
PREFACE
ILLUSTRATIONS
I. THE BIBLE MAKES ITSELF INDISPENSABLE FOR THE CHURCH (UNTIL 325 A. D.)
II. THE BIBLE BEGINS TO RULE THE CHRISTIAN EMPIRE (325-600 A. D.)
III. THE BIBLE TEACHES THE GERMAN NATIONS (500-800 A. D.)
IV. THE BIBLE BECOMES ONE BASIS OF MEDIÆVAL CIVILISATION (800-1150 A. D.)
V. THE BIBLE STIRS NON-CONFORMIST MOVEMENTS (1150-1450)
VI. THE BIBLE TRAINS PRINTERS AND TRANSLATORS (1450-1611)
VII. THE BIBLE RULES DAILY LIFE (1550-1850)
VIII. THE BIBLE BECOMES ONCE MORE THE BOOK OF DEVOTION
This work offers a compact yet thorough survey of how the Bible has shaped the course of Western civilization. Beginning with the early centuries of Christian persecution, it shows how the sacred text moved from a fledgling, oral tradition to an indispensable foundation for the church, influencing theology, law, and culture even before it could openly steer society. The author weaves together vivid descriptions of ancient manuscripts, early translations, and the social climate that made the Scriptures a unifying force for believers.
The narrative proceeds chronologically, highlighting key moments such as the adoption of the Old Testament by early Christians, the formation of the New Testament canon, and the pivotal role of the Bible in the Roman Empire’s eventual acceptance of Christianity. Richly illustrated with facsimiles of papyri, medieval codices, and early printed Bibles, the book invites listeners to appreciate the enduring legacy of the biblical text without requiring prior scholarly knowledge.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (247K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2011-07-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1870–1934
A leading German theologian of the early 20th century, he was known for careful New Testament scholarship and wide-ranging work on early Christianity. His books helped shape how later readers approached the text, history, and transmission of the Christian tradition.
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