Posted on September 26th, 2022.

This is a popular claim made by some today but is it truth, an assumed fact, or just a baseless opinion? In order to address this claim that seems to question the purpose of the Bible, we must first look at how the Bible came together. Rather than arguing its contents (which I will address in another article) we need only to first review its history in order to understand its very existence.

To start, the bible is not one book but instead contains 66 books written by 40 different authors over an estimated 1600-1800 year period of time. The different books were written in 13 different countries and in three separate original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.(1) The Old Testament writings (39 scrolls) were written over a span of 1600-1700 years. King Ptolemy II of Egypt around 285 B.C. commissioned the royal librarian, Demetrius of Phaleron, to collect by purchase or by copying all the books in the world. He wrote a letter to Eleazar, the high priest at Jerusalem, requesting six elders of each tribe, in total seventy-two men, of exemplary life and learned in the Torah, to translate it into Greek, naming it the Septuagint.(2) They used a collection of books which included the Pentateuch (1st five books of the bible written by Moses), the prophets, the poetical books, wisdom and historical books. They were all written on long scrolls of various materials separately as stand-alone records by the individuals. The books chosen to be included in this Canon (meaning rule or measuring stick, for their high standard) were chosen for their historical content, spiritual value, and authority. The authorship also needed to meet a high degree of certainty as well. 

The Old Testament scrolls were mainly collected and copied by scribes and read in the synagogues. In Luke 4:17-21 Jesus asks for the Isaiah scroll, which was written about 700 years earlier, and reads from it in the synagogue. Approximately 250 Old Testament scriptures are quoted directly by New Testament writers and approximately 750 times indirectly. The Old Testament scrolls that we now have were readily available over 2000 years ago for each New Testament writer in order to make such specific references. (2 Tim 4:13, Dead Sea Scrolls) This very act of referencing the Old Testament scrolls during that time verifies their acceptance and reliability as they were widely acknowledged as authoritative and sacred. The 27 New Testament scrolls were known as memoirs or letters of the apostles and highly sought after. They were copied and circulated among christian believers (Col 4:16). It is estimated that all 27 New Testament scrolls or books were written within approximately 62 years after the death and resurrection of Christ. The last book was written by John the Beloved between 70-95 A.D. on the Island of Patmos in the Revelation to John.(3) Early believers sought to possess the copies of the Apostles writings as these letters were recognized and accepted as equal to Old Testament writings as early as the Apostles time (2 Pet 3:16). Other letters were written but not by the Apostles and were not widely acknowledged as authoritative or containing spiritual impact in their contribution. Authorship and reliability were also key factors in consideration for inclusion.

Books, as we know them today, were not formulated until around the 3rd Century A.D. The first known book, which was called a Codex (a single leaf book) had not been conceived or created during the lives of the Biblical writers. The Latin Vulgate Bible was first translated by Jerome from Hebrew and Greek in 390-405 A.D. and contained Old Testament scrolls and New Testament letters all in one book.(4) Christianity was despised by the Jews and considered an outlawed religion by the Roman Empire from the time of Christ up until around 300 A.D., which was about the time of Constantine. Having copies of the Apostles writings often meant death to the possessor. Why would so many individuals willingly and voluntarily choose to put their own lives in danger just to be able to read and possess the early writings of the Apostles while also having to hide from the vast and powerful reach of the Roman Empire? 

Almost none of the Old Testament writers had met or known each other. However, some kings who wrote records of their experiences or interactions with God, did in fact know some of the prophets who lived and also wrote during their reign (King David was alive during the time of Samuel the prophet and Nathan the prophet, covering the books of 1st and 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Samuel, and the 1st Chronicles). The New Testament eyewitnesses and writers did know each other and all gathered together in one place at one time as mentioned in Acts chapter 15. About 14-15 years after the ascension of Christ all 12 Apostles met with the Apostle Paul in Jerusalem for a pivotal meeting to discuss the gospel message to the gentile believers. The first part of the Bible’s content, the Old Testament, can be summarized as a historical account of the origin of man in the Garden of Eden and man’s choice of independence from God. This inevitably resulted in the consequential fall out of fellowship with his creator. The Bible then goes on to tell us of how God selects a specific group of people, the Israelites, in order to reveal Himself to them that He might be known to all men. God promises the Israelites that a future Messiah would be sent by God to restore mankind’s broken relationship with Himself. The New Testament shows how Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, stepped into history and is the fulfillment of all the prophetic promises. These accounts are written in specific details by eyewitnesses who, all but one, paid with their life for testifying to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Foxe’s Book of Martyrs)

