The Bible is one of the earliest known books to expand over time. It dates back to 1400 BC with the advent of the Ten Commandments. By 500 BC, the original Hebrew manuscripts comprising the 39 books of the Old Testament were added to the Bible. As of 200 BC, the 14 Apocrypha Books were added to it. And by 1st Century AD, the original Greek manuscripts comprising the 27 books of the New Testament were added to the Bible. Although the Apocrypha books were later dropped, the remaining passages have remained in tact.
The legacy of the Bible is steeped in revisions and translations. This book initially arose out of manuscripts written in Hebrew and Greek. Over the centuries, the Bible was altered to accommodate readers with different languages and demographics. Today there are many versions including the New International Version, King James Version and the Women's Bible. People seek to understand it at their level.
The average Bible includes a table of contents, The Old Testament, The New Testament, Definitions, Index and Maps. The Bible is ordered in this way to help the reader maneuver through it more easily. The typeface is often black on thin white or cream-colored pages. Many Bibles are leather-bound.
The benefits of the Bible are often based on an individual's views. Historians see it as a means to maintain public order (positively). Ministers see the Bible as a resource for anyone trying to live a spiritual life. While art lovers see the Bible as a great influence on the arts (murals, classic books, sculptures). It really depends who you ask and what he or she sees as a benefit.
The Bible is significant today because of its influence on humanity. Holy wars continue to be fought over land promised to the Israelites in the Bible. People often dramatically alter their lives after accepting the precepts of Jesus Christ taught in it. And, pop culture continues to be influenced by it. The Bible continues to have as powerful an impact on our lives today as it has centuries earlier.