ruler, against whom all kings were measured. Constantine was influential in Christian history for his personal faith, religious politics, issuing the Edict of Milan, and calling the Council of Nicea.

That period also exposed men like Arius, who denied the full divinity of Jesus.

what type of skin would you favour the Torah scrolls where written on

Lamb ox goat or deer

You asked, "What is special to you about this year or this period?"
Men like Wycliff, men with courage enough to stand up against the Popes of Rome.
Other Witnesses besides Wycliff.

Martin Luther

John Calvin

John Knox

Thomas Crammer

Roger Williams:

John Wesley:

Tindal

The cannon of the O.T. was done in or around the time of the Roman conquest of Israel. Although for almost 1000 years it was in constant change. Exactly why some books were not included and others were, is an on going debate. However, it said by many Rabbis the name of HaShem, or any of His 72 known attributes had to named. If not the book was rejected. Ruth was the exception. As in her story one finds His hand at work.
I do find it odd the with most religions the history starts only after many major changes have already happened. Meaning it starts with the N.T. Why?

Sorry not Ruth,
Israel's history plays only a small part of the Bibles history. True, without their history we would have lost a lot. After all they were, are, and will be, the light by which time is kept. However, when looking at the history of the written Word there part is small.

Strangely, there are portraits of angels in the pagodas of early Buddhism.I don't know if this clue has anything to do with biblical history.

Umm, i am pretty sure you got the timing wrong for the OT but the reason the NT is more important and most impactful to civilization is because Jesus Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to humanity so that's why it has more weight, because it's personal to us in this dimension or realm.

The history of the Bible can certainly highlight a lot of "divisions" which some might reject or accept but another way to look at these "divisions" is to realize that these are not divisions at all but unique ways in which people loved God.

Because the majority of Christianity agrees on some foundational basis. The Trinity and that Jesus rose from the dead.
As @Gojira mentioned in another thread, resurrection is what makes Christianity and is THE most important fact.
So important, that one atheist (Lee Strobel) wanted to prove that it was fiction and ended up becoming a Christian in the process.

True, Yeshua's sacrifice has had a profound effect on life. However, as we should know, Biblical history is about the changes made in and to the Word. That is mans doings not Yeshua's.
With that in mind, we should also remember that with out an understanding of the O.T., and the changes it has gone through, we can't really understand what we do have today. Much less how those changes have impacted what we read today.

OMG that's awesome.

Do you know the reason for the Tanakh ending with a blessing for Israel, and the latter named O.T. ending with a curse on them? Don't forget it's the same books just in a different order. Although in one translation we find the book, or books, of Maccabees.
Some make the claim that order was based on the idea of removing as much Jewishness as possible. The way one reads this to fit their idea of the Jewish people does change from church to church. However their are some that use this to make claims that are not up held in the Whole of the Word. The use of replacement theology has been pushed for as long as there has been any form of western churches. Most of it is based on this one thing, and at lest one uses it make the claim they are the new Israel.
As we know even from modern history, there are always some that wish to try and change history to paint a pitcher they want others to follow. That being one that puts them in a good light and rest of the world in a bad light. Don't forget what Joseph Goebbels said. "If you tell lie often enough, and long enough it becomes truth."
This stands as a reminder that we must never blindly follow the things we are told, rather spend time looking for the truth. Yet in history we find that Rome at one time held the only written, and it was illegal for anyone out side of the church to have one. If any one is still interested in looking at the history of the Bible, we will look at some things that may well blow the top of someones head off.

Changes? You believe the Bible has been corrupted by man? Why trust any of it?