Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, "composition" refers to the process of writing, compiling, and organizing the texts that make up the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is a collection of books written by various authors over many centuries, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and it is considered the authoritative Word of God by Christians.
Old Testament CompositionThe Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible, consists of the Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im), and the Writings (Ketuvim). Traditionally, Moses is credited with composing the first five books, known as the Pentateuch or Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books lay the foundation for the history, laws, and covenant relationship between God and His people, Israel.
The Prophets include historical books such as Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, as well as the major and minor prophetic writings. The Writings encompass a diverse range of literature, including poetry, wisdom literature, and historical accounts, such as Psalms, Proverbs, Job, and Chronicles.
The composition of the Old Testament spanned several centuries, with the earliest texts dating back to around the 15th century BC and the latest being completed in the post-exilic period, around the 5th century BC. The process involved oral traditions being passed down and eventually written, as well as the work of scribes and prophets who recorded God's revelations.
New Testament CompositionThe New Testament was composed in the first century AD and includes the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Epistles, and the Book of Revelation. The Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—provide accounts of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each Gospel offers a unique perspective, yet they collectively affirm the central truths of the Christian faith.
The Acts of the Apostles, written by Luke, details the early church's history and the spread of the Gospel after Christ's ascension. The Epistles, primarily authored by the Apostle Paul, along with Peter, James, John, and others, address theological issues, church practices, and Christian living. The Book of Revelation, attributed to John, contains apocalyptic visions and prophecies concerning the end times.
The New Testament was written in Greek, the lingua franca of the Eastern Mediterranean at the time. The composition of these texts was guided by the Holy Spirit, as affirmed in
2 Timothy 3:16 : "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness."
Inspiration and AuthorityThe doctrine of inspiration holds that the Bible, in its entirety, is the divinely inspired Word of God. This belief is rooted in passages such as
2 Peter 1:21 : "For no prophecy was ever brought about through human initiative, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." The Bible's composition reflects a divine-human partnership, where human authors wrote under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, ensuring the accuracy and authority of the Scriptures.
Preservation and CanonizationThe preservation of the biblical texts was a meticulous process, involving careful copying and transmission by scribes. The canonization of the Bible, the process by which the books were recognized as authoritative and inspired, was guided by criteria such as apostolic authorship, consistency with established doctrine, and widespread acceptance among early Christians.
The Old Testament canon was largely settled by the time of Jesus, who affirmed its authority (
Luke 24:44). The New Testament canon was recognized by the early church through councils and the discernment of the Holy Spirit, ensuring that the books included were truly inspired and beneficial for teaching and edification.
ConclusionThe composition of the Bible is a testament to God's providence and the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding human authors to produce a unified and authoritative Scripture. Through its diverse literary forms and historical contexts, the Bible reveals God's character, His redemptive plan, and His will for humanity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act or art of composing, or forming a whole or integral, by placing together and uniting different things, parts, or ingredients.
2. (n.) The invention or combination of the parts of any literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as, the composition of a poem or a piece of music.
3. (n.) The art or practice of so combining the different parts of a work of art as to produce a harmonious whole; also, a work of art considered as such. See below.
4. (n.) The act of writing for practice in a language, as English, Latin, German, etc.
5. (n.) The setting up of type and arranging it for printing.
6. (n.) The state of being put together or composed; conjunction; combination; adjustment.
7. (n.) A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances; as, a chemical composition.
8. (n.) A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used of an elementary essay or translation done as an educational exercise.
9. (n.) Consistency; accord; congruity.
10. (n.) Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of settlement; agreement.
11. (n.) The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment.
12. (n.) Synthesis as opposed to analysis.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
COMPOSITION; COMPOUNDkom-po-zish'-un, kom'-pound (mathkoneth, "measure"); (subst.) (raqach, "to make perfume," roqach, "perfume"): Used of the sacred anointing oil (Exodus 30:25, 32, 33) and of the holy perfume (Exodus 30:37, 38), which were not to be used for any profane purpose.
Greek
4486. rhegnumi -- to break apart, by ext. to throw down... wreck" or "crack", ie (especially) to sunder (by separation of the parts; katagnumi
being its intensive (with the preposition in
composition), and thrauo a
...2596. kata -- down, against, according to
... Incomposition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes
opposition, distribution, or intensity. (kath) -- 61 Occurrences....
575. apo -- from, away from
... Incomposition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation,
completion, reversal, etc. (ap) -- 125 Occurrences. (apo) -- 479 Occurrences....
1537. ek -- from, from out of
... Often used incomposition, with the same general import; often of completion. (ek) --
680 Occurrences. (ex) -- 247 Occurrences. 1536, 1537. ek or ex. 1538...
473. anti -- over against, opposite, hence instead of, in comp....
