A Chronology of the Bible
Challenge to the Standard Version
By Dr. Ben
Dedicated to Truth yet always mindful that All faith is FALSE, all faith is TRUE
TRUTH is the shattered mirrors strewn In myriad bits; while each BELIEVES his LITTLE BIT
the whole to own (From: “The Kasidah of Haji Abu el-Yezdi”; as translated by Sir Richard F. Burton)
On the morning of Wednesday, July 11, 1973 in Chock Full O’ Nuts Restaurant,
Lenox Avenue and 135th Street, Harlem, New York City, New York, it was my very
good fortune to be sitting for another fruitful session of COMMON ECUMENICAL
talk among the following Black Clergymen: Reverend George H. Polk of the
Memorial Baptist Church, Reverend William F. Hawkins of the Metropolitan African
Methodist Episcopal Church, Reverend Hawkins J. Plummer of the Salvation Baptist
Church, and Reverend James Gunther of Transfiguration Lutheran Church—who
joined us later on. Along with us were a few of our many lay friends. In the course of
the conversation of the morning, which centered around a two volume manuscript I am
completing for publication later on this year titled—The Black Man’s Religion
[Volume II and III], Reverend Polk suggested that:
“It would be of extreme importance that the average parishioner have some kind of
understanding of the chronological development and order in which the King James
Authorized Version of the Old and New Testament came about. …,” etc.
Reverend Hawkins and Reverend Plummer immediately supported the idea. It was
then agreed that pages 82 through 86 of the entire chronology of my manuscript—”
THE NEED FOR A BLACK BIBLE,” Volume III [of the above work] would be
extracted as it were, then made into a lay peoples’ pamphlet of no more than ten [10]
pages. And, that it would include a few single paragraph comments on the subject of
the ORIGIN and DEVELOPMENT of the OLD and NEW TESTAMENT by a few
members of the Black Clergy. The following is the result of that glorious communion
we were all privileged to have had that heavenly morning.
As we look back into the history of the Holy Bible, or “HOLY SCRIPTURE AS
WRITTEN BY GOD INSPIRED SCRIBES,” we seem to forget that all of the
BIBLES we use were the works of various writers, both men and women; but mostly
men. And that all of the WORKS or BOOKS were compiled into what is today our
various VERSIONS of “HOLY BIBLES” or “HOLY SCROLLS.” We have also
failed to realize that the BIBLES we use today are the result of a period of hundreds
of REVISIONS and TRANSLATIONS that cover approximately two thousand four-
hundred and ninety-five [2,495] years—from ca. 700 B.C. [BCE] to 1973 A.D. [CE].
Yet all in this period was preceded by much more earlier fundamentals created and
developed by indigenous African People. These later on became the basic teachings
of Judaism, and then Christianity. For even Moses, the father of the OLD
TESTAMENT, was an African who used much of the ancient teachings of his fellow
Africans of the Nile River [BLUE and WHITE] and Great Lakes regions
Mysteries System of Northeast and Central-East Africa he allegedly passed down to
other African Jews that converted them into what later became the PENTATEUCH or
OLD TESTAMENT [Five Books Of Moses or Holy Torah]. The very first “BIBLE”
or “SCROLL” on record produced by man, with regards to paying honour and divine
respect to a “CREATOR OF ALL MANKIND,” was that of the African People of
the Nile Valley and Great Lakes regions of Central, East and Northeast Africa. They
were no different than the Africans we see today in the Harlems and Timbuctoos of
the entire world we erroneously call: “NEGROES, COLORED FOLKS” and
“BLACK PEOPLE” today. It was called by its African creators and developers…
“THE BOOK OF THE COMING FORTH BY DAY AND BY
NIGHT.” It was translated from its original Hieroglyphic Text into the English
language by many Europeans since the latter part of the 19th Century A.D. The
easiest one to read is called…
“THE [Egyptian] “BOOK OF THE DEAD.”,
This translation was done by Sir Ernest A. Wallis Budge, and published in London,
England during the year 1895 A.D. Since the ORIGINAL BIBLE was produced by
the Africans approximately 3,400 years before the OLD TESTAMENT, and more
than 4,200 years before the NEW TESTAMENT, countless VERSIONS of it have
been written and published. From this base all of the biblical references in this
pamphlet is rendered. You will notice that they follow in sequential order…the two [2]
ORIGINALS and all of the VERSIONS of the old and New Testament. For further
details beyond this pamphlet you should read Volume III or The Black Man’s
Religion. Although it is the “KING JAMES [Authorized] VERSION OF THE OLD
AND NEW TESTAMENT” that most Protestant Christians use as “THE ONE, AND
ONLY, TRUE BIBLE,” you MUST be reminded that it is one of the very late of the
many VERSIONS of the BIBLE; and that many of the other VERSIONS since its
publication in 1611 A.D. You will also notice that there were many English
VERSIONS before the “KING JAMES [Authorized] VERSION OF THE OLD AND
NEW TESTAMENT.” Its popularity was due to the fact that the rulers of Great
Britain’s military power was able to force practically everyone in their hundreds of
colonies throughout the entire world to adopt the “OFFICIAL BIBLE OF THE
CHURCH OF ENGLAND” as “THE ONE, AND ONLY, TRUE BIBLE.”
