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TheThe HistoryHistory ofof thethe EnglishEnglish LanguageLanguage BibleBible Presbyterian Heritage Center :36 Illuminated Page — Call of Disciples, Donald Jackson, Copyright 2002, Presbyterian Heritage Center PO Box 207 The John’s , Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Presbyterian Heritage Center Minnesota USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Montreat, NC 28757 Booklet copyright, 2016, January. Presbyterian Heritage Center. Learning Initiatives Educational Skills Used In This Booklet Booklets, Presentations, DVDs Analyze Cause and Effect 5, 9, 15 Conceptualize 19 Discussions 5, 9, 12, 15, 18, 19 Learning Initiatives Series Draw Conclusions 12. 19 The Presbyterian Heritage Center (PHC) creates new exhibits each year from its archives and Evaluate 12, 17 artifact collections, as well as from loans of materials from individuals and institutions. Onsite, we Explain 9, 15 utilize many different techniques to educate, including the displays, videos, touch screen kiosks and Make Inferences 5 more. To reach young people, we conduct Confirmation Classes (history), Collegiate Studies & Pose and Answer Questions 5. 18. 19 Visitations, Supplemental Club Programs, Youth Conference Research 5, 9, 12, 15, 18, 19 Related Exhibits, Online & Hands On Activities and Youth Summarize 18 Sunday School Lessons for all Presbyterian denominations. Write 18 Back cover photo shows an illuminated In addition to these limited-time exhibits, the PHC seeks to page from John 1:36 from The Saint provide accompanying educational materials, such as learning John’s Bible. The illumination is entitled booklets, online downloadable materials and DVD resource Call of the Disciples, by Donald Jackson, disks for adults and young people. Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, The Presbyterian Heritage Center (PHC) believes that Saint John’s University, Collegeville, learning can be exciting, inspiring and transformational. Minnesota USA. Used by permission. The PHC has a responsibility to future generations to All rights reserved. promote strong learning skills and an awareness of their role as participants and guardians of the Presbyterian and Reformed heritage. Board of Directors, 2016 — Presbyterian Heritage Center

The PHC seeks to serve youth and adults through this ever John N. Akers John Hinkle Steve Sewell expanding educational series. For more information, go online Montreat, NC Montreat, NC Richmond, VA to www.phcmontreat.org or call 828.669.6556. Terry Brown Butler David Lindsay Eloise Shepherd Mt. Pleasant, SC Charlotte, NC Atlanta, GA Martha D. Campbell Wardie Martin Judy Shuford Montreat, NC Charlotte, NC Montreat, NC James A. Cogswell Peter McKay William Sibley Black Mountain, NC Charlotte, NC Greenville, SC Front cover photo shows title pages of a 1611 Sue Diehl Henry W. Neale . Eric Skidmore first- of the Bible, Montreat, NC Montreat, NC Columbia, SC with insets left-to-right of a Wycliffe manuscript William E. Dudley Richard Ray Kay L. Stockdale Bible (c. 1388), Queen Elizabeth’s Signal Mountain, TN Montreat, NC Swannanoa, NC Bible (1568) and a Bible (1560). Martha Farmer R. Jackson Sadler William Wade Atlanta, GA Montreat, NC Bristol, TN Copyright © 2016. Presbyterian Heritage Center. PO Box 207, Montreat, NC. Paul H. Grier Donald Saunders Ann Fulton Walker 800.669.6556 www.phcmontreat.org [email protected] Greenville, SC Blowing Rock, NC Winston-Salem, NC Permission is granted for use in non-profit, educational & religious activities. Joe Harvard Raleigh, NC Glossary Table of Contents - (a-pakre-fa), noun, biblical or related writ- manuscript - noun, a , document or piece of music 2 Preface 13 King James Version of the Bible ings not forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture;. written by hand rather than typed or printed. Six teams of translators worked for five Counter - noun, the Church’s Pentateuch - (heksa-toook) noun, first five (5) of 3 The Pre-Reformation resurgence against Protestants during the 16th - 17th the Bible collectively. years on the King James Version. centuries beginning with the Council of Trent (1545– Protestant Reformation - noun, also known as the From early Anglo-Saxon 14 Fifteen Rules for KJV Translators 1563) and ending at the close of the Thirty Years’ War Reformation, this is religious movement of the 16th 5 Think About It 15 Think About It (1648). century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Eucharist - (yook-a-rest), noun, the Christian ceremony and resulted in the creation of Protes- 6 The Dawn of the Reformation — 16 Comparisons of Selected commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and tant churches. Those who protested the Catholic Individual Efforts Translations wine are consecrated and consumed. Church became known as Protestants. Individual translators between 1526 — A look at Genesis I and in vari- evangelize - (e-van-ge-liz) verb, to proclaim the good - (kwor-doo), noun, a size of book page resulting 1540s led the English translations effort. news of Jesus Christ, so that others may believe. from folding each printed sheet into four leaves (eight ous from Wycliffe to - (heksa-toook) noun, first six (6) books of pages). While the size varies, it is about 9½ × 12 inches. 6 the King James Version, as well as familiar the Old Testament Bible collectively. Reformation - see Protestant Reformation. 7 sayings coined by William Tyndale. Hussites - noun, followers of reformer John (or Jan) - (ver-nak-ku-lar), noun, the language or 8 John Rogers & The Matthews Bible 17 Think About It Hus. dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular 9 The illuminate - (e-looma-nat), verb, decorate (a page or country or region. Adjective, (of language) spoken as 9 Think About It 18 18th - 20th Century Translations initial letter in a manuscript) with gold, silver, or one's mother tongue; not learned or imposed as a sec- More than 100 new translations were cre- colored designs. ond language. 10 Teams of Translators — Lollards or - noun, referring to followers of - noun, the principal version of the Bible, ated for a variety of reasons. Bible teacher and translator . The Middle prepared mainly by St. in the late 4th century, Geneva, Bishops & King James 18 Think About It English word lollen, meaning to mutter. and (as revised in 1592) adopted as the official text for Scholarly teams tackled newly discovered martyr(s) - (mahr-ter) noun, a person who willingly the Roman Catholic Church. Another meaning is original sources to produce for 19 A New Illuminated Bible in the suffers , rather than renounce his or her religion. common or colloquial speech. Presbyterians, Pilgrims, Anglicans and 21st Century Catholics. The first Bible in Index 10 The over 500 years was completed in 2011. Ælfric of Eynsham ...... 3 James I, King ...... 13 To Order Booklets: 11 The Bishops’ Bible 19 Think About It Alfred, King ...... 3 King James Version Bible . . 13 - 15 Contact the Presbyterian 12 Rheims- Bible Aldhelm, ...... 3 Knox, John ...... 11 Heritage Center for information on 12 Think About It 20 Glossary & Index Andrewes, Bishop Lancelot . . 13, 15 Lollards ...... 4 these booklets and DVDs. (video Bede, Venerable ...... 3 Luther, Martin ...... 6 and/or data). Call 828.669.6556 or Bishops’ Bible...... 11 - 12 Mary, Queen (Mary Tudor) . . 8, 10 email to [email protected] Coverdale, Myles ...... 7 - 9 Martin, Gregory...... 12 Bishop . . . . 12 Matthews Bible ...... 8 r Missions to Japan: 1859 - Today Charles II, King ...... 15 Nicholas of Hereford ...... 4 r The History of the English Cranmer, Thomas...... 8 - 9 Parker, Matthew . . 11 language Bible Cromwell, Oliver ...... 15 Purvey, John ...... 4 - 5 r & The Scottish Cromwell, Thomas ...... 8 - 9 Rheims-Douai Bible...... 12 Reformation , Queen ...... 11 Rogers, John ...... 8 Geneva Bible ...... 10 - 11 Saint John’s Bible...... 19 Coming in Fall 2016 Gilby, Anthony ...... 11 Tyndale, William ...... 6 r Congo: 125 Years of the Great Bible...... 9 Wesley, John ...... 18 American Congo Presbyterian Henry VIII, King ...... 8 - 9 Whittingham, William...... 11 Mission Hus, John (Jan) ...... 5 Wycliffe, John...... 3 - 5 r Reformation 500

