THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD AND THE CATHOLIC FAITH

The term “Bible” was derived from Greek word “byblos” (parchment/papyrus – a kind of plant that grew in ancient Egypt from where ancient “papyr”/paper came from).

From this “byblos” was made their ancient book called by Greeks “bibliol, biblion”. From the Greek word “biblion” was derived another Greek words “ta biblia” (books) from where the Latin term “Biblia” (Book) came from. (cf. Origin, History and Inspiration of the Bible, p.16)

Bible is the sacred book of Christianity. It is composed of the Old Testament and the New Testament Scriptures. (cf. Webster’s New World Dictionary, p. 135). Bible = Old Testament + New Testament. Before the 5th century, wala pang kinikilalang Biblia ang mga Cristiano.

King Ptolemy II of Alexandria Egypt asked the Jews to make a Greek translation of ancient Hebrew Scriptures

250-100 B.C. – the Greek translation of Jewish Old Testament scriptures was made by 72 Jewish scholars (round off to 70 which in Greek called Septuaginta). These 72 scholars were from the 12 tribes of Israel (6 men from each tribe, 12x6=72). That is why the collection of ancient books translated by the Greek-speaking Jews was called “Septuaginta/Septuagint” abbreviated LXX. (cf. ORIGIN, HISTORY AND INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE, p. xxiii)

100- 33 A.D. - some copies of Septuaginta already existed. When Christ and the Apostles talked about “Scriptures”, they were referring to the Septuagint which they used during their time. (ibid.)

48 A.D. - St. Peter wrote his first letter (“encyclical”) called The First Catholic Epistle of St. Peter. (cf. Douay Bible, NT p. 269). The “first Gospel” (Gospel of St. Matthew) was written in 65 A.D. (cf. Douay Bible, NT p.10)

98 A.D. - The last book of the New Testament (Apocalypse/Revelation) was written by St. John the Beloved Apostle (cf. The Apocalypse of Douay Bible).

100-200 A.D. – The first translation of Greek sacred scriptures was translated into Latin. The most widely circulated translation was called “Itala”. (New American Bible, St Joseph edition)

382 A.D. – Pope St. Damasus I decreed at the Synod of Rome that the books of the Bible are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Josue, Judges, Ruth, Kings (4 books), Paralipomenon (2 books), Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticle of Canticles, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Isaias, Jeremias with lamentations, Ezechiel, Daniel, Osee, Micheas, Joel, Abdias, Jonas, Nahum, Habacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zacharias, Malachias, Job, Tobias, Esdras (2 books), Esther, Judith, Machabees (2 books), St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John, Romans, Corinthians (2 books), Ephesians, Thessalonians (2 books), Galatians, Philippians, Colossians,
Timothy (2 books), Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, Apocalypse of John, Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter (2 books), St. James, St. John (3 books), St. Jude, (cf. "Decree of DAMASUS", cf. DZ 84, cf. Sources of Catholic Dogma p.84)

300-400 A.D. – Pope St. Damasus I requested St. Jerome to make the official translation of New Testament Scriptures as well as Old Testament Scriptures into Latin. In 382 A.D., Latin New Testament was completed. (New American Bible, St, Joseph edition, Origin, History and Inspiration of the Bible, p.xxv)

404 A.D. – St. Jerome’s translation/collection of sacred scriptures was completed. He called it “Bibliotica Divina” (divine library). The Church called it Latina Vulgata/Latin Vulgate or simply Vulgate. St. John Chrysostome, patriarch of Constantinople, was the first man to call the Bible as “The Word of God”

405 A.D. – Pope St. Innocent I made a decree that the Bible is canonical and can be read at Mass. ("Consulenti tibi" to Exuperius, Bishop of Toulouse, Feb. 20, 405, cf. DZ 96, cf. Sources of Catholic Dogma, p. 41)

494 A.D. - The Greek speaking Catholics called Latina Vulgata “BIBLIA.” (Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, p.115)

Mid-13th century (1250’s) – Cardinal Hugo de Sanctu Carro divided the Bible into Chapters (General Introduction to Sacred Scriptures by Dixon, p.64-66, cf. Origin, History and Inspiration of the Bible, p.xix)

1450-1452 – Johannes Geinsfleish Gutenberge invented the printing press machine and printed a copy of the Bible (Latin Vulgate). Over 200 copies were printed in the first edition. These copies were also called Gutenberge Bible (Origin, History and Inspiration of the Bible, p.xxv, cf.Collier’s Encyclopedia, Vol. IV, p. 117)

1528 – Fr. Sanctes Pagninus, O.P., a Dominican priest, divided the Old Testament chapters into verses.

