Journey from Texts to Translations: The Origin and Development of the Bible

by Wegner, Paul D.

• ISBN13: 9780801027994
• ISBN10: 0801027993
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780801021695
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-08-01
• Publisher: BAKER
• More Book Details

Summary

Though written thousands of years ago, the Bible continues to fascinate and guide readers today. This book explains how the Bible that we use came to be in its present form. Wegner introduces the Bible and its arrangement, describes how the various books were collected into a single canon, examines how the Bible was passed from one generation to the next, explores how and why early versions were produced, and discusses the myriad of English translations. Numerous charts, photos, and illustrations are included.

Author Biography

Paul D. Wegner (Ph.D., King's College, University of London) is professor of Old Testament at Phoenix Seminary, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	9	(4)
Preface	13	(2)
List of Abbreviations	15	(6)
The Bible as the Word of God
Importance of the Bible Purpose of the Bible	21	(6)
Part 1 Preliminary Matters regarding the Bible
Description of the Bible
What Is the Bible?
What Does the Word Bible Mean?
What Are the Testaments?
Jewish and Christian Views of the Authority of Scripture	27	(12)
The Old Testament
Historical Background of the Old Testament
Divisions of the Old Testament
Number and Order of the Old Testament Books
Titles of the Old Testament Books	39	(11)
Appendix 1: Septuagint Manuscripts: Old Testament	50	(1)
The New Testament
Historical Background of the New Testament
Divisions of the New Testament
Order of the New Testament Books
Titles of the New Testament Books	51	(12)
Appendix 2: The Synoptic Problem
Statement of the Problem
History of Interpretation
Suggested Solutions
Conclusion	63	(6)
The Unity of the Two Covenants
Challenges to the Importance of the Old Testament
How Does the Old Testament Relate to the New Testament?	69	(6)
Part 2 Canonization of the Bible
Prerequisites to the Bible
Development of Writing
Biblical Languages
Writing Materials
The Writing Process	75	(26)
Canonization of the Old Testament
Definition of Canonization
Designations of the Old Testament Canon
Formation of the Old Testament Canon
Evidence for the Old Testament Canon
Continuing Questions regarding the Old Testament Canon	101	(18)
Old Testament Extracanoncal Books
Noncanonical Works Mentioned in the Old Testament
Later Noncanonical Works	119	(12)
Canonization of the New Testament
Early History of the New Testament Books
Formation of the New Testament Canon
Differences between Eastern and Western Canons
Determination of the New Testament Canon
Is the New Testament Canon Closed?	131	(22)
New Testament Extracanonical Literature
The Agapha
The New Testament Apocrypha
Writings of the Early Church Fathers	153	(12)
Part 3 Transmission of the Bible
Transmission of the Old Testament
Development of the Hebrew Text
Old Testament Textual Criticism	165	(20)
Sources for Old Testament Textual Criticism
Primary Sources: Hebrew Manuscripts
Secondary Sources: Languages Other Than Hebrew	185	(22)
Transmission of the New Testament
History of the New Testament Text
New Testament Textual Criticism	207	(28)
Sources for New Testament Textual Criticism
Abundance of Extant New Testament Manuscripts New Testament Manuscripts
Ancient Versions of the New Testament	235	(8)
Part 4 Early Translations of the Bible
Early Versions
Early Eastern Versions of the Bible
Early Western Versions of the Bible	243	(20)
The First Printed Greek Bibles
Major Advancements
The First Printed Editions of the Greek New Testament	263	(10)
Part 5 English Translations of the Bible
English Bibles prior to 1611
Early British History as It Relates to the English Bible Versions
The Wycliffe Bible (NT, 1380; Entire Bible, 1382)
The Tyndale Bible (NT, 1526; OT Portions, 1534)
The Coverdale Bible (1535) The Matthew Bible (1537)
The Great Bible (1539) The Geneva Bible (1560)
The Bishops' Bible (1568)
Douay-Rheims Bible (NT, 1582; OT, 1609--10)	273	(34)
The Authorized Version of 1611 and Its Revisions
The Authorized Version of 1611
The Revised Version (NT, 1881; Entire Bible, 1885)
The American Standard Version (1901)
The Revised Standard Version (NT, 1946; Entire Bible, 1952; Apocrypha, 1957)
New American Standard Bible (1971)
King James II Version (1971)
The New King James Version (NT, 1979; Entire Bible, 1982)
New Revised Standard Version (1989)	307	(30)
Appendix 3: The King James Debate
The King James Version (Authorized Version of 1611)
Arguments Used for the Priority of the Textus Receptus
Arguments for the Priority of an Eclectic Greek Text
Unclear Wording	337	(4)
Modern English Bibles up to 1950
The Twentieth Century New Testament (1898--1901; Revised, 1904)
Weymouth's New Testament (1903, 1907, 1909, 1924, 1929)
The Moffatt Version (NT, 1913; Entire Bible, 1924)
The Holy Scriptures according to the Masoretic Text (1917)
An American Translation (NT, 1923; Entire Bible, 1927)
The Confraternity Version/New American Bible (NT, 1941; Entire Bible, 1970)
Summary	341	(16)
Modern Translations from 1950
Phillips Version (1958; Revised, 1972)
A New Translation of the Holy Scriptures according to the Masoretic Text (The Torah, 1962; The Prophets, 1978; The Writings, 1982)
The Berkeley Version (NT, 1945; Entire Bible, 1959)
The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NT, 1950; Entire Bible, 1961; Revised, 1981)
The New English Bible (NT, 1961; Entire Bible, 1970)
The Jerusalem Bible (1966)
The Living Bible (NT, 1967; Entire Bible, 1971)
Good News Bible/Today's English Version (NT, 1966; Entire Bible, 1976)
New International Version (NT, 1973; Entire Bible, 1978)
The Revised English Bible (1989)
The Message (NT, 1993; OT Wisdom Books, 1997)
New Living Translation (1996)
Summary	357	(42)
Why So Many Translations?
Preliminary Principles of a Translation
Qualifications of the Translators
Style of English
Purpose for the Translation
Special Translation Problems	399	(6)
Notes	405	(28)
General Index	433	(18)
Scripture Index	451	(10)
Credits	461