bibeln

Bibeln is the central sacred text of Christianity, commonly used in Sweden to refer to the Christian Bible. It consists of two major parts: the Old Testament, which overlaps with the Hebrew Bible, and the New Testament, describing the life and teachings of Jesus and the early Christian communities. The books include narratives, poetry, law, prophecy, gospels, letters, and apocalyptic literature.

Canon varies by tradition. Protestant Bibles contain 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Catholic and Orthodox canons include additional books known as deuterocanonical or apocryphal. The Jewish Bible, the Tanakh, arranges material as Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim. The term "Bibeln" thus can refer to different canons depending on context.

Origins and transmission: The texts come from ancient Israel and early Christian communities, written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, later translated widely. The Latin Vulgate became a standard in Western Christianity. In later centuries, translations proliferated—Luther Bible, King James Version, and modern Swedish translations such as Bibeln 1917 and 2000. Scholarly study uses textual criticism and manuscript evidence to assess variations across editions.

Impact and use: The Bible is central to worship, doctrine, and personal devotion. It has influenced literature, art, law, and education, and its interpretation varies among denominations, scholars, and readers.