Not only were the New Testament writers persecuted, tortured and killed for what they witnessed and testified to, but also some of the individuals who translated the bible centuries later to make it available to us today. Jan Huss was martyred on July 6, 1415, for reading and preaching from the bible and for making it available to his congregation. Many of his congregation were martyred with him for reading and testifying of what was written in it. William Tyndale died October 6, 1536, burned at the stake for translating the Bible into English for common people to read as forbidden by the church.(5) Martin Luther was kidnapped by his friends around 1517 A.D. and hidden away for 6 months until he could translate the Bible into German to avoid being killed by the Catholic church in order to stop him.(6) 

If the claim that the bible was written to control people was in fact true, why did the Roman Church and the Church of England ban it from the public, specifically church going believers, by penalty of death up until the reformation in the mid-1500’s?(7) Looking at history it would seem that the early church leaders withheld the bible in order to keep the people from learning the truth written in it which gave leadership the ability to not only control, but to also take advantage of the people(95 thesis by Martin Luther 1517). John 8:32 says, “Ifwe know the truth, the truth will make us free.” This would seem to be the opposite impact of what the popular opinion states.

Could it be that the Bible stories were written to inspire freedom which depends on knowledge of the truth? Isn’t ignorance a greater danger to people being controlled than correct information? Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” If the bible was written to control people why is it currently banned in over 50 countries that demand control of what people do, read and even think?(8) Wouldn’t these countries want to use the Bible to control people if that is its purpose? Do people care enough to find out the facts about what they believe? Atheist or Christian, believer or non-believer, the bias does not matter if we do not have the facts on what we believe or why we believe it. I have come across many who present assumptions or restate old claims they have heard in regards to things of eternal importance. I like to ask for facts or support in these types of conversations but I usually find out most people cannot back up or provide evidence regarding their parroted assumptions or opinions.

It’s important to show why we believe and not just what we believe. Since the bible was not written by one person but by many, it would have taken an impossible conspiracy to fulfill the claim. A conspiracy concocted during a time before a codex or book was even invented to make one book possible. Also, there is no historical evidence to suggests that the writers knew all their accounts would be collected into one book! Again, the Bible is 66 different books, written by 40 writers in 3 languages from 13 countries by men who lived hundreds of years and miles apart. Because the majority of these men were not even alive in the same centuries, it would seem highly improbable for them to have been able to conspire together in their writings. By revealing its history and pertinent facts to its construction, I hope you can draw your own conclusion on whether or not the Bible could have been “written to control people”. To the contrary, we can surmise how humanly impossible it is to have a harmonious compilation of prophetic writings that support the same theme threaded throughout each historical accounting. 

Many think the Bible is amazing and inspired in its collection and provision by the forethought of people who were moved by its great value and importance. It’s possible to understand why an estimated 5 billion people have desired to own it, putting some still at great risk today. This book can be seen as a miracle in itself through its very compilation and unchanging preservation throughout the centuries.

It is interesting that the Bible is the most popular selling book in the world and has been since the tracking of book sales started.(9) In 2015 it was estimated that approximately 5 billion Bibles have been printed and sold throughout history. It is the number one bestseller every year even though it is no longer listed on any of the bestseller lists.

Based on historical evidence, was the Bible written to control people? You be the judge.

Footnotes:

1. How we got our Bible by Chuck Missler
2. A Brief History of the Septuagint 
3. Christiancourier.com by Wayne Jackson
4. Mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls Dr. Craig Lampe Ch 5
5. Prophecies 
6. Martin Luther Captured Castle 
7. Huffpost 5/20/2013 Why Christians were denied Access to their Bible for 1000 yrs
8. Top 50 Countries Christian Persecution 
9. Which has sold more copies the Bible or the Koran