1551 - Robert Ettiene, a printer in Paris divided the New Testament chapters into verses

1517- Martin Luther, former Augustinian monk, posted his 95 thesis on church wall of Wittenberg, Germany protesting against Catholic doctrines and practices (My First History of the Bible, p. 126). He brought a copy of the Latin Bible with him when he went out from the Catholic Church and translated it into German language

1520 – Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church & founded the Protestant Church (ibid, p. 125)(cf. Timetables of History, p.162)

1525 – Luther married Katherin von Bora, former nun (ibid, 128)

1528 – Luther taught SOLA SCRIPTURA (Bible alone), SOLA GRATIA (Grace alone), SOLA FIDE (Faith alone) (ibid.)

1534 – King Henry VIII separated from the Catholic Church and declared himself as the sovereign of the Anglican Church (Church of England) by the Act of Supremacy (ibid, p. 131-132). Those who remained faithful Roman Catholics were either killed or exiled. (ibid). King Henry divorced his wife Queen Catherine of Aragon and take Anne Boleyn as his “wife”. In 1533, Anne Boleyn begot a daughter named Elizabeth. (cf. WNWD, p.441)

1541 - John Calvin established a puritan theocracy (Protestant) in Geneva, Switzerland (Timetables of History, p.165)

1547 – King Henry VIII died (cf. WNWD, p.630)

1547-1553 - King Edward VI, son of King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, assumed the throne of England and the Kingdom of Ireland (WNWD, p. 532) (cf. Fatima and the Great Conspiracy, p. 41)

1553-1558 – Queen Mary, daughter of King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine of Aragon, assumed the throne of England until she died (WNWD, p.831). She was a Catholic queen who executed heretics. (Timetables of History, p.165)

1558-1603 – Queen Elizabeth assumed the throne of England after the death of Queen Mary (WNWD, p.441). She was Anglican who killed those Catholics who did not convert to Anglican Church.

1582 – in Rheims (a city of North Eastern France) English scholars (who fled Catholic persecutions in England) translated the Vulgate New Testament into English (Origin, History and Inspiration of the Bible, p.xxvi)(cf. WNWD, p.1131)

1603-1625 – King James I (in England aka King James VI in Scotland) son of Mary, Queen of Scots (WNWD, p. 722) became the next monarch in England

1604 – Anglican Protestants began translating the Bible into English based on the Bishops’ Bible (Protestant Version) (Origin, History and Inspiration of the Bible, p.xxvii)

1610 – English Catholic Scholars who translated the New Testament into English completed the English translation of the entire Bible (Origin, History and Inspiration of the Bible, p.xxvi). This is known as the Douay-Rheims or Douay Bible. (WNWD, p.408)

1611 - Anglican Protestants completed the Bible into English and dedicate it to King James I of England (Protestant Version) (Origin, History and Inspiration of the Bible, p.xxvii). This is known as the King James Version or KJV, a Protestant Bible. During the colonization of British Empire, King James Bible and the Anglican religion spread to their colonies. That is why KJV was known to many countries whose people understand the English language.

1881 – the British Foreign Bible Society ordered that the 7 Deuterocanonical books (aka Apocrypha) shall be omitted from Protestant copies of Bible

1885 – the Revised Version (KJV revised) was published having only 66 books.

Sept. 22, 1973 – after Vatican 2, Catholic authorities agreed with Protestants to make a common, compromised Bible having 73 books, so the Good News Bible or Magandang Balita Biblia of the Philippine Bible Society appeared (cf. Good News Bible, © PBS)

The Catholic Church who made the Bible divided it into chapters and verses. Without the Catholic Church, there could have been no Bible today. The founder of Protestantism, Martin Luther admitted, “We are compelled to concede to the papists (Catholics), that they have the Word of God, that we received it from them and that without them, we should have no knowledge of it at all.” (Luther’s Commentary on John Chapter XVI).

The Bible itself mentioned the Catholic Church. “For God will save Sion…THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.” Psalms 68:36

According to the Bible, the true temple is the Catholic Church. “HIS TRUE TEMPLE, THE ONE HOLY, CATHOLIC, APOSTOLIC CHURCH.” (Lev.17:3)

During the time of Christ, Christianity began. “Jesus Christ founded the Church in Jerusalem on Pentecost day, in the year 33 A.D.” (My First History of the Church, p.7)

“Sola Fide” or “Faith alone” doctrine is from Luther, not from the Catholic Church.” For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.” (St. James 2:26) Christ did not write a book in the Bible. He established the Church in order to save mankind. (Act 2:46-47).

Mid-13th century (1250’s) – Cardinal Hugo de Sanctu Carro divided the Bible into Chapters (General Introduction to Sacred Scriptures by Dixon, p.64-66, cf. Origin, History and Inspiration of the Bible, p.xix)

1528 – Fr. Sanctes Pagninus, O.P., a Dominican priest, divided the Old Testament chapters into verses. (ibid.)