Who Compiled the First Bible?
The Long Journey from Oral Traditions to the Bound Word of God
The Story of Scripture: How the Bible Came to Be
Who Compiled the First Bible?
The Long Journey from Oral Traditions to the Bound Word of God
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Understanding the Origins of the Bible
If you’ve ever wondered who compiled the first Bible, the answer is far more complex than a single name or event. The Bible as we know it today was formed through a careful, centuries-long process involving prophets, scribes, church leaders, and councils — all under the sovereignty of God’s hand.
To fully grasp this, we must explore the question from four critical angles:
1. The First Collection of Biblical Texts (Pre-Christian Era)
The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) didn’t appear overnight. It began with oral traditions, which were eventually written down over centuries:
Moses (c. 1400–1200 BC) is traditionally credited with writing the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy).
After the Babylonian exile, Ezra the Scribe (5th century BC) played a major role in restoring and compiling the Hebrew Scriptures for the Jewish people.
10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. (ESV)
📝 Note: The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) was largely settled by around 200 BC, though debates on some books, like Esther and Daniel, lingered among Jewish scholars.
2. The First Christian Bible (Old + New Testament)
The early Christian church inherited the Old Testament but needed to discern which of the emerging Christian writings were truly inspired.
In 140 AD, Marcion of Sinope created an early but heretical canon, excluding the Old Testament entirely and trimming the New Testament heavily. The Church rejected his version.
The Muratorian Fragment (c. 170 AD) offers the earliest known list of accepted New Testament writings, though it wasn’t complete.
Irenaeus (c. 180 AD) argued for the authority of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — rejecting any so-called “gospels” that contradicted them.
By the 4th century AD, a clearer consensus formed. In 367 AD, Athanasius of Alexandria was the first to list all 27 books of the New Testament that we still recognize today.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (ESV)
3. The Official Canon of Scripture
The formal canon wasn’t fully cemented until key Church councils:
Council of Hippo (393 AD) and Council of Carthage (397 AD) confirmed the 27-book New Testament canon.
The Old Testament included the books of the Septuagint — a Greek translation that contained extra books known as the Deuterocanonical books (or Apocrypha).
These are included in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles.
Protestants, however, excluded these books during the Reformation (16th century), sticking to the Hebrew Bible’s Old Testament list.
📝 Note: The process of canonization wasn’t about creating Scripture, but recognizing the books that had always carried divine authority among God’s people.
4. The First Complete Bound Bible (Codex Form)
In terms of a physical, complete Bible, this came in the form of early codices (bound books):
Codex Vaticanus (c. 300–325 AD): One of the oldest surviving manuscripts containing both the Old and New Testaments, in Greek.
Codex Sinaiticus (c. 330–360 AD): The oldest nearly complete Bible known today, also written in Greek. This manuscript includes books that Protestants later excluded.
📖 Source: British Library. (n.d.). Codex Sinaiticus. Read online: https://www.codexsinaiticus.org
📝 Note: These codices were hand-copied, highly valuable, and preserved primarily in monasteries and churches.
Final Thought
There was no single person or moment when the Bible magically came together. It was a divinely guided process over centuries, moving from oral traditions to sacred scrolls, and finally to bound manuscripts. The unity and preservation of these Scriptures across time is evidence of God’s providence in ensuring His Word endures.
If you’ve ever doubted the reliability or authenticity of the Bible, remember: it’s not a random compilation — it’s a testimony meticulously preserved by God’s people, for God’s people.
Ask Yourself:
How does the Bible’s long and careful formation process influence how you read it today?
Have you explored the differences between the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox biblical canons?
Join the Discussion:
What stands out to you most in the history of the Bible’s formation? Do you think any of the excluded books should be reconsidered?
#TheWholyChristian #TheRootedChristian #BibleHistory #BiblicalCanon #ChurchHistory #ChristianApologetics #ChristianDoctrine