I have answers to Your Questions
You asked - How did Christians get access to the Bible before the printing press was invented in the 15th century A.D.
The Answer is -- That there were many Hebrew and Greek Manuscripts throughout the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
OK - Basic Facts - Most educated people in the Middle East Shortly after *( Yahoshua) Jesus resurrection - mostly spoke Italian, Greek or Hebrew or Arabic.
THE FACT IS - The Only Known * Complete * and - FIRST - bible Translation, that was Translated, was around the Years 150 - 250 AD.
It was called The - Vetus Italia ( Old Latin Translation ) From AD 150 - 250 -
This Translation originated and Was translated in Northern Africa There was also a European version dated around the same time which was copied frequently in Italy, Gaul and Spain.
There May also have been other Verses or Books translated into Aramaic or possibly - even some Canaanite Languages. But most these neighboring countries with other Languages did not have enough people with resources that were interested in the Bible, to preserve or MAINTAIN - a translation throughout the Centuries. And the Roman Catholic Church did not Assist them in Producing, Preserving or Spreading a Bible in their Translation. / Language. They were the 200 denominations outside of the Catholic Church who never existed.
Alot of Catholics are confused, thinking that their Church has something to do with the bible. But the FACT is that the Roman Catholic Church did not have any interest in teaching, spreading or introducing the ORIGINAL Bible *( in its Basic, original - Message Structure ) to its Neighboring civilizations, who spoke other Languages.
The Roman Catholic Church did not Even Produce a *** Roman CATHOLIC Produced *** translation of the bible until 400 ( Four Hundred ! ) Years after the Death + resurection of *( Yahoshua) Jesus.
Then, this behavior - continued on for nearly another 2000 Years. Finaly in the 15 th Century, The Roman Catholic Church Produced it's FIRST bible Translation into Another Language / Other than Latin. this Bible was the Douay - Rheims Bible.
So you can see, Catholic have never really been all that interested in the Bible or in Producing a translation for others who dont speak italian. I took them 400 Years after Christ, to Make the first Catholic / Vatican Made translation. 400 Years. !
then it took Catholics - another 1500 years to take it to another Language. I feel that The bible is not that important to most Catholics.
So - Back to Your Question - How did Christians get access to the Bible before the printing press was invented in the 15th century A.D. ?
if there were any original Hebrew, Greek or other Languages translated. from from the Original Manuscripts. the Roman Catholic Church / VATICAN - Does not Have OR SPREAD OR SHOW TO HAVE much original content. They Never made complete translations for spreading the bible and never Preserved or Stored anything - For Spreading SHARING or translating them for other people of different languages, until the 20 th Century. .. AFTER the non catholic people began to gain access to these hoarded texts. that were banned, outlawed and made illegal and hidden. the catholic church did not think it important to spread the the Gospel with the Bible translated and complete - no production in other languages. This was punished and frowned upon and just did not happen .
The - Vetus Italia ( Old Latin Translation ) From AD 150 - 250 is in the Library in England. Rome does not even Have this Manuscript Preserved in its Vatican. Catholics have no Preserved translations in other languages. ( Until AFTER the printing Press ) Possible - Because it simply did not Work at Making the bible available nor preserved the bible in any way. but worked only, to the mass production and spreading or making or OVER populating the Greek and Hebrew Manuscript system, with Greek and Hebrew copies that were filled with EXTRA Added and manipulating words . using Extra fanciful ( Idea and Sentence Structuring Changes )) -With many, Many, Many, MANY Modern Verbs, adjectives adverbs pronouns prepositions - to the original Greek and Hebrew Manuscripts. That basically were not present in the Original. Rome has not Preserved OR SHARED or Spread much of the Original Content and has not felt it important to translate the bible for anyone unless it is forced to do so by Keeping up with current translations that slip by their grip.
The Bible is Originally Written in a very, Very simple Language Structure. Using Sentence structures such as ---------- Me Go Home MEANING I am Going Home.
or You Come Mountain evening. Meaning You come to the Mountain this Evening.
Or For Example ----
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Basically - the original GREEK Manuscript - Said -
2Co 5:21 Because - Making / Doing Sin - For Us - Having No Sin. - Resulting - We Become Righteousness - God Among Yourselves.
All these Extra Words in the translations - Such as
he , him , - to be , - might , AND In Him.
These Other Words were added by translators into the Translation to Explain the Meaning of the Original.
And that is Good, To a point.
But Translators have Altered, Manipulated and Changed the Meaning of Many, Many Verses to Satisfy their own opinions and the views and opinions of others around them. Adjusting to the Times, to sell, Market and Spread the translation.
New translations are only made - to keep up with the Times.