... Often used incomposition to denote contrast, requital, substitution, correspondence,
etc. (anth) -- 5 Occurrences. (anti) -- 17 Occurrences. 472, 473....
1830. exeraunao -- to search out
... of salvation (unique glorification) in a believer's life (cf. 1 Pet 3:9). ["The
incomposition has the force of searched and is rendered by " (, 302).]....
1487. ei -- forasmuch as, if, that
... Often used in connection orcomposition with other particles, especially as in eige,
ei de me(ge), ei kai, ei me, ei me ti, ei per, ei pos, ei tis, ek....
1223. dia -- through, on account of, because of
... Incomposition it retains the same general importance. (di) -- 148 Occurrences.
(dia) -- 520 Occurrences. 1222, 1223. dia. 1224 . Strong's Numbers.
3326. meta -- with, among, after
... Often used incomposition, in substantially the same relations of participation
or proximity, and transfer or sequence. see GREEK pros. see GREEK apo....
5037. te -- and (denotes addition or connection)
... Often used incomposition, usually as the latter participle. see GREEK kai. (te) --
215 Occurrences. 5036, 5037. te. 5038 . Strong's Numbers.
Strong's Hebrew
4971. mathkoneth -- measurement, tally, proportion... 2), quota (1), specifications (1), standard (1).
composition, measure,
state, tale. Or mathkuneth {math-koo'-neth}; from takan in
...Library
Whether Our Intellect Understands byComposition and Division?
... OF THE MODE AND ORDER OF UNDERSTANDING (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether our intellect
understands bycomposition and division? Objection...
Time and Place ofComposition.
... Introductory Notice by Professor MB Riddle, DD section 5."time and place
ofcomposition. Granting the general authenticity of...
Date of ItsComposition
... Section 1. Date of itsComposition.... also p.30, above), or to throw the
composition of the ninth book down to the year 319 or later....
Whether God Enters into theComposition of Other Things
... Article Eight Whether God Enters into theComposition of Other Things.
Whether God Enters into theComposition of Other Things We...
Whether God Enters into theComposition of Other Things?
... OF THE SIMPLICITY OF GOD (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether God enters into thecomposition
of other things?... Therefore God enters into thecomposition of other things....
Whether There isComposition of Form and Matter in God
... Article Two Whether there isComposition of Form and Matter in God. Whether
there isComposition of Form and Matter in God We proceed...
Constantine Employed Himself inComposition of Various Kinds to...
... Book IV. Chapter LV."Constantine employed himself inComposition of Various
Kinds to the Close of his Life. These offenders, however...
Composition and Style
...COMPOSITION AND STYLE. I well know that there are some who will not sanction
any care incomposition, contending that our words as...
Of Agreement as to Tithe,Composition, Notice, &C.
... A COMPENDIUM OF THE LAW RELATING TO TITHES. 2. Of Agreement as to Tithe,
Composition, Notice, &c. A realcomposition is, when an...
The Sethian Theory Concerning "Mixture" and "Composition...
... Book V. Chapter XVI."The Sethian Theory Concerning "Mixture" And "Composition;"
Application of It to Christ; Illustration from the Well of Ampa....
Thesaurus
Composition (2 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) The invention or combination of the parts of any literary work or discourse,
or of a work of art; as, the
composition of a poem or a piece of music.
...Pastoral
... 4. (n.) A cantata relating to rural life; acomposition for instruments characterized
by simplicity and sweetness; a lyricalcomposition the subject of which...
Ground (538 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) That surface upon which the figures of acomposition are set, and which
relieves them by its plainness, being either of one tint or of tints but...
Whitewash (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Any wash or liquidcomposition for whitening
something, as a wash for making the skin fair. 2. (n...
Poem (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A metricalcomposition; acomposition in verse written in certain measures,
whether in blank verse or in rhyme, and characterized by imagination and...
Compound (3 Occurrences)
... 7. (vi) To effect acomposition; to come to terms of agreement; to agree; to settle
by a compromise; -- usually followed by with before the person participating...
Symphony (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) An elaborate instrumentalcomposition for a full orchestra, consisting usually,
like the sonata, of three or four contrasted yet inwardly related...
Poetry
... 2. (n.) Imaginative language orcomposition, whether expressed rhythmically
or in prose. Specifically: Metricalcomposition; verse...
Pentateuch
... In the face of this fact, will any one venture to allege either that Christ was
ignorant of thecomposition of the Bible, or that, knowing the true state of...
Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)
... PLACE AND TIME OFCOMPOSITION 1. Babylon: Which?... It is an assumption to assert from
these words that Silvanus was employed in thecomposition of the letter....
Resources
Is the original Bible still in existence? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the pros and cons of attending a mega-church (megachurch)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the book of Susanna? | GotQuestions.orgComposition: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
