Sweeping with scope and alive with fascinating information, this book presents an unparalleled look at the Bible, the most influential work in human history.


Long before the tales of the Old Testament were written down, they were passed from generation to generation by master storytellers. Tales of the Creation, the sacrifice of Isaac, and the parting of the Red Sea were recited aloud and dramatized by the telling and retelling.

THE WRITTEN WORD

As the centuries rolled on, stories and laws began to be written down. Then, from the time of King David, historians, prophets, and scribes wrote the books of the Old Testament and Apocrypha as we know them today.

WORDS OF A NEW FAITH

After Jesus' death, news of his teachings and resurrection spread quickly by word of mouth. Eventually Christian Scriptures evolved from letters written to the early churches, accounts of Jesus' life, and other writings.

COPYING THE WORD

In the Middle Ages, men and women of faith retreated from the world to lead lives of quiet devotion. Some of them laboriously copied and lavishly decorated the Scriptures.

THE PRINTED WORD

The invention of the printing press led to the worldwide distribution of biblical texts. Today, the Scriptures are available in more than 1,500 dialects and languages in every imaginable form, from computer programs to comic books.