The Genesis of the First Printed Bible: A Historical Overview

When was the first Bible published? To answer this question, we must travel back in time and explore the evolution of literature and the advent of new printing technologies.

Ancient Times and Hand-Copied Texts

Long before the advent of printing, the Bible was not the first book to be published. In ancient times, books were hand-copied, making them rare and expensive commodities. A complete Bible today would be akin to the cost of a decent new car.

Regular people, even those who could afford books, did not have access to full Bibles. Instead, they might have only portions of scrolls or small codices, such as single gospels. The public knew the Bible through its reading and preaching in churches, not through personal copies. This scenario was not common until the Middle Ages, and even then, widespread personal ownership of the Bible in vernacular languages was delayed until the arrival of the printing press in the 16th century.

The Vulgate and Jerome's Contribution

It was Jerome, a prominent early Christian scholar, who made significant strides in making the Bible accessible. Jerome produced a highly successful and popular Latin translation of the entire Bible in around 400 CE, known as the Vulgate. This translation played a vital role in the Western Roman Empire. It's important to note that in the Eastern Roman Empire, the Bible was already available in Greek, dating back to at least 100 BCE for the Old Testament and the creation of the New Testament around 200 CE (give or take 50 years).

The Development of Manuscripts

Thousands of Biblical manuscripts from the mid- to late-Western Roman Empire demonstrate that Bibles were frequently copied and owned, though not commonly by ordinary people. Due to the sheer cost and scarcity, individuals typically did not possess a personal version of the Bible.

The Arrival of the Printing Press

It wasn't until the late 15th century that the first Bible was actually printed with movable type. The Gutenberg Bible, named after Johannes Gutenberg, was the first Bible to be printed in this manner in the 1450s. This groundbreaking achievement was a direct copy of Jerome’s Vulgate.

Following the Gutenberg Bible, numerous European printings of Bibles in various languages followed. These Bibles were usually in Latin but also included translations in local languages with varying levels of quality. It was not until the Reformation and Counter-Reformation of the 16th century that widespread personal ownership of Bibles in vernacular languages became a reality.

Conclusion

The first printed Bible represents a significant milestone in the history of literature and religion. From ancient hand-copied texts to printed versions, the dissemination and accessibility of the Bible have undergone tremendous changes over the centuries.