iBible - English 1.3

The Bible constitutes a collection of foundational religious texts for Judaism and Christianity, providing insight into their spiritual traditions and histories.

The Christian Bible is traditionally divided into two sections. The first, known as the Old Testament, includes a minimum of 39 books derived from Hebrew Scripture. The second, called the New Testament, comprises 27 books that document the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the early Christian community. The first four books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are recognized as the canonical gospels, serving as essential accounts of Christ’s life and central to Christian doctrine.

While Christian Bibles incorporate the texts of the Hebrew Bible, their arrangement differs from Jewish Scripture. In Jewish tradition, the Scripture concludes with the return of the Israelites to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple; conversely, in Christian Bibles, the Old Testament culminates with the Book of Malachi.

The earliest surviving Christian manuscripts date back to the 4th century CE, with Greek fragments representing some of the oldest extant copies. The oldest complete Jewish Bible, a Greek translation known as the Septuagint, also originates from this period. The most ancient complete manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible—the Masoretic Text—are attributed to the Middle Ages, reflecting a long history of textual transmission and preservation.

Together, the Old and New Testaments are commonly referred to as "The Holy Bible." Throughout history, many Christian believers have regarded these texts as divinely inspired, often citing passages within the scriptures themselves as supporting evidence for this conviction.