It will prove most beneficial for BIBLE STUDY CLASSES to make comparisons
between the various VERSION. This method of STUDY will not only enrich your
retention of the teachings in the BIBLE; but it will also give you a better
understanding of the role the African People commanded in the founding of
JUDAISM and CHRISTIANITY. You will equally understand that most BLACKS do
not know that the NEW and OLD TESTAMENT historically, geographically, socio-
politically, racially, etc. are PART AND PARCEL OF THEIR OWN HERITAGE.
Some of the MAJOR VERSIONS, and the two [2] ORIGINAL BIBLES, follow in
chronological order bellow along with highlights of the historical events that caused
and/or influenced them. I have shown tha map below as an aid to the LAND OF THE
BIBLE [Africa and Asia; followed very much later by Europe].
(1) MEMPHIS, early capital of Ta-Merry during Aha’s reign—founder of the 1st
Dynasty, c. 3200 B.C.E (2) ON, or HELIOPOLIS, where African astronomers made
man’s first calendar, C. 4,100 B.C.E. (3) SARHARA or SAQQARA, home of first
STEP PYRAMID, built by architect Imhotep for Pharaoh Djoser, IIIrd Pharaoh of the
IIIrd Dynasty, c. 2780 B.C.E. The true beginning of the PYRAMID AGE—the OLD
KINGDOM PERIOD (not shown on the map, but its just northwest of Cairo, below
Giza). (4) GHIZEH or GIZA, home of the largest of the pyramids. These PYRAMIDS
were built during the IVth to VIth Dynasties, c. 2680–2270 B.C.E.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES OF TA-MERRY AND TA-NEHISI
3200 to 47 or 30 B.C.E.
Date: B.C.E. [B.C.] Description
10,000–6000 STELLAR CALENDAR in use by the ancient Nile Valley Africans,
and other Africans of the Great Lakes regions.
4000 SOLAR CALENDAR in use by the ancient Nile Valley Africans.Book of
the Coming Forth By Day and By Night was introduced in its revised state, also know
today as the Book of the Dead [as translated from Hieroglyph to English by Sir.
Ernest A. Wallis Budge, London, England, 1885 C.E.].
3700 BEGINNING OF THE “WORLD” [Creation Story according to the
Hebrews’ adoption of Moses’ “Pentateuch much later on].
3100 [”4100?] DYNASTIC PERIODS begin under the Nubian named AHA or
NARMER [whom Herodotus called “Menes”]; end of the PRE-DYNASTIC “OLD
KINGDOMS.”
1770 BIRTH OF ABRAHAM—the “first Hebrew” [Jew]—in Asia, at the City of
Ur, Chaldea during its colonial period under African rule; to SUN WORSHIPPERS
[parents].
1675 FIRST FOREIGN INVASION OF ALKEBU-LAN [Africa]. Egypt overrun
by Hyksos invaders from the Banks of the Oxus River around the so-called “Fertile
Crescent.” These were the first of the so-called “Semitic Peoples” in Africa.
1670 ABRAHAM AND HIS FAMILY ARRIVED IN AFRICA [Qamt, which the
Hebrews were to later rename “Mizrain,” today’s Moslem’s “Mizrair,” and Christian’
s “Egypt“]. Famine and disease drove the handful of Hebrew shepherds into Africa.
1320 [?] MOSES [an African of Qamt] BORN IN AFRICA. [The supposed
“Father of the Old Testament”].
1230 [?] MOSES CIVIL WAR AGAINST PHARAOH RAMESES IInd. DATE
OF THE “EXODUS OF THE HEBREWS” FROM SUCCOTH TO MOUNT SINAI.
[Central Qamt, or “Egypt,” to Eastern Qamt].
1190 [?] DATE OF MOSES DISAPPEARANCE [Death”].
