Overview of the Bible

Revelation in the Bible

• Scripture is about Revelation• Old (First) Testament – God unveiled in

nature, prophets, history• New (Second) Testament – God unveiled

through Jesus

How Was the Bible Composed

• Oral tradition• Eventually written• 73 separate writings• Written in Rome, Turkey, Greece, Persia, Egypt• Written in three different languages• Suptuigent in 275 BCE• Canon in 4th century• Vulgate in 382 CE

Divinely Inspired

• What does this mean?• From Latin, inspirare (to breath into)• Divine and human authorship• Scripture has normative (binding) character• Foundation of faith• Lived experience of God

Rise of Canon

• Parallel rise of Magisterium• Normative texts means normative

interpreter• 200 year process• Criteria to make it into canon:1. Useful for liturgy2. Apostolic3. First century