The bible?

Question

Who collected the passages of the bible and when? Who wrote individual parts and when? Why were some books excluded? Why was there no primary source of Jesus in the bible? Please cite your sources and for the love of god don't cite the bible.

By don't cite the bible I mean don't cite the author of the bible from the bible.

Answer 1

The first verses contained in the bible were probably written around 50-70 AD but the origins of the majority of the scriptures and gospels can be dated no earlier than 200 AD and no later than 325 AD when the Emperor Constantine convened the council of Nicaea and ordered the canon closed. However there have been minor changes and translation errors noted through the centuries.

There is no unbiased reliable historical evidence that the Biblical Jesus ever existed as no known or recognized historical scholars or writers of the time ever made any mention or notation of him whatsoever.

All the writings and discourse concerning the historical Jesus are argumentative, contradictory, biased or inflammatory, can be considered hearsay, have no real genuine observed basis in fact and are of little or no historical value.

Answer 2

The Bible was written by 40 authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit over a 1500 year period. The reason why certain books weren't included in the Bible is because they weren't inspired by the Holy Spirit, or were counterfeits written after the Bible was completed. A great source for checking the Books would be Josephus, a Jewish historian who was born the second half of the first century. Contrary to what the DiVinci code says, Constantine gave all the Bishops at Nicea a Bible that contained the current 66 books. The Council of Nicea was called to debate the Divinity of Christ, not decide which books would be in the Bible. Source....History

Answer 3

I think what you meant is source outside the Bible, not in the Bible if you don't want me to cite or to quote from it.
There is Josephus a historian who lived in the first century who testified about the facts written in the Bible about Jesus and his disciples. And as to the dates of the individual books there is also a number of non-Christians who testified for it.
We have history to support that the first book of the Bible was written around 1500 BC, and the last book, which is Revelation was written around 96 AD.
Why were some books excluded? Because the early Christian leaders decided that they were written long after the death of the apostles and contain teachings that are contrary to the teachings in the canonized books or the 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi, and 27 in the New Testaments, from Matthew to Revelation.
As to other sources mentioning about Jesus, I can quote
many texts from the Quran and Hadith, and the ancient Chinese wisemen's sayings such as Laotze, and Confucius.
In the Quran it was mentioned in Surat-Al-Imran 3:45
Iz gaalatil-malaaa-ikatu yaa-Maryama innallaaha yu bashiruki-kalimatin-minhus muhul Masiihu, Iisabnu-Maryama Wajiihan-fiddunya wal-Aakhihirati.
Meaning: Behold, when the angel said:"O Mary! Lo! Surely Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him (of one) whose name is the Messiah, Isa the son of Mary illustrious in this world and in the hereafter."

Here is another one found in the book Surat-al NIsaa 4:171
Yaaa-ahlal-kitaabi laa tagluu fii diinikum wa laa taquuluu aalallah illal-haqq. Innamal-Masiihu Iisabnu- Maryama Rasuulullaahi wa Kalimaatuh, alqaa-haa ilaa Maryama wa ruluum-minh.
Meaning: O people of the Book !(meaning Christians) Commit no excessses in your religion: nor say of Allah ought but truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was an Apostle of Allah and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit proclaiming from Him.

In the Hadith there is a text which mentions that Mohammed says Jesus the son of Mary will soon come again as the righteous Judge.

Here are a few statements by Laotze and Confucius who were considered as the wisest teachers of the Chinese.
Something mysteriously already made, Existing (living) before heaven and earth in the silence and the void, Standing alone and unchanging, Ever present in constant (cyclic) motion. Perhaps He is the source of myriads of things, I do not know His name. Call Him Dao, For lack of a better word,
I call Him "the Almighty."
-- Gia FuFeng and Jane English, Translation of Lao Zi, Tao Te Ching (Toronto: Vintage Books, RandomHouse,Inc. 1989),Ch.25,p.255.

Therefore to be established as the emperor, with
three officers installed, And be presented with a gift of gems and a team of horses, Is not as good as to sit in Dao. Why did the ancient Masters esteem the Dao so much?
Because, being one with the Dao,
When you seek, you find;
When you commit a sin, you can be forgiven.
That is why everybody loves the Dao.
--Gia Fu Feng and Jane English, Ch. 62, p. 64.

Both the Quran and the Chinese wisemen mentioned that Jesus is the Word of God, the Dao, and that the Dao created all things, and can forgive sins. Who created everything and can forgive sins, but Jesus?

O.K. I have not quoted from the Bible but outside sources. I hope you are satisfied.

Answer 4

The Dallas Biblical arts museum had a Bible exhibit that was fascinating. There were Bibles from the last several hundred years. Many different versions, languages and interpretations. If you have an opportunity to visit such an exhibit you might find answers to your many complex questions. One thing I learned there was the incredible influence that Kings and rulers had over the content and changes made to the Bible over hundreds of years, to serve their own purposes and agendas. All political of course. It makes you wonder how accurate or inaccurate the translations may be.

Answer 5

There are entire college courses designed to answer this question. Check out the Teaching Company and look for the courses by Bart Ehrman, Especially "the historical Jesus" and "the new testament." They give you plenty of information on this subject.

Answer 6

Pick up the book "Misquoting Jesus" by Bart D. Ehrman. He talks about the development and writings of the biblical scrolls.

Answer 7

alot of people think that the bible is just an old book, i myself thought that myself. I do have alot of information on the bible including why we can beleive it how it was compiled etc that i can e-mail you......just let me know.alternatively go to www.watchtower.org where you can find information on why to believe the bible, and its not all from a biblical point of view, but scientifically, medically, historically etc

Answer 8

I understand your question. But you are asking the wrong crowd. You have a small chance of getting an intelligent answer on here. Try asking a pastor of a major denomination. They have actually studied that stuff.

Answer 9

Don't cite the bible and your asking about the bible?...oookaaay.

Answer 10

God gives no apology or defense for Himself. You are free to choose to accept or reject His word. You have free will.

I Cr 13;8a
12-2-6