There's a variety of things here, depending on how in-depth you want to get on the texts, the various versions, translation, canon selection, transmission, etc. I tried to include things from a variety of perspectives from more than one author/source. I didn't link to Christianbook, Amazon, etc. because I didn't know if you're US or if your church has an account with a store, etc. I included a few Bible studies that might help avoid reinventing the wheel, too.
Lightfoot, Neil R.
How we got the Bible, 3rd Edition, Revised and Expanded.
(most recent printing is 2010)
Grand Rapids, MI (USA): Baker Books. ISBN13: 978-0801072611
Fairly well-balanced and an easy read.
If one goes to an academic library that catalogs using Library of Congress classification, the call number used for this book is most likely BS445 .L47 2010. There may be additional useful books nearby on the shelves/in the catalog. If the library catalogs using Dewey classification, the call number used is probably 220.1 L626h.
McKendrick, Scot, and Doyle, Kathleen. 2007.
Bible Manuscripts: 1400 Years of Scribes and Scripture.
UK. British Library. ISBN13: 978-0712349222
Library of Congress call number: BS445.M35 2007
Comfort, Philip. 2015.
A Commentary on the Manuscripts and Text of the New Testament
Grand Rapids, MI (USA): Kregel. ISBN13: 978-0825443404
Library of Congress call number: BS1939 .C664 2015
Support for anti-KJV-onlyism.
Bruce, F. F.
The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?
Bruce, F. F
. The Books and the Parchments: Original Languages, Canon, Transmission, & How We Got Our English Bible.
These two titles by Bruce are standard academic texts. I prefer them for people without Greek language (like me), instead of Metzger (below), which are great if one wants to get into the weeds.
Metzger, Bruce M.
The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance.
Metzger, Bruce M.
The New Testament: Its Background, Growth, & Content.
Metzger, Bruce M.
The Bible in Translation: Ancient and English Versions.
Metzger, Bruce M.
The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration
Metzger, Bruce M.
Manuscripts of the Greek Bible: An Introduction to Palaeography.
These five titles by Metzger are standard academic texts. Also support for anti-KJV-onlyism
Basic Bible translation chart pdf
Name of translation, example Bibles, reading level, summary, methodology of translation.
(does not mention underlying text(s) for specific versions).
https://fba.org/images/stories/medialibrary/BibleTranslationChart.pdf
Basic Bible translation history pdf
https://www.tcseagles.org/faculty/n...les/Timeline_of_Bible_Translation_History.pdf
Lutheran Hour Ministries has a Bible study,
How We Got the Bible
(production, collection, transmission, and preservation), free videos and free discussion guide
https://www.lhm.org/studies/studydetail.asp?id=12754
Also additional resources and information, including OT and NT copy proofing, related subjects, such as making parchment, vellum, and papyrus, links to other useful sites, etc.
https://www.lhm.org/studies/studyresources.asp?id=12754
Lutheran Hour Ministries has another Bible study,
Bible On Trial: Beyond A Reasonable Doubt
https://www.lhm.org/studies/studydetail.asp?id=16902
Also additional resources, including codices
https://www.lhm.org/studies/studyresources.asp?id=16902
LHM may have other related Bible studies and resources. The website has a huge amount of resources, many of which are free. Free online account required to download resources.
Connolly, Ken, International Baptist Missions.
The Indestructible Book: The Historic Path of God’s Word from Mount Sinai to Plymouth Rock. DVD, also available in book format.
Santa Ana, CA (USA): International Baptist Missions.
Graebner, A. L. 1916. Bibliology. Article in
Outlines of Doctrinal Theology, pp. 3-15.
Saint Louis, MO (USA): Concordia Publishing House. ISBN13: 978-0758618122
Library of Congress call number: BT75 .G73
Inspiration, authority, perspicuity, sufficiency, and purposes of Scripture, as declared by the Bible (with verse references).
Preface to the English Standard Version. Article on pages xv-xvii of
The Lutheran Study Bible.
Saint Louis, MO (USA): Concordia Publishing House.
This article can be obtained or inter-library loaned via local public or academic library if you don’t have this particular Bible.
ESV.
1611 Black Letter King James Bible
https://blackletterkingjamesbible.com/ https://blackletterkingjamesbible.com/Home/Library
Articles and copies/text of original related documents, including Preface, Hand-Over Speech, Instructions to the Translators, etc. Also links to related information.
Moorman, Jack. 2008.
Forever Settled: A Survey of the Documents and History of the Bible
Collingswood, NJ (USA): Dean Burgon Society Press. ISBN13: 978-0-9985452-4-0
Library of Congress call number: BS480 .M67 1999 Dewey: 220.1 or 220.52
History of the English Bible and information about texts. Supports KJV-onlyism.
There are also relevant articles on the Dean Burgon Society website under the Resources tab.
https://deanburgonsociety.blog/
Moorman, Jack. 2008.
8,000 Differences between the Textus Receptus and the Nestle-Aland NT Greek Texts.
Cleveland, GA (USA): Old Paths Publications. ISBN13: 979-8985716573 (hard cover) Paperback not currently available at Amazon.
Supports KJV-onlyism.
Moorman, Jack. 2010.
When The KJV Departs From The "Majority" Text
Cleveland, GA (USA): Old Paths Publications. ISBN13: 978-1568480985
Supports KJV-onlyism.
Johnson, Ken. 2012.
Ancient Word of God: KJV or Not?
Monee, IL (USA): Biblefacts.org
KJV-onlyism. Very useful Bible lists, regardless of KJV-only perspective/opinion.
Riplinger, Gail.
New Age Versions of the Bible, Revised Edition.
Ararat, VA (USA): AV Publications. ISBN13: 978-0-9635845-0-2
KJV-onlyism. Some of the content is sensationalized.
If doing anything with manuscripts, you will also likely want to be familiar with equidistant letter spacing (ELS) in case questions come up about using it to authenticate manuscripts.
Drosnin, Michael.
The Bible Code, Bible Code 2: The Countdown, and
Bible Code 3: Saving the World.
(Equidistant Letter Spacing (ELS)).
Jeffrey, Grant.
Signature of God Revised Edition and
Handwriting of God.
(ELS)
McDowell, Josh, and McDowell, Sean.
Evidence that Demands a Verdict (2017).
(contains both Volumes 1 and 2).
General apologetics, including information about the Bible. Having one on-hand may come in handy, especially if there are unbelievers or new believers in the class.
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