700–500 PENTATEUCH [”Five Books of Moses, Holy Torah,” or Old
Testament] completed and placed into circulation. A VERSION of the Book of the
Coming Forth By Day and By Night, as distorted by Hebrews living in “Egypt;”
supposedly the “…words of God passed on to Moses. …,” who allegedly “…passed
them on, word for word, to God-inspired scribes. …,” etc.
250–100 SEPTUAGINT VERSION OF THE PENTATEUCH. The first Greek
VERSION of the Hebrews distortion of the Book of the Coming Forth By Day and By
Night written by seventy-two [72] writers: rabbis and other “scholars” [”God inspired
scribes” according to the teachings of the Jews, Christians and Moslems]. This was
written at Alexandria, Egypt [North Africa] by African Hebrews. It was a compliment
of forty-five [45] BOOKS, also called “THE ALEXANDRIAN CANON.” This
VERSION was used by the earliest Greek and Latin Church.
30–4 [?] BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH. Announcement of a
Hebrew boy of Hebrew [Israelite] parents named Joseph and Mary.
Date: C.E. [A.D.]
12 JESUS CHRIST CHALLENGE’S HIS TEACHERS [rabbis] IN THE
TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM, JESUS SENT TO AFRICA TO HIDE FROM
ROMAN EMPEROR HEROD; STUDY IN THE LODGES; AND FOR HIS
INITIATION IN THE MYSTERIES SYSTEM OF EGYPT, NORTH AFRICA.
33 JESUS CHRIST MURDERED BY ROMANS AND JEWS.
52–100 KOINE BIBLE VERSION. First Christian NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE
published and circulated. Written in the Greek Language. Parts were written in
“Aramaic;” allegedly the “Language Jesus Christ spoke among the common people
of Israel. …,” etc., called: PALESTINIAN CANON VERSION. This text was
developed by the Synod of Jamnia as a VERSION of the Pentateuch.
322 COUNCIL OF BISHOP AT NICENE. This group of Bishops of the Roman
Catholic Church met upon an Edict of Emperor Constantine to take action on the
Books of the Bible, along with Mary’s “Immaculate Conception” and “Virgin Birth”
of Jesus Christ.
323 BISHOPS OF NICENE [on majority vote] APPROVED THE
“IMMACULATE CONCEPTION” and “VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST” to
Mary. Jesus Christ declared to be “GOD”—THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE
HOLY GHOST” [today’s “Spirit”].
350–400 NEW TESTAMENT CANON VERSION. The first twenty-seven [27]
Books. A revision of the ORIGINAL total of forty-five [45] Books.
400 SAINT JEROME’S LATIN VULGATE VERSION. Based upon the Greek
Septuagint Version.
550 EUROPEAN VERSION OF BABYLONIAN TALMUD. Publication of the
6th Century C.E. racist version of the interpretation of the Pentateuch by European
rabbis and other “scholars.”
570 [B.H. 52] BIRTH OF PROPHET MOHAMET ibn ABDULLAH. Historians
argue as to whether he was born at Mecca or Medina. [B.H.=Before the Hejirn].
622 MOHAMET ibn ABDULLAH FLEES MECCA; ESTABLISHMENT OF
THE RELIGION OF ISLAM AT THE OASIS OF YATHRIB OUTSIDE OF
MEDINA; THE YEAR OF THE HEJIRA [A.H.].
670 [?] HOLY QUR’AN [English “Koran”] compiled and circulated. This
Moslem Bible adopted the basic teachings of the Old Testament and New Testament.
Serious modifications to the teachings in both were made to the satisfaction fo the
Prophet and his followers—the chief one of whom was the writer of the first section,
“BILAL” [an African from Ethiopia, East Africa].
600–900 MASORETIC TEXT. This VERSION was written in Hebrew by Jewish
scribes of the Masorite School. This VERSION is the basic one most so-called
“Orthodox Christians” still refer too as the original source, which is incorrect. It was,
in fact, the basic Bible used for many more translations into various languages for
many generations of Christians.
1382 JOHN WYCLIFF’S FIRST COMPLETE ENGLISH VERSION OF THE
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT.
1456 GUTTENBERG VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. The “first book” ever
printed by typesetting method. A folio-type edition of the Latin Vulgate Version. It
was not “the first book,” as so many Christians believe.
1460 [?] MOSES ben MAIMONDIES TALMUD. “Official Translation” of Five
Books of Moses according to Moses ben Maimonidees of Spain, et al.
1516 SAINT ERASMUS VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. This was written in
the Greek Language.
