Looking for information as to: How were verses assigned to the scriptures. Its my understanding that the original texts did not have verses. Were they arbitrarily assigned or was there a guideline to follow?
2007-04-19 09:50:44 · 9 answers · asked by elia l 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
hold on...isnt it a holy book hence meant to be written by god
hence the question WHY did you scholars change it?? exaclty ask the author bacuse now the bible isnt holy anymore.. its written by man and thats so upsetting.
2007-04-19 09:59:25 · answer #1 · answered by the_syrian_queen 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
When the books of the Bible were originally written, they did not contain chapter or verse references. Why was the Bible divided into chapters and verses? The answer is to help us find Scriptures more quickly and easily. It is much easier to find "John chapter 3, verse 16" than it is to find "towards the beginning of John." In a few places, chapter breaks are poorly placed and as a result divide content that should flow together. Overall, though, the chapter and verse divisions are very helpful.
The chapter divisions that are commonly used today were developed by Stephen Langton, an Archbishop of Canterbury. Langton put the modern chapter divisions into place in around A.D. 1227. The Wycliffe English Bible of 1382 was the first Bible to use this chapter pattern. Since the Wycliffe Bible, nearly all Bible translations have followed Langton's chapter divisions.
The Hebrew Old Testament was divided into verses by a Jewish rabbi by the name of Nathan in A.D. 1448. Robert Estienne, who was also known as Stephanus, was the first to divide the New Testament into standard numbered verses, in 1555. Stephanus essentially used Nathan's verse divisions for the Old Testament. Since that time, beginning with the Geneva Bible, the chapter and verse divisions employed by Stephanus have been accepted into nearly all the Bible versions.
Recommended Resource: The Quest Study Bible.
2007-04-20 00:41:05 · answer #2 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the books of the Bible were originally written, they did not contain chapter or verse references.
The chapter divisions that are commonly used today were developed by Stephen Langton, an Archbishop of Canterbury. Langton put the modern chapter divisions into place in around A.D. 1227.
The Wycliffe English Bible of 1382 was the first Bible to use this chapter pattern. Since the Wycliffe Bible, nearly all Bible translations have followed Langton's chapter divisions.
The Hebrew Old Testament was divided into verses by a Jewish rabbi by the name of Nathan in A.D. 1448.
Robert Estienne, who was also known as Stephanus, was the first to divide the New Testament into standard numbered verses, in 1555. Stephanus essentially used Nathan's verse divisions for the Old Testament.
Since that time, beginning with the Geneva Bible, the chapter and verse divisions employed by Stephanus have been accepted into nearly all the Bible versions.
Note:
In a few places, chapter breaks are poorly placed and as a result divide content that should flow together.
2007-04-19 17:05:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They became established principally with the Geneva bible: c1560. (Chapter divisions came earlier) They haven't varied greatly since, but there are places where ignoring the verse divisions or adjusting them can lead to a different understanding.
They do not carry scriptural authority, but they are a convenience that has been there so long, sometimes this is forgotten.
"I think Paul divides the verses very cleverly here." is a bible study comment that will always stay with me!
2007-04-19 17:06:55 · answer #4 · answered by Pedestal 42 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty much like today. Divide the scriptures into thoughts. No guidelines. Except I am sure that God's holy spirit guided and directed the process.
2007-04-19 17:29:17 · answer #5 · answered by Pinkribbon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I remember correctly... it was the Masorite Priests which assigned chapter and verse #'s and yes they had a guideline to follow. It's my understanding that they were trying to make it appear more like poetry so as to make it easier to read.
2007-04-19 16:57:17 · answer #6 · answered by Kithy 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The process is called versification. Here is a short read.
http://www.fuller.edu/ministry/berean/chs_vss.htm
2007-04-19 17:04:16 · answer #7 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't need a religious scholar, you need to read books on it.
2007-04-19 16:57:55 · answer #8 · answered by Polyhistor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about asking the authors
2007-04-19 16:56:16 · answer #9 · answered by Wisdom 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