What was the original Bible called? This question often sparks curiosity among those who are fascinated by the history and origins of the sacred text. The Bible, as we know it today, is a compilation of ancient religious texts that have been translated and revised over centuries. However, the original versions of these texts had different titles and were written in various languages.
The term “Bible” itself is derived from the Greek word “Biblia,” which means “books.” This term was used to describe the collection of sacred texts by early Christians. Before the term “Bible” became widely used, the texts were known by their individual names or by the names of their authors. For instance, the book of Genesis was known as “The Book of the First Things,” while the Psalms were called “The Book of Psalms.”
In the Jewish tradition, the original Bible was known as the “Tanakh,” which is an acronym for the three main divisions of the Hebrew Bible: Torah (the Law), Nevi’im (the Prophets), and Ketuvim (the Writings). The Torah, also known as the “Five Books of Moses,” is the foundational text of Judaism and contains the first five books of the Bible.
In the Christian tradition, the original Bible was known as the “Old Testament,” which is a direct translation of the Greek term “Ἡ Παλαιά Διαθήκη” (Hē Palaia Diathēkē). This term means “The Old Covenant” and refers to the first part of the Christian Bible, which includes the same texts as the Jewish Tanakh.
The New Testament, which is the second part of the Christian Bible, was originally written in Greek and was known as “Ἡ Νέα Διαθήκη” (Hē Nea Diathēkē), meaning “The New Covenant.” The New Testament includes the Gospels, the letters of the apostles, and the book of Revelation.
As the Bible spread across different cultures and languages, various translations and versions were created. One of the earliest translations of the Bible into a vernacular language was the Latin Vulgate, which was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in the 4th century. The Vulgate became the standard Bible for the Roman Catholic Church and was translated from Greek and Hebrew into Latin.
In conclusion, the original Bible had different titles depending on the tradition and language in which it was written. The Jewish Tanakh and the Christian Old Testament are the closest approximations to the original collection of sacred texts, while the New Testament represents the earliest written accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
