# History of the Bible **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 19, 2011, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807 "2011-09-19T09:30:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807/1 "2011-09-19T09:30:17Z")
Hi there, Can anyone out there please recommend a scholarly history of the “Holy Bible” (I’m referring to the Christian document with an old and new testament, psalms etc). I am interested in something recent, competently and professionally researched which objectively considers linguistics, translation issues and challenges as well as the historical contexts associated with the bible’s history. Thank you very much ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807/2 "2011-09-19T11:25:06Z")
There are some worthwhile volumes out there, ranging in detail and scholaqrwship from a popularization like Asimov’s Guide to a reference like the Jerome Bible Commentary, which match your specifications. As an excellent starting point, though, may I recommend the five-part Staff Report [“Who wrote the Bible?”](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1985/who-wrote-the-bible-part-1) (link is to part one, with links to the other parts at the linked page). Written by two SDSAB members, it’s an objective and well-researched overview with references to works that go into more detail. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807/3 "2011-09-19T20:01:24Z")
Thanks for that Polycarp. I look forward to reading it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807/4 "2011-09-19T20:17:41Z")
I’m now reading this book, and enjoying it very much: [http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Secretaries-Making-James-Bible/dp/0060838736/ref=sr\_1\_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316463448&sr=1-1](http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Secretaries-Making-James-Bible/dp/0060838736/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316463448&sr=1-1) ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807/5 "2011-09-19T22:46:59Z")
I’m (slowly) reading [Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why](http://www.amazon.com/Misquoting-Jesus-Story-Behind-Changed/dp/0060859512/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316472314&sr=8-1). It talks about translation issues, changes made intentionally and by accident when copying, and other subjects. It focuses on the New Testament…but other than that, it seems to match. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Fatwater\_Fewl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fatwater\_Fewl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatwater_Fewl)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807/6 "2011-09-20T20:10:05Z")
You might try [Who Wrote the Bible](http://www.amazon.com/Wrote-Bible-Richard-Elliott-Friedman/dp/0060630353), by Richard Elliott Friedman, and [The Bible Unearthed](http://www.amazon.com/Bible-Unearthed-Archaeologys-Vision-Ancient/dp/0684869128), by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807/7 "2011-09-22T09:06:58Z")
Thanks for the responses. I look forward to checking out your suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807/8 "2011-09-22T14:08:49Z")
> [@Fatwater\_Fewl](#): > > You might try [Who Wrote the Bible](http://www.amazon.com/Wrote-Bible-Richard-Elliott-Friedman/dp/0060630353), by Richard Elliott Friedman, and [The Bible Unearthed](http://www.amazon.com/Bible-Unearthed-Archaeologys-Vision-Ancient/dp/0684869128), by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman. I’ve read both, probably after being recommended here on this board, and I can confirm this recommendation. I don’t think that I’m hijacking the thread, given the fact that the OP explicitly mentions the old \*and \*new testament, if I ask if there are comparable books handling the history of the new testament. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Know\_Nothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f04885/32.png) [@I\_Know\_Nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Know_Nothing)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807/9 "2011-09-22T18:00:40Z")
Looks like posters smarter than I have posted and seconded two others(which I’ll probably read now) but I’m a Karen Armstrong fan and would throw out her [The Bible: A Biography](http://www.amazon.com/Bible-Biography-Books-Changed-World/dp/0871139693). She writes in a way easy enough for mass market audiences to digest, but doesn’t seem to skimp on the scholarship. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-the-bible/596807/10 "2011-09-22T20:53:03Z")
I enjoyed Geddes McGregor, _The Bible In The Making_ (1959)