1529 REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER PROTEST AGAINST THE “EDICT
OF THE DIET OF WORMS” against the Reformation. Birth of the major revolution
in the Roman Catholic Church and the formation of the foundation of Protestantism.
1535 WILLIAM TYNDALE VERSION. Written in English. The “first English”
language version used for further translations, etc. in English.
1535 MILES COVERDALE VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. Written in
English as a tribute to King Henry VIIIth of Great Britain.
1537 THE FIRST BIBLE EVER PRINTED IN ENGLAND.
1537 SAINT MATTHEW’S VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. Written in
English according to the Coverdale and Tyndale Versions.
1539 COVERDALE GREAT BIBLE VERSION.
An amalgamation of the Coverdale and Tyndale bibles, as authorized by the monarch
of Great Britain—Henry VIIIth.
1560 GENEVA VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE.
Written by Coverdale, William Whittingham, John Knox, et at. Produced in Geneva,
Switzerland. The “first English Version with Chapters divided into Verses.”
1582–1610 DOUAY-RHEIMS VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE.
Written by scholars of the Roman Catholic Church. An English translation of the Latin Vulgate
Version at the Catholic College. The name was due to the New Testament issuance at
Rheims in 1582 C.E.; whereas the Old Testament issuance was at Douay, France in
ca. 1609 or1610 C.E.
1611 KING JAMES AUTHORIZED VERSION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT.
Written by subjects of King James of Great Britain. to satisfy
conditions set down by himself and the royalty of his realm, all of which was opposed
by the Pope in Rome, particularly those aspects that allowed James to maintain his
own polygamous behavior. This is the BIBLE most Black People believe to be “THE
ONE AND ONLY TRUE HOLY SCRIPTURE…THE ACTUAL WORDS OF GOD”
[meaning Jesus Christ of Nazareth], which was allegedly “…WRITTEN BY GOD
INSPIRED SCRIBES.” The Black Clergy and Black Theologians perpetuate this
myth in order to continue their manipulation of their fellow African [BLACK] People
who so believe.
1885 ENGLISH REVISED VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. A revision of the
King James Authorized Version of the Old and New Testament by Europeans and
European-Americans from the United States of America. This was the “first time in
history” that European-Americans were allowed to participate in the further
distortions of the ORIGINAL TEACHINGS from the Africans and Asians of the Nile
Valley and Tigris-Euphrates Valleys.
1901 AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. By the
American Committee that worked on the English Revised Version of 1995 C.E.
Jealously between Europeans and European-Americans caused the production of this
VERSION.
1924 THE MOFFATT VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. By James Moffatt.
Written in 20th Century “modern” English.
1931 SMITH-GOODSPEED VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. The Old
Testament prepared by J.M. Powis-Smith as editor; the New Testament by Edgar J.
Goodspeed of the University of Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
1941 THE CONFRATERNITY VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. A reversion
if the Douay-Rheims-Challomer Version. The New Testament section was published
by the Episcopal Confraternity of the Christian Doctrine of the Roman Catholic
Church; the Old Testament section remained according to the Latin Vulgate Version.
1945–1949 KNOX VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. Written in English by
Msgr. Ronald A. Knox according to the Latin Vulgate Version authorized by the
Roman Catholic Command of Wales and England to counteract the King James
Version.
1952 REVISED STANDARD VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. written by a
group of the United States of America’s European-American “GOD INSPIRED
SCRIBES” under the sponsorship of the National Council of Churches of Christ.
1961 NEW ENGLISH VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE. Written by a group of
English writers under the sponsorship of the Protestant Churches of Britain, and by
others from Oxford and Cambridge University Press.
1973 THE COMMON AMERICAN LANGUAGE VERSION. This was
approved by a group of rabbis, priests, ministers, and theologians who found all of its
contents satisfactory to the TEACHINGS of Judaism and Christianity in the United
States of America.
Most Jewish, Christian, and Moslem parishioners do not know very much about the
basic book they use as their only religious and divine guide. The reason for this is
based in the fact that very few of them, not unlike yourself, know the answers to the
following questions related to the history and development of the ORIGINAL
BIBLES and their many VERSIONS.
1. QUESTION: What is meant by the word BIBLE?
ANSWER: Bible [Latin—BIBLIA; Greek—BIBLIA; a noun]—a collection of
writings, little book; any collection or book of writings sacred to a particular religion;
a book regarded as the only authoritative one in its class, such as the Christian New
Testament, Jewish Old Testament, and Moslem Quran, etc.
