Bibel

The Bible, or Bibel in German, is a collection of sacred texts central to Judaism and Christianity. The term biblia comes from Latin via Greek, meaning "books". In German usage, die Bibel denotes the canonical scriptures, though contents vary by tradition.

Structure: The Hebrew Bible, called the Tanakh by Jews, comprises Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim. The Christian Bible divides into the Old Testament and the New Testament, which contains the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation. Protestant canons typically include 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books; Catholic and Orthodox canons include deutero-canonical books, with variations among churches. The Septuagint, a Greek translation, influenced many Christian canons.

Formation and dating: The Hebrew Bible was formed over centuries from oral and written traditions, finalized roughly by the 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE. The New Testament texts were written in the 1st century CE and canonized in late antiquity, with lists varying by region.

Language and translation: Original languages include Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The Latin Vulgate became a standard medieval text for Western Christianity. Since then, the Bible has been translated into many languages, with contemporary translations used in worship and study.

Impact and use: The Bible shapes theology, ethics, law, literature, and art; interpreted through traditions, exegesis, and hermeneutics. It is read in worship and studied in theology courses and lay settings.