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Illuminating the History of the Bible

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Discover the story of history’s most amazing book with the directors of the Text & Canon Institute.

Now on Video

Learn how we got the Bible—without leaving home.

Based on the directors’ nationally recognized book, this four-part video series gives an exciting and visually rich tour of how the Bible was copied, canonized, and translated to become the book we know today. All four talks were recorded in front of a live studio audience and professionally edited. Watch them on your smart TV or your phone.

Order →

Over 4 hours of expert content on the Bible

Learn from expert scholars in a highly engaging format.

Exclusive access to all the slides in the videos

Get every image, chart, and table—over 200 slides!

Access to your videos from various devices

Watch on any supported device with the free Vimeo app.

Topics Covered

1. Old Testament Canon

Learn what the “canon” is and how the canonical books were—and weren’t—recognized in this survey of the evidence from the time of Jesus to the Reformation.

2. The English Bible

Survey the rich history of the English Bible from Wycliffe to today. Discover the difficulties translators face and learn why we have so many English translations.

3. Old Testament Text

Learn how the Old Testament was copied over so many centuries, what makes the Dead Sea Scrolls important, and how scholars today resolve textual differences.

4. New Testament Text

Explore how the New Testament was copied, learn about its manuscripts and the scribes who made them, and gain needed perspective on the number of variants.


The presenters

John Meade

John Meade (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Professor of Old Testament at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the author (with Peter Gurry) of Scribes & Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible.

Peter Gurry

Peter Gurry (PhD, University of Cambridge) is Associate Professor of New Testament at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the author (with John Meade) of Scribes & Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible.

FAQs

Can I buy this for my entire church?
Yes! We have a one-year church rental option that allows you to use the video for Sunday school classes, special events, and small groups. Or, use it to share the Vimeo login with your members and let them watch it on their own. The video makes a great companion to the book.

Can I download the slides?
Yes! We’ve made all our slides—every table, chart, quote, and picture—available as a PDF so you can follow right along as you watch.

Can I watch it on my smart TV?
Yes, as long as your smart TV is compatible with Vimeo.

Is everything in the videos in the book?
Most of the material in the conference is also in our book Scribes & Scripture. But careful readers will find some new material in the videos.

Can we still bring you to our church?
Yes. Our in-person Scribes & Scripture conference is still available. If you’re interested in hosting one, click here.

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The Text & Canon Institute illuminates the history of the Bible through church resources, research, and mentoring.

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