Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the Bible, "composition" refers to the process of writing, compiling, and organizing the texts that make up the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is a collection of books written by various authors over many centuries, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and it is considered the authoritative Word of God by Christians.Old Testament Composition The Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible, consists of the Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im), and the Writings (Ketuvim). Traditionally, Moses is credited with composing the first five books, known as the Pentateuch or Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books lay the foundation for the history, laws, and covenant relationship between God and His people, Israel. The Prophets include historical books such as Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, as well as the major and minor prophetic writings. The Writings encompass a diverse range of literature, including poetry, wisdom literature, and historical accounts, such as Psalms, Proverbs, Job, and Chronicles. The composition of the Old Testament spanned several centuries, with the earliest texts dating back to around the 15th century BC and the latest being completed in the post-exilic period, around the 5th century BC. The process involved oral traditions being passed down and eventually written, as well as the work of scribes and prophets who recorded God's revelations. New Testament Composition The New Testament was composed in the first century AD and includes the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Epistles, and the Book of Revelation. The Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—provide accounts of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each Gospel offers a unique perspective, yet they collectively affirm the central truths of the Christian faith. The Acts of the Apostles, written by Luke, details the early church's history and the spread of the Gospel after Christ's ascension. The Epistles, primarily authored by the Apostle Paul, along with Peter, James, John, and others, address theological issues, church practices, and Christian living. The Book of Revelation, attributed to John, contains apocalyptic visions and prophecies concerning the end times. The New Testament was written in Greek, the lingua franca of the Eastern Mediterranean at the time. The composition of these texts was guided by the Holy Spirit, as affirmed in 2 Timothy 3:16 : "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness." Inspiration and Authority The doctrine of inspiration holds that the Bible, in its entirety, is the divinely inspired Word of God. This belief is rooted in passages such as 2 Peter 1:21 : "For no prophecy was ever brought about through human initiative, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." The Bible's composition reflects a divine-human partnership, where human authors wrote under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, ensuring the accuracy and authority of the Scriptures. Preservation and Canonization The preservation of the biblical texts was a meticulous process, involving careful copying and transmission by scribes. The canonization of the Bible, the process by which the books were recognized as authoritative and inspired, was guided by criteria such as apostolic authorship, consistency with established doctrine, and widespread acceptance among early Christians. The Old Testament canon was largely settled by the time of Jesus, who affirmed its authority (Luke 24:44). The New Testament canon was recognized by the early church through councils and the discernment of the Holy Spirit, ensuring that the books included were truly inspired and beneficial for teaching and edification. Conclusion The composition of the Bible is a testament to God's providence and the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding human authors to produce a unified and authoritative Scripture. Through its diverse literary forms and historical contexts, the Bible reveals God's character, His redemptive plan, and His will for humanity. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) The act or art of composing, or forming a whole or integral, by placing together and uniting different things, parts, or ingredients.2. (n.) The invention or combination of the parts of any literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as, the composition of a poem or a piece of music. 3. (n.) The art or practice of so combining the different parts of a work of art as to produce a harmonious whole; also, a work of art considered as such. See below. 4. (n.) The act of writing for practice in a language, as English, Latin, German, etc. 5. (n.) The setting up of type and arranging it for printing. 6. (n.) The state of being put together or composed; conjunction; combination; adjustment. 7. (n.) A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances; as, a chemical composition. 8. (n.) A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used of an elementary essay or translation done as an educational exercise. 9. (n.) Consistency; accord; congruity. 10. (n.) Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of settlement; agreement. 11. (n.) The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment. 12. (n.) Synthesis as opposed to analysis. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia COMPOSITION; COMPOUNDkom-po-zish'-un, kom'-pound (mathkoneth, "measure"); (subst.) (raqach, "to make perfume," roqach, "perfume"): Used of the sacred anointing oil (Exodus 30:25, 32, 33) and of the holy perfume (Exodus 30:37, 38), which were not to be used for any profane purpose. Greek 4486. rhegnumi -- to break apart, by ext. to throw down ... wreck" or "crack", ie (especially) to sunder (by separation of the parts; katagnumi being its intensive (with the preposition in composition), and thrauo a ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4486.htm - 7k 2596. kata -- down, against, according to 575. apo -- from, away from 1537. ek -- from, from out of 473. anti -- over against, opposite, hence instead of, in comp. ... 1830. exeraunao -- to search out 1487. ei -- forasmuch as, if, that 1223. dia -- through, on account of, because of 3326. meta -- with, among, after 5037. te -- and (denotes addition or connection) Strong's Hebrew 4971. mathkoneth -- measurement, tally, proportion... 2), quota (1), specifications (1), standard (1). composition, measure, state, tale. Or mathkuneth {math-koo'-neth}; from takan in ... /hebrew/4971.htm - 6k Library Whether Our Intellect Understands by Composition and Division? Time and Place of Composition. Date of Its Composition Whether God Enters into the Composition of Other Things Whether God Enters into the Composition of Other Things? Whether There is Composition of Form and Matter in God Constantine Employed Himself in Composition of Various Kinds to ... Composition and Style Of Agreement as to Tithe, Composition, Notice, &C. The Sethian Theory Concerning "Mixture" and "Composition ... Thesaurus Composition (2 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) The invention or combination of the parts of any literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as, the composition of a poem or a piece of music. ... /c/composition.htm - 9k Pastoral Ground (538 Occurrences) Whitewash (7 Occurrences) Poem (6 Occurrences) Compound (3 Occurrences) Symphony (3 Occurrences) Poetry Pentateuch Discomfiture (6 Occurrences) Resources Is the original Bible still in existence? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the pros and cons of attending a mega-church (megachurch)? | GotQuestions.org What is the book of Susanna? | GotQuestions.org Composition: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Composition (2 Occurrences)Exodus 30:32 Exodus 30:37 Subtopics Related Terms |
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