Readers will gain even more appreciation for their Bible when they see how God directed its development, from the original authors through today’s translations. How Did We Get the Bible? provides an easy-to-read historical overview, covering the Holy Spirit’s inspiration of the writers, the preservation of the documents, the compilation of the canon, and the efforts to bring the Bible to people in their own language. This fascinating story, populated by intriguing characters, will encourage readers with God’s faithfulness—to His own Word, and to those of us who read it. It’s a fantastic, value-priced resource for individuals and ministries!

This popular and accessible account of how the Bible has been preserved and transmitted for today's readers is now available in trade paper.

A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as "Holy Scripture," a non-negotiable authority straight from God, has prevailed in Western society for some time. And while it provides a firm foundation for centuries of Christian teaching, it denies the depth, variety, and richness of this fascinating text. In A History of the Bible, John Barton argues that the Bible is not a prescription to a complete, fixed religious system, but rather a product of a long and intriguing process, which has inspired Judaism and Christianity, but still does not describe the whole of either religion. Barton shows how the Bible is indeed an important source of religious insight for Jews and Christians alike, yet argues that it must be read in its historical context--from its beginnings in myth and folklore to its many interpretations throughout the centuries. It is a book full of narratives, laws, proverbs, prophecies, poems, and letters, each with their own character and origin stories. Barton explains how and by whom these disparate pieces were written, how they were canonized (and which ones weren't), and how they were assembled, disseminated, and interpreted around the world--and, importantly, to what effect. Ultimately, A History of the Bible argues that a thorough understanding of the history and context of its writing encourages religious communities to move away from the Bible's literal wording--which is impossible to determine--and focus instead on the broader meanings of scripture.

2016 Christian Book of the Year Award Winner in Bible Reference From Moses to Gutenberg, easily find out how we got the Bible we have today and discover why we can trust it with this highly visual and easy-to-understand handbook on the history of Bible! Dive into the fascinating stories of the people who risked their lives to print and distribute the Word of God (Tyndale, Wycliffe, etc). Perfect for personal or small group use. Have you ever wondered where the Bible came from? Who wrote the books of the Bible and how did they end up together? Perhaps you have been asked by a friend or coworker about books that were cut out of the Bible. Through seven dynamic chapters in How We Got the Bible, expert Dr. Timothy Paul Jones will guide you through all the important questions about the Holy Bible to show you why it can be trusted. Filled with dramatic stories and highly visual charts and illustrations, this exciting Bible History handbook will take you from the earliest clay tablets and papyrus copies to the first bound Bible and the various Bible translations that we use today! Discover the following: Three ways the Bible is unlike any other "Holy Book" What it means when we say that the Bible is inspired and inerrant What people did to preserve the text of the Bible over the centuries How we know that the Old and New Testament are reliable The stories behind names like John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, Gutenberg, and King James I 4 Key Features of the How We Got the Bible Handbook 1. Get a Simple Overview of the History of the Bible (Covers More Than 3,500 Years) Enjoy having a concise overview of the Bible's entire history at your fingertips. With this book, you can firmly grasp what biblical reliability means in six engaging and easy-to-understand chapters, packed with key events and people to deepen your understanding of the history of the Bible. Includes the following: Key people including Wycliffe, Tyndale, Gutenberg, and Erasmus The Dead Sea Scrolls, the Vulgate, the King James Bible, and today's modern Bible translations Ancient methods and materials used by scribes to hand copy the Bible accurately Charts and explanation of how we got the Bible in English, and much more! 2. Provides Solid Proofs for Why You Can Trust the Bible Easily compare today's Bible with the Dead Sea Scrolls and many more early church records from past centuries to see how carefully the texts have been translated and recorded. Enjoy getting a simple explanation of the Bible's reliability with basic apologetics. 3. Packed with Fascinating Stories of Key People and Events History can be a dry and tedious subject--but not with the How We Got the Bible handbook! Easily absorb important facts and information in a fun and easy-to-understand way that will have you not wanting to put this book down, such as: The text of the Bible is better preserved than the writing of Plato or Aristotle. There is more than 99% agreement between all of the known manuscripts of the Bible. There are over 5,700 manuscripts of the New Testament compared to 210 surviving copies of Plato. Every book in the New Testament was written down before the eyewitnesses of Jesus passed away. 4. Filled with Visual Charts, Definitions, and Additional Resources Save hours looking up technical terms and searching for extra timelines and charts--it's all here in one easy-to-understand handbook! With the flip of a page, you'll find charts simplifying technical definitions, an English Bible Translations Comparison, and references to give you a complete overview of how the Bible was formed. These related resources are also available (each sold separately): How We Got the Bible Complete Kit (UPC 031809035658 or ISBN 9781628622072) which contains a DVD plus additional resources How We Got the Bible DVD Bible Study (UPC 031809035665 or ISBN 9781628622065) Paperback edition of How We Got the Bible Leader Guide (ISBN 9781628622089, also available as an e-book) Paperback edition of How We Got the Bible Participant Guide (ISBN 9781628622126, also available as an e-book) with session outlines, discussion questions, definitions, and timelines. Buy a copy of the participant guide for each person. How We Got the Bible PowerPoint (ISBN 9781890947460) with dozens of slides providing even more in-depth information.

A modern classic--revised with more than 70 percent new material--is based on seven Scriptural realities that teach Christians how to develop a true relationship with the Creator.

When busy people want to know more about the Bible and the Christian faith, the Zondervan Quick-Reference Library offers an instant information alternative. Covering the basics of the faith and Bible knowledge in an easy-to-use format, this series helps new Christians and seasoned believers find answers to their questions about Christianity and the Bible. The information is presented in units of one or two pages, so that each section can be read in a few minutes. The Zondervan Quick-Reference Library makes important knowledge affordable, accessible, and easy to understand for busy people who don't have a lot of time to read or study.

In 2017, Crossway and Cambridge University Press released The Greek New Testament, Produced at Tyndale House, Cambridge—a groundbreaking edition of the Greek New Testament reflecting a decade of research. One of the principal scholars behind the project has now written this short book to provide crucial information about the Tyndale House edition in particular and the Greek New Testament in general, answering questions such as “What is a textual apparatus and why is one needed?” and “Is the New Testament reliable?” Dirk Jongkind gives guidance for understanding both the biblical text itself and this specific edition so that beginning Greek readers can have clarity and confidence as they engage with the New Testament in the original Greek.