1. What were the writing materials available for ancient texts? Papyrus

Because of its abundance in Egypt, papyrus was used as a writing surface as early as 3100 BC and for 4000 years following. It is believed that the original biblical autographs were written on papyrus although later Jewish scribes (Mishnah, Meg 2:2) prohibited its use for parchment when writing sacred texts.

The method of making papyrus has not changed in the thousands of years it has been used. The process starts with the removal of the papyrus reed skin to expose the inner pith, which was beaten and dried. It is then laid lengthwise, with subsequent layers cross-laid for strength and durability, and glued with a plant derivative. The final process involved the stretching and smoothing of the papyrus in preparation for its use. The average papyrus "page" was 22 cm wide and 29-33 cm (up to 47cm) long. A papyrus scroll was usually made of 20 "pages" averaging a total length of 4.5 meters.

The writing instrument was a kalamos, a pen fashioned from a reed with the tip chewed to form a brush. Often several kalamos were kept for varying brush widths and ink colors.

Clay

Clay tablets were used as far back as 3000 BC, and scholars have yet to decipher a vast quantity now in possession. Using clean, washed, smooth clay, scribes used a stylus to imprint wedge-shaped letters called cuneiform. The tablets, made in various shapes such as cone-shaped or flat, were sun dried or kiln fired. An example of a clay tablet is the famous Code of Hammurabi written before the time of Moses.

Parchment

Parchment was developed in Pergamum, a city in Asia Minor, sometime around 200-100 BC as the result of a rivalry between the King Ptolemy of Egypt and the King Eumenes of Pergamum over who had the largest and best library. To frustrate his rival and protect the status of the Alexandrian library, King Ptolemy placed an embargo on the export of papyrus. King Eumenes turned to craftsmen to find an alternative, which led to parchment.

Made from the skin of sheep, parchment was derived from the inner flesh lining of the skin split from the outer wool side. It was more durable than papyrus and difficult to forge; however, papyrus was cheaper and easier to manufacture.

2. What is scripto continua?

Because of the scarcity of papyrus outside of Egypt, the earliest manuscripts, which were non-biblical material, were written scripto continua, without any spaces between words or sentences, and it was likely that the original autographs of the Bible were written in a similar fashion. Examination of the early Greek texts also finds no upper and lower case distinction in lettering and an absence of punctuation until the ninth century AD.

3. How did books, chapters, and verses, get introduced?

Books

The Hebrew Bible has 24 books based on the division of the books in the ancient Hebrew manuscripts. In contrast, the Bible has 39 books in the Old Testament based on the division of the books found in the "Septuagint" (Greek Translation of the Bible).

Both Bibles have the same books but simply divide them differently. They differ in the following manner:

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