When was the Bible completed? This is a question that has intrigued scholars and religious enthusiasts for centuries. The Bible, as a compilation of sacred texts, is not a single book but a collection of various writings spanning over a thousand years. Its completion, therefore, is a complex issue that involves the culmination of multiple authors, editors, and historical periods.
The Old Testament, which is the first part of the Bible, was largely completed by the 5th century BCE. It consists of a mix of historical accounts, poetry, and religious laws. The last books of the Old Testament, including the Book of Esther and the Book of Daniel, are believed to have been written around this time. However, the collection of these writings into a single text, known as the Masoretic Text, did not occur until the 10th century CE.
The New Testament, which contains the Gospels, letters, and Revelation, is generally considered to have been completed in the first few centuries CE. The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, were written between 60 and 100 CE. The letters of Paul, which are the earliest writings in the New Testament, were composed around the same time. The Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, is thought to have been written around 95 CE.
The process of compiling and canonizing the Bible was not uniform across different Christian denominations. The Old Testament was canonized by the Jewish rabbis in the 2nd century BCE, while the New Testament was canonized by the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE. The Council of Trent, held in the 16th century, further solidified the Catholic Church’s acceptance of the New Testament books.
The completion of the Bible, therefore, is a multifaceted process that took place over many centuries. While it is difficult to pinpoint an exact date for the completion of the entire Bible, it is clear that the texts were accumulating and evolving for a significant period before they were officially recognized as the sacred scriptures of Christianity. The Bible’s rich history and the ongoing debates about its composition continue to be subjects of scholarly inquiry and religious devotion.
