The Making of the Bible

From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture

By: Konrad Schmid, Jens Schröter, Peter Lewis - translator

Narrated by: Tom Parks

The Bible as we know it today is best understood as a process, one that begins in the tenth century BCE. In this revelatory account, a world-renowned scholar of Hebrew scripture joins a foremost authority on the New Testament to write a new biography of the Book of Books, reconstructing Jewish and Christian scriptural histories, as well as the underappreciated contest between them, from which the Bible arose.

Recent scholarship has overturned popular assumptions about Israel's past, suggesting, for instance, that the five books of the Torah were written not by Moses but during the reign of Josiah centuries later. The sources of the Gospels are also under scrutiny. Konrad Schmid and Jens Schröter reveal the long, transformative journeys of these and other texts en route to inclusion in the holy books. The New Testament, the authors show, did not develop in the wake of an Old Testament set in stone. Rather the two evolved in parallel, in conversation with each other, ensuring a continuing mutual influence of Jewish and Christian traditions. Indeed, Schmid and Schröter argue that Judaism may not have survived had it not been reshaped in competition with early Christianity.

The Making of the Bible is the most comprehensive history yet told of the world's best-known literature, revealing its buried lessons and secrets.

©2021 the President and Fellows of Harvard College (P)2022 Tantor

Excellent history — great narrator

This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in the history of the Bible. I found it truly inspirational, and I don’t think it matters whether you are a believer or not—this is simply excellent history. The authors approach the subject with respect and balance, presenting an account that is both deeply informative and engaging.

I was especially impressed with the conclusion, which thoughtfully acknowledges the Bible’s evolving and fascinating history. The book highlights not just the text itself but the dynamic human and cultural forces that shaped it.

I would recommend this to anyone curious about the Bible’s story, whether for religious, historical, or literary interest. What a shame it would be for anyone to miss out on understanding the history of such a beautiful and influential compilation of writings.

Glad to have in audio form

This is a really informative book and, honestly, it’s super dry. So I’m glad to have it as an audiobook that I can listen to and return to in small chunks with minimal effort. It’s the only way I would ever get thru a book like this, but I’m glad for the help because I genuinely want the information, which is quality. Please keep making content like this available—I also download books for entertainment (this was NOT one of them!) and part of why I love my Audible subscription is that I can get a mix of both and switch gears as needed.

Inaccurate

Largely ignores historical facts and draws conclusions from vague hypothesis about locations. Not a reliable source.

Blathering away....

Little structure with overly long written chapters and audible chapters. I typically want texts like this as a resource where good information can easily be found again, but it is unworkable in that fashion. Some books require dissection from which to fully benefit but not in Audible format. Audible take note: as someone with hundreds of Audible books, no more historical nonfiction books with 150 page chapters.