When the bible was composed, was it ever the intent that every person would or should read it?

Question

Old Testament: Women were not even supposed to speak in Temple, nor sit with the men. Priests and Rabbis were exclusively adult males. The average person was illiterate.

New Testament (circa 350AD): No real difference from OT times.

It wasn't until circa 1500 AD that educated men could read a bible in anything but Latin. Considerably longer before literacy rates increased to a point where an average man could read the bible in hi own language, and by then there were several translations which disagreed in substance.

From this came the KJV, to end the controversy and give the Church of England one authoritative book, circa 1650.

Did those who wrote the books in the bible ever conceive of the idea that uneducated laymen and women would read these books and decide for themselves what each passage means?

Or was it always their belief that only educated priests and rabbis would read it and interpret it?

For which audience was the bible written?

Answer 1

No -- not possible.

When the Bible was first written it was written over time in separate books that were on parchment or papyrus scrolls, or lambskins. Writing implements and surfaces were expensive, and most everyone was illiterate except the priests and ruling individuals.

The Christian Bible was not made into one Book until the 4th century AD - and at that time there were not many books in the whole world. There were no printing presses and every copy of the Bible was written by hand with rudimentary pens. They were too expensive and precious for everyone to have one, and again most people were illiterate and could not read them anyway.

It was not until the printing press was invented that large numbers of copies could be printed. However, even then, it was not until the late 19th and early 20th century that most Americans and Europeans, let alone other peoples, were literate enough to read. And the Bible is a very difficult book to read - a 9th grade reading level (which is about the average reading level today) is not enough for someone to have the reading comprehension ability to have a good handle on a lot of it.

So - of course the Bible was not written for every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Answer 2

Probably the former.
Consider this:
Those that wrote the Bible (both OT and NT) did so to preserve the oral tradition already being passed around. They did not do so to (further) stratify their societies. By the time the words hit the page "lay people" "uneducated women and men" already knew the stories so reading them wouldn't have been a thing of privilege or for the privileged.
This is complicated, of course, by the issue of literacy. The very act of writing it down made it unaccessible to the masses in both OT and NT societies because very few were actually literate. But, again, the writing down of the stories was for preservation, not for transmission, so the issue of literacy probably wasn't that big of a deal for the authors.
But did they INTEND that every person should or would read it? They intended to communicate the realities of their communities so, no. It was only when the texts of the communities were assimilated into the Imperial Cult and Christianity made the Imperial Religion that the issue of transmission (EVERY PERSON) arose. At that point, the Bible (as well as every other piece of literature) was the tool of the elite - not just clergy. Which is why, until the Reformation and Luther, the Bible was only read by the educated and the clergy (not necessarily synonomous).

Answer 3

The Bible was written for ALL whether or not they were capable of reading it on their own. The "Letters" in the N.T. were read as Christians would come together for worship so All (both Genders) were then instructed equally. Yes, in the O.T. the men were separated from the women, but Both were still taught from the Scriptures they had. Now to Modern Day!!! When the Catholic church realized that they could Rule the World they became a "Business" that did what "Business" do best, MAKE MONEY!!! To do this, U must "Corner the Market" and in Religion, the Catholic church did so by Controlling ALL Communication of the Word of God!!! Clement XI for example declared that Kings only rule with his permission & issued a "Bull" against reading the Bible!!! Pius VII issued a "Bull" against Bible Societies & Bible Translations!!! Of course U must realize that these examples PALE by comparison to Centuries of Murder, Plundering, Rape, Sodomy etc. performed by the Catholic church. John

Answer 4

That is not an 'easy read'....!! My 1884 Family Bible has a Few Hundred Pages of Prefaced Materials, including: Histories, Dictionary, Gallery of Scriptures Illustrations, Biological Sketches of the Translaters, Reformers and Martyrs., Etc,,,,,,,,!! Fully, the Preface or Explanations Cover 1/4 of the Book, also covering "The Books Called Apocrypha"...!! Newer Versions are Greatly "condensed", and Translated for easier Reading....!!

Answer 5

Constantine got rid of everything that was Pagan. Unfortunately that was education as well. People could read well when the whole things started. It went down hill from there.
The Church wanted power. What better way to control people if you keep them ignorant. This was what started the downfall of Christianity. It couldn't have been less Christ like.
I personally don't think there are many Christians if any at all. The NT didn't even exist until after 312 ADE. That means that not of all it is accurate. Men voted. If the Pope isn't ordained by God(according to some people even though they decide through prayer) then the Bible isn't either. The VOTED. They prayed. You can't have it both ways.

Answer 6

The bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit and was given for all mankind to read. God's timing in everything is perfect. Until Christ, the Jews were God's chosen people so the word was passed on by the priesthood just as God commanded. After Christ everyone was invited to join God's people. The bible has been translated into text that everyone can read in line with man's ability to read for himself. It is only over the last couple of centuries that literacy has become prevalent in most societies. It's really quite interesting that the word has been opened up for those in the end times.

Answer 7

It was written for everyone. There is nothing in the BIble that states that it's only for certain people.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16&17

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:20&21

Answer 8

I thin kit was intended for those who were educated enough to read, I don't think they thought of much of a future. I don't think they intended for there to be televangelists, or people knocking on doors with their Book of Mormon and all the other sorts of fiddle faddle and rot going on in the world today. It's been taken way too far, out of control, and it's going to backfire on the abusers.

Answer 9

I think the different books were composed... the bible came about when these books were all bound up together.

Answer 10

The Bible,like all religious books, was intended to get as much people to believe in it as possible, then cause the death of those who didn't.