if the bible is the word of God then why was it forbidden to the public until the 1400s?

Answer 1

honestly tell me you don't believe this. I'll assume you are very young and haven't had an opportunity to take an in depth history course.
The bible was not forbidden to the 'public' this is a myth and propangda taught by certain preachers using what is called revisionism history.
It would be true to say that every man and woman could not personally own a bible as they took time to copy prior to the printing press and therefore were expensive to buy.

snoopy you are mostly right , the priests could read but lets not forget that the Catholic Church established the university system that we have today. Priests therefore help others become educated teaching theology hence non-clerical persons also learned to read scripture with support of the Church contrary to what some revisionists claim.


By the way the first book printed on the printing press was a Catholic bible.

"When one becomes a student of history one ceases to be Protestant" Cardinal John Henry Newman

addition: looking at some of these answers I just can't believe how ignorant people are. Seriously so many presuppositions. re: Luther I would really suggest reading him sometime also. People throw Martin Luther's name around without ever reading what he wrote. Luther regardless of his complains always recognizes he would not have had a bible without the Catholic Church protecting scripture, preserving scripture and giving it to him.

Answer 2

It went beyond the 1400's. Sometime in the 1800's the then Pope was vey angry when biblical societies distributed Bibles and condemned the practice.

Before the 1400's few people could read and the church feared people who owned bibles would interpret scripture in a negative manner. It was a crime then for a layman to read the bible; The Bible then was read and interpreted to the public by a priest. Later on when the church loosened it's hold on readers, Churches chained bibles to pillars inside churches for fear that people would steal them; and yes...bibles were stolen from churches at the end of the Middle ages.

Answer 3

That's because during the Dark Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was more a political than a religious organization. In the year 500 they had decreed that no translation other than Latin was acceptable for a Bible. And that ban included no church services or prayers other than in Latin.

So, for almost 1,000 years, the church exercised power to keep the masses tied to traditions rather than being able to hear from God on what he had to say. This is one of the reasons why Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation.

Answer 4

Because it was the Catholic Church (during the Dark Ages) that didn't want people to read the Truths of the Bible, because the Catholic Church was (and still is) guilty of heresies and blasphemies that are forbidden by Scripture.
Those early Protestants who chose to follow the Bible instead of the Pope were tortured and killed for their faith. It was illegal to have even a page of Scripture on your person. That's why it was called the "Dark Ages" - the light of the Bible was almost extinguished.

Answer 5

Maybe it's not the true word of God? o.O
Nope I don't think so.... Yes a small fraction of it, it is...but majority nope...
How can it be 100% true? I mean the whole of the bible? Read on

"Sorry if the following answer offends you, in anyway directly, or indirectly. I have nothing against Christians, I just want to lay down the truth infront of them. And again sorry"

I don't think there is anyone that has read the whole bible with full understanding to it, that's still a chrisitian.... because how can someone read the whole bible inside out and still be a chrisitian when it has many contradictions and lies? [sorry if your offended]

Apart from contradictions....what do you call these?
http://www.islamawareness.net/Christianity/inbible.html

About the Trinity?
There is no Trinity...its fake....and I can't be asked to explain and refute it right now....too tired.... so just read all of this....

http://www.bismikaallahuma.org/archives/2006/a-logical-reasoning-refuting-the-concept-of-trinity/

Simple as ABC....were can you go wrong :)

Heres something for the Jehovah Witnesses...
http://www.webshowplace.com/question/101quest.html

If you can answer them properly and correctly, then PLEASE!!!!!! Send them to me at [e-mail]

Need more?

Now what do you think of the Bible after reading this asnwer and the links?
Send me your views please at [e-mail]

Answer 6

because nobody knew how to read...only the priests knew how to read...but when the Renaissance came...kne man decided the language of the Bible should be changed so that EVERYONE, even those without education, could learn....people taught themselves how to read with the help of the printing press which was invented in that time....with the printing press...more books were created....more books were available to common people including the Bible

Answer 7

The Catholic Church wanted complete control of the people. Ignorance makes slaves. By the time the people got to read it, they had made up and designed a religion to their own liking (the church, that is).

Answer 8

It wasn't forbidden by God, it was forbidden by imperfect men.

Answer 9

hmmm.. well the bible is the word of god. athiests just don't want it aroud the people that did not want it were probably people who thougfht it was messed up. I don't think the bible is the only source of information we can get to learn how to be christians, but it is certainly a good book. many people have taken things out of the bible, and put things in, so not everyone can trust it now days, but My faith has written a correct translation.

Answer 10

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:15-17 (in Context) John 3 (Whole Chapter)
James 2:5
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
James 2:4-6 (in Context) James 2 (Whole Chapter)
1 John 3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1 John 3:1-3 (in Context) 1 John 3 (Whole Chapter)
1 John 3:17
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1 John 3:16-18 (in Context) 1 John 3 (Whole Chapter)
1 John 4:9
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 4:8-10 (in Context) 1 John 4 (Whole Chapter)