The Bible in the Early Church

by Justo L. González

A concise history of the its creation, use, and interpretation. What is the Bible? To answer this question we must understand the Bible’s origins in the early church. In this book, celebrated church historian Justo González introduces the reader to some important features of the earliest Bibles—for instance, the Bible’s original languages, its division into chapters and verses, and even its physical appearance in its first forms. González also explores the use of the Bible in the early church (such as in worship or in private reading) and the interpretation of the Bible throughout the ensuing centuries, giving readers a holistic sense of the Bible’s emergence as the keystone of Christian life, from its beginnings to present times.

Genres: History, Church History, Biblical Studies, Religion, Nonfiction

204 pages, Paperback

Published March 8, 2022

About the author

Justo L. González, author of the highly praised three-volume History of Christian Thought and other major works, attended United Seminary in Cuba, received his MA at Yale, and was the youngest person to be awarded a PhD in historical theology at Yale. He is one of the few first generation Latino theologians to come from a Protestant background. He helped to found the Association for Hispanic Theological Education and the Hispanic Theological Initiative. Dr González is now on the faculty of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.

Reviews

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bible didn't just fall out of the sky. It emerged over time, perhaps over more than a thousand years. For Christians, what we know as the Bible, especially the New Testament, has an interesting history. Therefore, to truly understand its emergence, development, collection, and availability, you need the perspective of a church historian. If you want to offer a look at these issues that is accessible and yet rooted in scholarship, there are few historians better equipped for this job than Justo Gonzalez.

The title of Gonzalez's latest book needs a bit of clarification. That's because the range of topics found here takes us well beyond what we normally consider "the early church." The point of the book, ultimately, is Gonzalez's desire to help modern Christian readers understand how the Bible we use today came to be. As he writes in the introduction, "the path leading from the first ancient Bibles to the one you hold today in your hands is long, complex, and providential" (p. 1). The word providential is important. It doesn't mean that the Bible we use is inerrant, but that God plays a role in bringing the long process of development to fruition so that we might have a text that nourishes our faith.

Gonzalez divides this book into three parts. Part 1 focuses on "The Shape of the Bible." Part 2, "The Use of the Bible." Part 3 focuses on "The Interpretation of the Bible." After he explores elements of each of these parts, he offers us a "Cast of Characters," so we can know who the players are, as well as a list of further readings. Again, this is written for a general audience. That's important because it's often difficult to comprehend how a sacred text comes into being and how it is handled over time.

So, in part 1, Gonzalez unpacks the question of the shape of the bible with chapters on "the languages and contents of the first Christian Bibles. Here we learn about the languages of the Bible - Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. In chapter 2, "The Shaping of the New Testament," we're reminded that the Bible of the earliest Christians was the Old Testament, and more specifically, the Septuagint (Greek translation). Then he shares with us how the early writings of Paul and others were gathered, shared, copied, and eventually given authority in the church. There is a chapter on the physical appearance of these early Bibles. We have scrolls and codices, parchment, and papyrus. This is pretty practical stuff, but it reminds us why there are so few early copies --- if produced on papyrus they might not survive. We're also reminded that each text was hand copied. So you want to know how chapters and verses came to be -- well there is a chapter on that as well. He offers a chapter on how the text was transmitted through the centuries (chapter 5). Of course, there is the transition from manuscripts to printed Bibles (that happens in the 15th century and not everyone was happy with the transition).

So, that's how the Bible came to be. But how was it used? That's the subject of part 2. We start in chapter 7 with a word about how the Bible was read and used in worship (remember that the Bible was hand-copied, so very few people had Bibles of their own, so it was read in worship to inform the people of its content and message). Since the Psalms are the most quoted portions of the Old Testament in the New, Gonzalez offers us a chapter on the Psalms and its use (chapter 8). For those who insist that one must read the Bible for themselves, here is a reminder in chapter 9 while that was not a possibility for most Christians until quite recently. However, there were those who had the opportunity to read it in private. They might have access to summaries or portions of the Bible. Of course, once monasteries emerged, monks had the opportunity to read (when they weren't copying texts). But, unless one was wealthy access to texts was difficult to come by. There is a chapter on the role of the Bible in education among Christians (ch. 10) and its role in forming the social order (ch. 11).

Finally, we come to Part 3 and "The Interpretation of the Bible." He discusses the various models of interpretation that emerged in the early centuries, beginning with Jewish models. From there he focuses on the development of the allegorical/typological model that emerged and became dominant until the Reformation. Having laid out the models of interpretation, Gonzalez shows us how Scripture was interpreted in relation to three "crucial texts." These are "creation (ch. 13), the Exodus (ch. 14), and the "word" (logos) (ch. 15). The final chapter of the book speaks to lessons that we might gain from understanding the past so we might better journey into the future. Gonzalez offers three promises from this study of the Bible and the Early Church. I will leave it to the reader to discover what these might be.

