How the Bible Came to Be: A History

The Candler Foundry in partnership with All Saints Episcopal Church

Course Dates: October 31, November 14, December 5, 12, and 19

Course Time: 10:20 AM-11:00 AM online and in-person

Course Description

The English Bibles that we read today look nothing like what was available to Jesus and the disciples. Almost everything that we now take for granted about the Bible – chapters, verses, paragraphs, translations, study notes, and even what books are included – is the result of a long and fascinating process. This course aims to tell the story of how the Bible came to be, from the earliest texts and traditions to modern translations and versions. Along the way, we will focus on the historical, theological, and technological factors that have shaped our modern notion of what the Bible is as well as how those factors impact the way we read Scripture today.

For more information, please email our Coordinator of Courses in the Community Damellys Sacriste at candlerfoundry@emory.edu.

Meet the Instructor: Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio

The Candler Foundry, Director

Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio joined the Candler faculty in 2018. He previously taught at Columbia Theological Seminary and served as the John H. Stembler Scholar in Residence at the First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Atlanta. He is also the director of the TheoEd Talks speaker series and chair of the Metaphor Theory and Hebrew Bible Program Unit at the Society of Biblical Literature. His research and teaching interests include ancient Near Eastern iconography, Israelite religion, biblical metaphors, the Pentateuch, and various topics in Old Testament theology. 

If you have any questions about the course please feel free to reach out to Ryan at Ryan.P.Bonfiglio@emory.edu.

Course Recordings

Session 1

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Session 2

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Session 3

Sunday, December 5, 2021