When Was Bible First Written?
The Bible is unlike any other book in the world. It has shaped civilizations, comforted hearts, and revealed the voice of God to countless generations. Yet one question often stirs curiosity: When was the Bible first written?
This question is not just a matter of history, it’s about trust. If we believe the Bible carries God’s Word, then knowing when and how it was first written helps us treasure it more deeply. In this article, I will walk you through the story of how the Bible came to be, step by step, from ancient times to the Scriptures we hold in our hands today.
Understanding the Origins of the Bible
What Does “Written” Really Mean?
Before we talk about dates, we need to pause and ask: what does it mean for the Bible to be “written”? For centuries, the stories of God’s people were passed down orally. Parents told their children the story of creation, the flood, the call of Abraham, and the mighty works of God. Only later were these stories carefully written down on scrolls.
So when we ask “when was the Bible first written,” we are really asking about when oral traditions became written texts, and when those texts began forming the collection we call the Bible.
The Bible as a Collection of Books
Another key point is this: the Bible is not one book written in one sitting. It’s a collection of books, written by different people, in different times, under the guidance of the same God. Think of it as a library that grew over centuries.
When Was the Old Testament First Written?
Earliest Biblical Writings
Most scholars believe the earliest portions of the Old Testament were written as far back as the 10th century BC. This would have been during the time of King David and King Solomon, when the kingdom of Israel was strong and able to preserve sacred history.
The stories may have been spoken for generations before this, but it was around this time that scribes began recording Israel’s history, laws, songs, and wisdom.
Role of Moses and the Law
Tradition holds that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, often called the Torah or Pentateuch. These books include both history (like creation and the exodus) and God’s commands for His people.
While scholars debate how much Moses himself wrote, what’s certain is that these early writings formed the backbone of Israel’s faith. For them, the Law wasn’t just history; it was covenant, a sacred agreement between God and His people.
The Prophets and Writings
As centuries passed, prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel wrote down God’s messages of warning and hope. Poets like David composed psalms that became the songs of worship. Wisdom teachers like Solomon collected proverbs to guide daily living.
Piece by piece, the Hebrew Scriptures grew. By about 400 BC, much of what we know as the Old Testament was already written and recognized by the Jewish community.
Preservation through Hebrew Scrolls
These writings were carefully copied onto scrolls, preserved in synagogues, and read aloud in worship. The famous Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the 20th century, show us just how faithfully the Old Testament was copied over the centuries.
When Was the New Testament First Written?
Teachings of Jesus Passed Down Orally
Fast forward to the time of Jesus. For the first decades after His resurrection, most of His teachings were remembered and shared orally. The apostles preached, traveled, and told the good news by word of mouth.
The Letters of Paul
The first New Testament writings weren’t the Gospels, but the letters of Paul. Around 50 AD, Paul wrote letters to churches in places like Corinth, Thessalonica, and Rome. These letters encouraged believers, explained doctrine, and corrected misunderstandings.
The Gospels
The Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, were written between 60 and 100 AD. Mark is often considered the earliest, while John was likely the last. These accounts gave the church written testimony of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Revelation and the Close of the Canon
By the end of the first century, the book of Revelation was written. Together with the letters and Gospels, it completed what we now call the New Testament. Over the next few centuries, church leaders recognized these writings as inspired and preserved them as Scripture.
How the Bible Came Together
Councils and the Collection of Books
The Bible did not arrive as a bound book. Instead, it was collected over time. Early Christians read letters, Gospels, and Old Testament scrolls in worship. By the 4th century, church councils affirmed the list of books we now recognize as the Bible.
The Role of Copyists and Translators
Faithful copyists preserved the texts by hand. Later, translators worked to bring God’s Word into common languages. The Greek Septuagint (Old Testament translated from Hebrew) was widely used in Jesus’ time. Later, in the 4th century, Jerome’s Latin Vulgate became the standard Bible for the Western church.
Spread of the Bible Across Cultures
As Christianity spread, so did the Bible. From Latin to English, from Greek to countless local languages, the Bible became a book for every people. Each translation opened new doors for faith.
Why Are the 14 Books Removed from the Bible?
You may have heard of the Apocrypha, sometimes called the “hidden books.” These 14 books include writings like 1 and 2 Maccabees, Tobit, and Judith. They were included in the Greek Septuagint and accepted by early Christians.
Catholic vs. Protestant Differences
Catholic and Orthodox churches still include these books, calling them Deuterocanonical. But during the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, reformers chose to remove them from most Protestant Bibles, considering them helpful but not inspired at the same level as the other Scriptures.
This difference doesn’t mean one group is “wrong.” It simply shows how the Bible’s history is complex, shaped by faithful communities over time.
How Do We Know the Bible Is True?
Historical Reliability of Manuscripts
One way we know the Bible is trustworthy is the sheer number of manuscripts. Thousands of copies, some very close to the original time of writing, confirm that what we have today is faithful to the ancient texts.
Archaeological Support and Prophecy Fulfillment
Archaeology often confirms the world the Bible describes. Cities, kings, and events mentioned in Scripture are found in historical records and excavations. Prophecies written centuries before Jesus, such as those in Isaiah, were fulfilled in His life, death, and resurrection.
The Bible’s Enduring Impact on Lives
Beyond history, the Bible proves itself through the way it changes lives. Countless people testify to the peace, direction, and hope they have found in its pages.
Faith as the Final Anchor
At the end of the day, faith is what anchors our trust in Scripture. The Bible is not only a historical book; it is God’s living Word. We believe it is true because God has revealed Himself through it.
Lessons for Us Today
Learning when the Bible was first written is more than a history lesson, it deepens our gratitude. It reminds us that God’s Word didn’t fall from the sky fully formed. It was lovingly preserved by His people across generations.
When you open your Bible, you are holding words that began thousands of years ago, words spoken, written, copied, and translated so that you could know God today.
Conclusion
So, when was the Bible first written? Parts of it go back as far as 3,000 years ago, with the Old Testament written between 1000–400 BC and the New Testament written between 50–100 AD. But the real answer is that while the Bible’s writing began long ago, its message is timeless.
The Bible continues to speak, guiding us in faith and reminding us of God’s unchanging love. Treasure it, read it, and let its words shape your life.