The Bible is a complex collection of books and stories and teachings and laws and more. It's often difficult to get our heads around this complexity. Too often we read the Bible as if it was written primarily to us, when in fact it has a whole history of development and interpretation. Those of us who had the privilege of going to seminary should have a good sense of all of this, but what about the rest of the church? Shouldn't they have access to some of this knowledge in a format that is understandable and yet rooted in good scholarship? My answer is yes, and the same is true for Justo Gonzalez. Take and read for the good of the church and the world.

[Dylan Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Don Barger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely wonderful book. González does a remarkable job explaining how we have the current biblical canon and what has shaped the Bible as we know it today. He discusses the different physical forms of the Bible as well as the impact the movable type printing press had on the Bible. He spends a good amount of time explaining Bible usage over the centuries and how interpretation of the Bible had been shaped - particularly in relation to key texts of Scripture.

's 'The Bible in the Early Church' is an absolute gem for anyone looking to delve into the fascinating world of the early Christian church. Its exceptional narrative is all-encompassing, connecting the dots between ancient scripture and the vibrant faith community of the earliest followers of Jesus. Gonzalez's narrative is welcoming and approachable, making the complex history of the Bible and the early church accessible to all readers, regardless of their background.

Gonzalez's style of storytelling is engaging and compelling, serving as an inviting introduction to the rich tapestry of the early Christian era. Even for those who are not religious, this book offers an enlightening exploration into the historical, cultural, and societal aspects of the early church, and the way in which they shaped, and were shaped by, the Bible.

One of the standout aspects of 'The Bible in the Early Church' is Gonzalez's unique ability to take scholarly and complex information and make it digestible. He weaves facts and figures seamlessly into the story, and his explanations are often punctuated with thought-provoking insights. This makes the book not only informative but also incredibly enjoyable to read.

Moreover, Gonzalez demonstrates a deep and insightful understanding of his subject. His mastery shines through every page, providing readers with a solid foundation of knowledge about the early church. Yet, he also leaves enough room for readers to draw their own conclusions, encouraging critical thinking and personal reflection.

Gonzalez's book also stands out due to its respectful approach to all perspectives. He manages to navigate sensitive religious topics with grace and neutrality, ensuring the book remains accessible and interesting to readers of all beliefs.

To sum it up, 'The Bible in the Early Church' is a fascinating and enjoyable read that makes the seemingly distant world of the early church feel incredibly close and relatable. It's a book that doesn't shy away from complex issues but presents them in a manner that's easy to understand.

Highly recommended for its depth, accessibility, and engaging storytelling.

[MIKE Watkins Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros:


1. The author did an excellent job of explaining the "why" behind everything. For instance, Justo explains the "why" behind Greek/Aramaic versions of the Old Testament existing, in addition to the Hebrew one we use today.

"There were relatively few Christians who could easily read the Hebrew text of the Bible. For some time before the advent of Jesus, Hebrew had begun to decline as a spoken tongue, and was preserved mostly in the sacred writings. What the people actually spoke was Aramaic, another Semitic language that made headway among the Hebrew people beginning at the time of the Babylonian exile. By the first century CE, Jews generally spoke not Hebrew but Aramaic" - "The Bible in the Early Church"

Another example is the author examining the "why" behind an increase in preaching in worship services.

"As more and more gentiles joined the church, bringing with them their total ignorance of the Judeo-Christian tradition, increasing time had to be devoted to the reading and exposition of Scripture so that these former pagans could learn about creation, about the mighty works of the God of Israel".


2. This book did a good job of explaining how the bible came to be; leaving nothing out. Justo didn't shy away from some of the "politics" surrounding the creation of the bible as we know it today. Such as the Hebrew version of the OT being selected, in part, due to a perceived superiority of the Hebrew language. But also, because the Hebrew version of OT scripture came first.



3. I love Justo's breakdown of the bible we have today. The bibles we read today, are birthed from manuscripts (copies of original scripture), not autographs (original scripture).

The author dives into why that's the case, such as the fact that original scripture was documented on stone tablets, clay, or ancient scrolls; materials that decayed with time. (Paper wasn't invented yet).

Yet, despite these complications, expert copyists/scribes, and the eventual invention of the copying machine, ensured that we could retain accurate manurscripts to transcribe into the English bibles we have today.



4. This book did a great job of bringing out how the bible was read in church settings. Justo did a good job of using scripture, historical accounts, artifacts, and letters to bring out how worship was conducted and why.


5. In this book, you're able to learn about the various views/interpretations of scripture and the various "scriptures" that existed in the bible days. For instance, there were other gospels, in addition to the 4 gospels, that were in circulation post Jesus' death and resurrection. One such gospel argued that there were keywords that one needed to know to get to heaven.