2. QUESTION: What was the first BIBLE written?
ANSWER: Approximately 5000 to 4100 B.C. [B.C.E. or Before Christ]. It was written
in Ta-Merry [Qamt, Kimit, Sais, etc.]—the African nation the Israelites renamed
MIZRAIN, and the English translated into EGYPT.
3. QUESTION: When was the first Hebrew [or Jewish] BIBLE Written?
ANSWER: Between the years 700 and 500 B.C. by Egyptian Hebrews [Jews] of
Egypt.
4. QUESTION: When was the first Christian BIBLE written?
ANSWER: Approximately from 52 to 100 After the Death of Christ [A.D. or C.E.].
5. QUESTION: How many BOOKS were in the first Jewish Bible?
ANSWER: Four. These were expanded to FIVE at the Council of Jamnia.
6. QUESTION: How many BOOKS were in the first Christian BIBLE?
ANSWER: Forty-five. They were reduced to TWENTY-SEVEN at the Nicene
Conference.
7. QUESTION: Which one of the bibles is called the OLD TESTAMENT?
ANSWER: The Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch, also known as the Holy Torah.
8. QUESTION: Who was the African that introduced the story about “CREATION
OF THE WORLD;” when was he born; and what was the name of the Pharaoh he
fought?
ANSWER: Moses [Drawn from water]; born in Egypt, North Africa; who fought
pharaoh Ramesis II that reigned over Egypt from ca. 1298 to 1232 B.C. [or B.C.E.].
9. QUESTION: What is the name of the ORIGINAL [first] CHRISTIAN BIBLE; and
in what language was it written?
ANSWER: Koifie Bible; originally written in the Greek language and Aramaic [the
language allegedly “spoken by Jesus Christ”—the “language of the people”].
10. QUESTION: Who is the main character in the Old Testament; and in the New
Testament?
ANSWER: Ywh, also called “JEHOVAH, ADANOI, ADONI, ADONIS, GOD,
FATHER,” etc. in the Old Testament; Jesus of Nazareth, also called JESUS
CHRIST [Joshua the anointed], LAMB OF GOD, HOLY GHOST [Spirit],
SAVIOUR, REDEEMER, SON, GOD, TRINITY, DIVINE SPIRIT, LIGHT OF
THE WORLD” in the New.
11. QUESTION: In what year was the Moslem [Muslim] QURAN [of Bible] written?
ANSWER: Approximately in the year 670 A.D., or 48 A.H. [forty-eight years
following the founding of the Moslem Religion, Islam, by Mohamet ibn-Abdullah. A.H.
12. QUESTION: How many VERSIONS of the Bible preceded the King James
Version?
ANSWER: Sixteen [16] MAJOR VERSIONS. There were many that failed to
receive acclaim.
13. QUESTION: Name at least one BIBLE written for another English monarch.
ANSWER: The Miles Coverdale Version written for King Henry VIIth in 1535 A.D.
14. QUESTION: What is the meaning of the word VERSION; and how does it differ
from the following words: ORIGINAL and FACSIMILE?
ANSWER: A translation of the Bible gives an account of one point of view. The
ORIGINAL is the first base from which the VERSION is taken. A FACSIMILE is a
direct copy of the ORIGINAL without any changes whatsoever.
15. QUESTION: Which Bible was “WRITTEN IN THE LANGUAGE CHRIST
SPOKE”?
ANSWER: See the answer given above in item 9; also read Date 52–100 A.D. above.
16. QUESTION: What is the Difference between the Latin-Vulgate and King James
VERSIONS?
ANSWER: VERSIONS; usage of words; meaning of words; period of time; difference
in belief about “the teachings of Jesus Christ,” etc.
17. QUESTION: Were all of the men who wrote all of the VERSIONS equally
“INSPIRED”?
ANSWER: It must be assumed that all of the writers were “INSPIRED BY GOD” if
any of the VERSIONS from which the King James’ is taken is correct. IF any of the
base VERSIONS is faulty, so must those taken from it follow in the same way.
18. QUESTION: Would you accept another English VERSION; and why?
ANSWER: YES. Because the English grammar and style would be easier to read and
understand than the archaic Ole English in which the King James Version is written.
19. QUESTION: Who is the MAIN CHARACTER in all of the HOLY BOOKS of the
world?
ANSWER: GOD. Whether HE, SHE, or IT; all of the religions of the world recognize
a DIVINE entity that is translated into the English language meaning “GOD.”
20. QUESTION: Which was the ORIGINAL FORM of the Bible: BOOK or
SCROLL?
ANSWER: SCROLL. The first was made from the PAPYRUS PLANT of the Nile
Valley.
Interview On Religions (1)