20 Source: Presbyterian Heritage Center 1 Preface A New Illuminated Manuscript Bible in the 21st Century Remaining true to our goal to be independent, Michael Morgan, Richard Ray, Kay Stockdale, The Saint John's Bible is the innovative and interactive, we are using many and others. first completely handwritten and different techniques to engage our onsite and Artifacts, archival documents, photos and hand-illuminated Bible to have online visitors. These techniques include films more were donated or lent for the History of been commissioned by a Benedic- playing on a large screen television, touch screen the Bible exhibit by many, tine Abbey since the invention of kiosks and this educational discussion guide. including: the moveable type press And sometimes, we use the low-tech approach, Michael Morgan in the West printed the Guten- such as displaying these rare Bibles to trace the The British berg Bible in 1455. A 15-year -language translations and Saint John’s University project, the St. John’s Bible was influences over the centuries. The of the Presbyterian Heritage finished in 2011. This guide is intended to provide additional Center provided numerous Bibles from the Using the New Revision Stan- materials for the exhibit, while teaching compre- 18th through 20th centuries, as well as images, dard Version Catholic Edition of hension skills for young people. Among the skills woodcuts and other graphics. the Bible, The Saint John’s Bible are analytical, explanatory, research, writing, gen- A special thank you is offered to our is divided into seven volumes and eralization, reasoning, summarization and more. financial contributors in the past, in the is two feet tall by three feet wide I’d like to thank Michael Morgan, Lisa Harrold, present and the hopefully in the future. when open. The manuscript Bible Lucy Dusthimer, Betsy Neville, Ann Vinson and was made on vellum with 160 Diana Sanderson for their invaluable contributions hand illuminations. to this exhibit, as well as the Montreat Conference Center for arranging the Saint John’s Bible. Ronald W. Vinson We also are grateful to the exhibit advisory PHC Executive Director Copyright 2011. The Saint John’s committee of John Akers, Nancy McGuirk, Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. of Mathew scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Ver- sion of the Bible, Catholic Edition, Copyright 1993, 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. THINK ABOUT IT! 1 Conceptualize 2 Draw Conclusions 3 Discussion Subjects Take one of your favorite Why do you think Saint r Illuminated Manuscripts Bible verses or select one John’s University decide to r Gutenberg Printing at random and think produce the first illuminated Press & Its Impact about how you would make complete Bible in more an illustration to depict it. than 450 years?

2 Source: Presbyterian Heritage Center 19 18th — 20th Century Translations The Pre-Reformation Bible translations accelerated in the 18th, 19th 19th Century How to save ? and 20th centuries with scores of such efforts each 1808, Charles Thomson, The Holy Bible. It was There was a long debate during the latter and every century. Discoveries of new source texts, the first Bible printed by a woman, Jane Aitken. portion of the Middle Ages among clerics cultural paraphrasing (Wesley’s 1755 New Testa- about reforms needed to convert more people to 1833, Noah Webster, The Holy Bible, a conserva- ment to , 1976) and various first- . tive revision of the KJV, in which obsolete words times all were causes for recognition. Here are Early reformers (i.e., challengers to the west- and constructions are replaced with modern some interesting translations over the centuries. ern Roman Catholic Church) often focused on equivalents. one goal — translating the Latin Bible or 18th Century 1876, Julia E. