How was the Old Testament compiled?
score:6
The following is taken from a section of the Introduction in the "Complete Jewish Bible", English Version by David Stern, entitled The Canon
Scholars agree that the canon of the Torah achieved its present form before the time of 'Ezra (around 445 B.C.E.), the Prophets later and the Writings last. But the final review of the canon was made by the Council of Yavneh (Jamnia) convened around 90 C.E. by Rabbi Yochanan Ben-Zakkai in the wake of the destruction of the temple by Romans twenty years earlier. Several books now included in the Tanakh were questioned—Daniel and Ezekiel, because of their startling visions and experiences; Esther, because God is not mentioned in it; Song of Songs, because of its overtly sexual character; and Ecclesiastes, because of its depressed world-viewpoint (except for the last two verses, which redeemed it). Ecclesiasticus (not the same as Ecclesiates) was rejected by the rabbis of Yavneh but is found in the Apocrypha, a collection of fifteen ancient Jewish books that include Tobit, Judith, 1-2 Maccabees and the Wisdom of Solomon. Catholic and Anglican Bibles include the Apocrypha. Some sixty other ancient books are collectively called the Pseudepigrapha. English language editions of the Apocrypha and the Pseudipigrapha are available.
There are several more pages of history regarding the formation of newer versions, New King James, etc. and the attribution of writings (who wrote which book) for the books of the Tanakh (Old Testament) in the Introduction I've sighted above. However, the passage above seems to best answer the question about the actual "compiling" of the Old Testament.
Upvote:0
Authors like Joachim Jeremias and Gerard von Rad had shown that the origins of the OT began circa 1200-900 B.C. in the David King's dynasty, probably with the Wise Solomon. They and others are in agreement that the "David King's dynasty" text in I Kg was the first in the creation of the OT.
Upvote:2
Since there is only one answer at the moment, I will add mine, which is from my comments.
Basically, for Christians the OT canon was still in flux until 1647 when a final decision was made as to which books would be in the Episcopalian Bible, so the OT wasn't compiled until then.
Even the Jews didn't have a unified canon until after the death of Christ.
As long as books are being added/removed/rearranged, it is in the process of being compiled.
For links to explain these dates you can look at When was the OT canon as used by Protestants finalized?.
So, it was compiled by people coming together to determine which books should be where, and in some cases decisions to rename or split a book was made. Each group had their own reasons for their decisions, and these could be debated, but basically, long ago these decisions were argued and made, and then other groups would re-debate and make some modifications, based perhaps on newer information or better understanding.
More post
- 📝 Does Scientology claim to be Christian?
- 📝 How common is the practice of praying for the devil?
- 📝 The Mormon Church teaches that Jesus Christ created under the direction of Heavenly Father and He did not create the world "out of nothing."
- 📝 Has an angel or a demon ever been recorded on camera?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians contextually explain Thomas' exclamation at John 20:28?
- 📝 Does Catholicism say that it is ok to pray at inter-religious thanksgiving services?
- 📝 Is there a moral goodness in In vitro fertilization?
- 📝 Why did Paul go to Arabia?
- 📝 What was the timeline of the reigns of David and Ishbaal?
- 📝 When did the term "New Testament" first come into usage?
- 📝 Calvinism vs Independent Fundamental Baptist
- 📝 How are people who were not approved by Jesus (Matthew 7:21-23) still able to expel demons?
- 📝 Does the Catholic word Priest actually mean "Presbyter?" Or is it a conflation of roles?
- 📝 What is the scriptural evidence that Mary was always a virgin?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for 'Holy laughter'?
- 📝 Can a communion host be made differently according to Catholicism?
- 📝 What is the background of the words "notitia," "fiducia," and "assensus" and how do they relate to the biblical notion of "faith"?
- 📝 In what countries is Christianity banned?
- 📝 During creation the Bible says, God saw that various things were 'good'. Did He not know they were going to be good?
- 📝 Is it orthodox to abandon the concept that God of the Bible is person, but say that He is spirit?
- 📝 What arguments are given that Ephesians was not written by Paul?
- 📝 Are Catholic bishops infallible?
- 📝 Do the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches observe different dates for Pascha?
- 📝 Miracle of the loaves and fishes, multiplication or sharing?
- 📝 What is the difference between an Apostolic Exhortation and an Encyclical Letter?
- 📝 Is anyone with accumulated wealth saved?
- 📝 Is the Catholic Church actively preparing for the contact with a highly advanced sentient alien species?
- 📝 Is there biblical evidence that God knows my unspoken thoughts?
- 📝 What happens to retired Popes like Pope Benedict?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for Docetism?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How was the Old Testament compiled?
- 📝 How can we be sure the Old Testament is accurate if Elijah was the only prophet left?
- 📝 Was casting out of demons done in the Old Testament by any Prophets or was it started in the New Testament?
- 📝 Was there a sacrifice in the Old Testament for intentional sins?
- 📝 Was each "Book" of the Old Testament on a separate scroll prior to the second century A.D.?
- 📝 How do the Seventh Day Adventist approach Old Testament laws?
- 📝 What was the explanation for why Catharism identified the Old Testament God as Satan?
- 📝 How easy was it to get a Bible (Old Testament or both Testaments) in the Eastern Roman Empire during the early reign of Justinian?
- 📝 How old was St. Joseph when he married the Blessed Virgin Mary?
- 📝 When was the Old Testament Canon defined?
- 📝 How many times does the New Testament quote the Old Testament?
- 📝 How old was Moses when he parted the Red Sea and how old was he when he received the Ten Commandments?
- 📝 How old was Jesus when the Magi visited him?
- 📝 How would I juxtapose between the unity of God (Shema) in Deuteronomy 6.4 and the concept of Trinity in the Old Testament
- 📝 Are there any Christian sects that believe the Old Testament was written (inspired) by Satan or that these scriptures are evil in some way?
- 📝 How many prophecies in the Old Testament are about Jesus?
- 📝 How many non-decalogue commandments from the Old Testament are still morally binding for Christians?
- 📝 How do advocates of an intermediate state explain that the Old Testament seems to be unaware of the existence of the Bosom of Abraham?
- 📝 How were the books of the New Testament chosen?
- 📝 How long was Jesus in the tomb?
- 📝 How could Jesus be born during the reign of Herod, and when Quirinius was governor of Syria, if those periods were not contemporary?
- 📝 How can I tell the difference between the Moral law and other laws in the old testament?
- 📝 How much variation is in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament?
- 📝 What is the origin of the moral-civil-ceremonial distinction of the Old Testament law?
- 📝 Are there Old Testament Scriptures that mention salvation for the Gentiles?
- 📝 Who was St. Joseph's Father? The New Testament seems to give two answers
- 📝 How old is the idea of premillenial rapture?
- 📝 How prominent was "prosperity theology" in the early church?
- 📝 When was the New Testament divided into sentences and paragraphs?
- 📝 Is there any tradition that informs us of how old Mary was when she gave birth to Jesus?