Alex McCurthy
The Bible is the sacred text of Christianity, and it is often assumed that Jesus used the same Bible that is used today. But what Bible did Jesus use? The answer is not as straightforward as it may seem.
The Bible that Jesus used was likely the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh. This is the same Bible that is used by Jews today and includes the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament), the Nevi’im (the former and latter Prophets) and the Ketuvim (the Writings). This Bible was written in Hebrew and Aramaic and is the basis for the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.
However, Jesus likely also had access to other ancient texts that were not included in the Hebrew Bible. These texts, such as the Apocrypha, were not accepted as part of the Hebrew Bible, but were still widely read and respected in Jesus’ time.
In addition to the Hebrew Bible, Jesus and his followers likely also had access to the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. This translation was popular among Jews living in the Greek-speaking world and was likely used by Jesus and his followers.
However, perhaps the best witness to the books that Jesus would have considered Scripture is the New Testament, which cites and quotes the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament), many books of the former and latter Prophets, Job, Psalms and Proverbs. This suggests that Jesus and his followers accepted these books as Scripture.
It is also possible that Jesus had access to other ancient texts that are not included in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament. These texts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, may have provided additional insight into Jesus’ understanding of Scripture.
In conclusion, it is impossible to know exactly what Bible Jesus used. However, it is likely that he had access to the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, the Apocrypha, and other ancient texts. The New Testament provides the best evidence of the books that Jesus and his followers considered Scripture.
