I think I know what you mean. However, the laws were well known by the people - they also were aware of the prophets - which is the reason for a passage such as this:
2 Kings 17:13
The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: "Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets."
And then this one from the New Testament - Jesus making the disciples aware of His purpose:
Luke 24:44 (Whole Chapter)
He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the
Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
There is also a misunderstanding about the interpretations of the bible. They are not continuously revised or interpreted. The King James version is an original translation. The Old Testament was translated from the Masoeretic Text (Hebrew Scholars intent on preserving and codifying the Hebrew language), New Testament was translated from the Textus Receptus (also known as the recieved text, or the Byzantine Greek text).
Personally I was trained and taught to read the King James, I use it today for reading and as a study Bible. I like the New International Version - but if I ever have a question I compare it to the KJV. I have read passages from the Maccabeans and from the book of Mary. I think these are pretty cool adding some historical perspective - just not reflective of the core beliefs of Christianity.
Interestingly enough - we judge the Bible much like those pre-dating the Bible judged prophets and teachers. Who is the focus of the book, are they drawing attention to an agenda? Are they leading to or away from Christ? Is Christ represented as both God and Man? Are the miracles stated, or diminished. Is it profitable for study, does it improve our condition,? Does the text lead to the transforming message of Christ as it's central theme? Each of the 66 books of the King James Bible supports the others before it and beyond it, even though some of the old testament books were written a few hundred years apart.
Regardless - ancient Jews knew the law and they knew a prophet. And remember, the punishment for being a false prophet in ancient times was death - pretty easy to spot false prophets, the prophecies either came true or they didn't. If they didn't, the prophet was taken outside and stoned. Much of the New Testament was contributed by a couple of scholars (Dr. Luke - a physician, and Paul a scholar/Lawyer of Hebrew language and law as well as Roman law - as he was both a Jewish and Roman citizen). Remember as well - that while
technically there was no bible for the early church - except the Law the prohets and the Psalms - they did have the epistles (letters) to the churches of the 1st century by the disciples written to each church. This is what was translated over the years. By the growth of the early church - I'd say they all had a pretty good idea of what they believed. Much like the claim from evolutionists about the loss of some the fossill record - we don't still have some of those original manuscripts - but we do have texts that eminated from them.
Not to spend any more time on this - it really is boring to read this much text - here's a good website for historical perspective on the translation known as the Authorized King James Version of the Bible:
A Creationists Defense of the King James Bible