Regarding the interpretation of scripture, some believed that Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 were speaking of different aspects of creation. Genesis 1 was believed to refer to the creation of Spiritual animals, and Genesis 2 is materialistic. This stemmed from how Genesis 2 covers different aspects of the creation account than Genesis 1.

It was a fun ride to see how the early church addressed false doctrine and corrected misunderstandings of scripture.


Cons:

1. I think the chapters on the interpretation of the bible, creation, exodus, social structure, etc. were kind of boring; I felt like I was reading a bible study. They were also rushed and unfulfilling to me.

[Josh Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justo Gonzalez is a one of the most influential Hispanic theologians in Church history. He’s a prolific author and church historian, and his contributions to the development of Latin American theology is unparalleled. I had mainly known of him through The Story of Christianity, a two-volume church history that was the textbook for pretty much any undergraduate church history class worth anything. Now in his 80s, I didn’t realize that Gonzalez would still be producing new work. But here’s The Bible in the Early Church, an introductory primer to the history of Scripture.

Gonzalez divides the book into three parts: The Shape, The Use, and The Interpretation. A lot of discussion of the Bible in history focuses on interpretation, so I appreciate that Gonzalez steps back to give readers insight on some of the practicalities of how Scripture was kept, transmitted, read, and experienced throughout history. Understanding how the early church experienced Scripture helps us understand Scripture better today. For example, The Bible in the Early Church talks about how the New Testament letters would have been read aloud in their entirety to a congregation. Sure, ok, that makes sense and I knew that. He goes on to talk about the important role that Scripture reading had in the Early Church. Today, Scripture reading is individual and personal. But to the Early Church, where there would not have been much literacy, the work of the reader is public and necessary. The reader literally becomes the mouthpiece of God as the only way the people experience Scripture. That’s a paradigmatic shift from how we think about Scripture reading today.

The Bible in the Early Church also has an entire chapter on the evolution of chapter and verse headings in the Bible, along with when and how they became standardized. Gonzalez notes that while these notations made finding a particular passage easier, it also created divisions in the text that made it more difficult to intuitively read Scripture in its literary context. Neither of these examples are necessarily big things, but they are very interesting and helps us see how people throughout the centuries approached the Bible.

Gonzalez makes extensive use of primary sources, relying on the early church for his information. He navigates resources with an ease that can only come with over a half-century of expertise. The Bible in the Early Church is accessible, readable, and compelling. It’s perfect for undergraduate studies. I’d even use it in youth groups and adult small groups in churches. It presents academic information, but in a way that the average person will want to stay tuned in. A perfect introductory primer to the history of Scripture.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting something a bit different based on the title. It's partially a brief look at how we got the Bible down to the present and then some of the Bible in the early church.

The book can be a little repetitive. For example, Gonzalez repeatedly kept asserting that the OT canon was not closed until the end of the first at the Council of Jamnia (an assertion that is far from clear and not without controversy).

There were no footnotes, and so I was often left wondering what the original source was for some of his argumentation. It would have increased the value of this book if I could do more than take his word.

On the positive side, this is a reasonable introductory book to some of how the Bible was used in the early church. He covers a lot of ground in a short space, even if it seems outside the scope of what the title implies. You'll get introduced to the development, use, and history of interpretation of the Bible.

[Laurel Starkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the interaction of the Holy Scriptures, culture and technological changes

The most influential book ever written has changed throughout the years, not in content but in how it’s been translated, published, distributed and interpreted. Justo Gonzalez gives us a brief look at what has changed and what has remained the same in how the church has used the Bible in its understanding of God. I highly recommend it.

[Josaia Nieves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justo L. González's book gives what was written in the title "The Bible in the Early Church." He goes through the history of the Bible and how our early church fathers would have received and preached the world, along with translating and formatting it. The book in itself is very informational and would be a good asset for Pastors and laypeople to have when they are giving bible studies or even when someone has that question!

[Keith Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. There's a lifetime of scholarship and living in the church in every word. It covers the Bible used by the early church and how the New Testament developed. Even the physical form of the Bible is covered.

[J Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched, good short read. This is a topic that would take volumes to cover thoroughly but this author does a good job of giving a short synopsis in a very readable, we'll written way, you can tell that he knows his stuff.

[David Doel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was fascinating and there were several excellent parts along the way. But, there were also some slow sections. I learned many new things reading this book.

[Vianey Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful and accessible window into how the Bible came to be and how it was read and used by the early church.

[Claudiney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantástica leitura

Justo Gonzales nos leva a um relógio na história do mais importante livro da humanidade…. Nenhum foi tão bem escrito. Tao influente e tão transformador. A forma e a historia de como a Bíblia chegou ate nós, é um dos mais importantes testemunhos do cristianismo.