The Catholic Church did not "compile" the first Bible in a specific year. The process was much more gradual and organic. Here's a breakdown:
* No Single Compilation Event: There wasn't a single moment in time where the Church definitively "compiled" the Bible. Instead, it was a gradual process of recognizing which texts were considered authoritative and inspired.
* Old Testament: The texts that make up the Old Testament were largely accepted by the Jewish people long before the time of Jesus. The Catholic Church inherited these texts, with some variations in which books were included (the Catholic Old Testament includes the deuterocanonical books, also known as the Apocrypha by Protestants).
* New Testament: The process of canonizing the New Testament was more complex and took place over several centuries.
* Early Christians recognized the authority of Jesus's teachings and the writings of the apostles.
* Local churches used various texts, but there wasn't a uniform list.
* By the late 4th century, a consensus began to emerge regarding the 27 books that would eventually comprise the New Testament.
* Important Councils and Figures:
* Synod of Rome (382 AD): Under Pope Damasus I, a list of canonical books was produced. This list is very similar to the Catholic Bible today.
* Synod of Hippo (393 AD) and Councils of Carthage (397 AD and 419 AD): These councils further solidified the canon of Scripture.
* St. Augustine: A highly influential theologian, St. Augustine, supported the canon that was being established.
* Council of Trent (1546): This council formally defined the canon of Scripture for the Catholic Church.
In conclusion: While the late 4th century (especially the period around 382 AD) saw significant progress in defining the biblical canon, it's more accurate to say that the Catholic Church gradually recognized and affirmed the biblical canon over a period of centuries, culminating in the formal declaration at the Council of Trent in the 16th century. There wasn't a single year in which the "first Bible" was compiled.