This book provides a comprehensive history of the development of the Bible, from its earliest origins through to the present day. It offers insights into the political and religious forces that shaped the various versions of the Bible, and how they have been received and interpreted by different faith communities over time. It is an essential read for anyone interested in the history of the Bible and its place in world culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.