Chapter and verse divisions

Stephen Langton is generally recognized as the individual who was responsible for the chapter divisions of the Bible. Langton served as Archbishop of Canterbury and died in 1228. Credit for the verse divisions of the Bible goes to a Paris printer by the name of Robert Stephens in 1551.

While some of the chapter and verse divisions are awkward, they serve a very practical purpose. Now, for example, we can just say, “John 3:16,” and many people will know what we mean.