\u201cNow think of these Bibles as books, as objects\u2026\u201d\u00a0 The professor for my special topics art history class has already said this phrase many times this semester, yet I don\u2019t think I grasped the full implications of his statement until recently.<\/p>\n
When studying Bibles, it is easy to understand the religious significance that Bibles inherently possess.\u00a0 However, it is also easy to become ensnared in this view that stresses only the sanctity of Bibles as holy books.\u00a0 In order to attain a more thorough understanding of bibles, one needs to shift his or her view to different aspects of these objects.<\/p>\n
My epiphany stemmed from a realization that Bibles, in some sense, are like onions; they have many layers and are influenced by the environment in which they were produced.\u00a0 In addition to their theological significance, Bibles also have historical, social, and even technological importance, and examining these layers yields a diverse view of the Bible as book.\u00a0 In the course text The Book: A History of the Bible<\/em>, Christopher De Hamel discusses the manner in which various factors, such as political turmoil, religious discord, ideals of thirteenth century academia, and technological advances molded and developed the format and styles of bibles over the course of centuries.\u00a0 Viewing the Bible as book is a useful perspective because it discards the notion of the Bible as an immutable object that is isolated from its contemporary environment.<\/p>\n