The division of the New Testament into chapters, now in use, was made in the dark ages, after the selection of portions for ecclesiastical readings, which frequently therefore run on from one chapter into another. That division frequently separates things which are closely connected, and joins together things which are really distinct. (Johann Albrecht Bengel)
The division of the New Testament into chapters was primarily the work of Stephen Langton, an English clergyman who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury in the early 13th century. Langton is credited with creating the chapter divisions that are still used today in both the Old and New Testaments.
Before Langton’s work, biblical manuscripts were not divided into chapters as we know them. Some early manuscripts had divisions based on subject matter or liturgical use, but these were inconsistent and varied among different traditions. Langton’s divisions made the Bible easier to reference, read, and study, especially in theological contexts.
These chapter divisions were later used in printed versions of the Bible, starting with the Wycliffe Bible and becoming standard in later translations, such as the Gutenberg Bible and King James Version.
While Langton is credited with the chapters, the division of the Bible into verses was done later by Robert Estienne, a French printer, in the 16th century.
Johann Albrecht Bengel, a Lutheran theologian and biblical scholar, was referring to the chapter divisions made by Stephen Langton in the 13th century, as I mentioned earlier. Bengel’s critique highlights a common issue with these divisions: they were created for ease of reference rather than theological or literary coherence.
Bengel was pointing out that Langton’s chapter divisions sometimes disrupt the natural flow of the text, splitting sections that should be read together or grouping unrelated material. This is especially noticeable when reading for deeper understanding, as the divisions do not always align with the original context or meaning intended by the biblical authors.
Bengel was a pioneer in biblical criticism and exegesis, and his observations are part of a broader scholarly effort to address the limitations of these divisions. While useful for study and citation, they were made at a time when ease of use in ecclesiastical settings was prioritized over textual or literary fidelity.