What were the original Bible books written on and how long did that type of paper typically survive?

Question

Does anyone know, back in Biblical times, what type of paper was typically used for writing on by religious scholars? How was that "paper" typically preserved? With those methods, how many years could that "paper" typically last before age would destroy the "paper"?

(I use quotes because the paper was not paper by our modern standards).

Answer 1

The books of the New Testament were written on papyrus, which is a paper like material made from reeds. IT last an average of about 40-50 years before it begins to disintegrate. It was not strong enough to be bound into what we thnk of as a book, so it was used in the form of scrolls instead. It was replaced in the early 3rd century by vellum, made from animal skins. It was strong enough to allow the create of the "codex", which is similar to a "book".

The Old Testament manuscripts we have today are also on papyrus. But some fragments still exist on stone and hide from earlier times. The manuscripts only date back to about 400-500BC, when papyrus was first discovered.

The papyrus manuscripts that survive where usually wrapped in linen, and then sealed in a water tight jar of some kind. The copies of Isaiah found in the Dead Sea Scrolls where preserved in that manner. Even then, they can usually not be unrolled. But the papyrus has to be carefully cut into sheets and laid out in order to read the material.

Of the New Testament books, about 2,300 manuscripts (some of which are fragments of a single page, others are complete books) are known today that date from the time before the Council of Nicene, where the NT was alledgedly "rewritten" by the "Catholics" (Even though the Catholic church would not be formed until 600 years later in 1054AD). Yet these manuscripts are word for word indentical to the manuscripts used today for Bible translations.

Answer 2

Different books of the bible were written at different times by different people.

One of the oldest known copies of some of the books is the dead sea scrolls, which I believe were written on papyrus, not paper.

The earliest indications of the Old Testament canon come from the time of Ezra and Nehemiah and suggest that the process had begun during the Babylonian captivity (605-535 BC) with the Torah (the 1st 5 Books of the Bible). But the process was probably not complete until sometime in the 2nd Century BC. Deciding which books were to be included was done by senior priests based on general agreement that each book was authentic (written by the person identified as its author) and divinely inspired.

The New Testament had pretty much come together by 150AD but there continued to be discussion about a few books until about 400 AD. It was not officially canonized until the Council of Trent in the 1500's.

Answer 3

Two thousand years ago, most of what was written down was written on parchment (made from animal skins) or papyrus (made from reeds). Neither of these would last very long unless protected from the elements. Since they were natural products, mold and insects could destroy them in short order. However, there are examples of documents prepared over two thousands years ago that survive to this day. Dead Sea Scrolls are the most famous. There are few examples of writing that are older that weren't done on sturdier stuff. Cuneiform writings on clay tablets survived much longer.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John probably wrote on papyrus. It is doubtful any of those original writings lasted more than a few hundred years.

The books of the old testament were oral tales repeated by storytellers (a respected profession) for centuries. When these were committed to writing, parchment was likely the original base. Previous comments pertain.

Answer 4

The oldest books of the OT were written on papyrus and even animal skins (paper hadn't been invented yet). They would seal them in clay jars and they could last a long time with proper care (like the Dead Sea Scrolls).

Answer 5

Dead Sea Scrolls were preserved for two thousand years.

Possibly papyrus, but since time immoriam, Scribes for Hebrews, and "Perigrini monks' of Christians have always been busy rewriting the manusripts. The Book of Kells in Dublin is an example.

Answer 6

The Egyptians used papyrus, a paper made out reeds by the Nile River. That's how some events are recorded.

Answer 7

I think it was (for the hebrew texts) papyrus or sheepskins. And I am not sure how long they survived.

However, I do know that the Jews were VERY particular about who was allowed to copy the Torah. It had to be exactly perfect.

This is why there are mostly insignificant (read: no dogmatic changes) scribal errors from the original writings up until today. The Dead Sea scrolls show that.

Answer 8

Nobody knows. None of the original books of the Bible are in existence. If they had been written on stone, as one answerer has suggested, we would have the original texts. One of the earliest books of the Bible that is in existence was written on animal skin and is one of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Answer 9

The Bible wasn't ever actually written, it was made up by the same people that have always owned all printing and media and happen to run the Vatican's bank.

Answer 10

I have no idea. But you know I've always wondered myself so I'm going to stick around until you get an answer. And it wasn't written on stone. The ancient egyptians had papyrus and that was thousands of years before Christ.