I’m a Bible guy.
Not a thumper, but definitely a follower and believer (some would dispute that). Of course, the Bible isn’t a book. It’s a compilation of several texts written by over 40 authors spanning approximately 1500 years from about 1400 BC to 100 AD.
- The original texts were written in a combination of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek based on the geography and community of the authors.
- What we currently know as “The Bible” was compiled by various groups over a series of councils/gatherings starting in about 100 BC until the mid-1500’s.
- The core of the Hebrew Bible, also what we currently call the Old Testament, was largely established by about 400 BC.
- The Council of Carthage (397 AD) and then the Council of Trent (1546 AD) are generally considered the solidifying moments of the current biblical canon for the Catholic Church, which is 73 books.
- The protestant reformation began in 1517, and the protestant Church of England outlined the current protestant biblical canon as 66 books in its Thirty-Nine Articles in 1563.
Although well-established for a long time now, it’s been a bit of a moving target over the years. Even discrepancies.
Today and certainly in the future, we’re generating more written words than at any time in history. AI is exponentially ramping that up. This trend will continue.
But the thing about this ancient text is that it has survived. One can read words written 3500 years ago by humans. Whatthey saw. What they feel. What they think.
And why is that?
Because it speaks to us. It includes fundamental wisdom about humans and humanity.
Although everything about culture and the way we live has changed, maybe nothing has changed about us at our core as humans.
The thing about ancient texts is that they’ve survived for a reason. When we’re flailing around — Confused, questioning — maybe we should remember the ancient texts.
