The Bible is the central book of Western culture. In the two religions that give it the status of Holy Scripture, the Bible is the foundation, the key authority on what to believe and how to live. For non-believers, the Bible is one of the greatest works of world literature, whose images are forever woven into our language and thinking. John Barton's book is a fascinating account of the long, intriguing evolution of the body of sacred texts we call the Bible—of what the Bible itself is. The reader will get an idea of how it was created, how it was understood, from the origins of its existence to the present day. John Barton describes how the books of the Bible were written: historical sections, law collections, parables, prophecies, poetry and epistles, and on what principle the ancient compilers included them in the overall composition. You will learn about the colossal and mysterious work of copyists and editors, which lasted for centuries and culminated in the appearance of the Bible in the form in which it is presented today in printed and electronic editions.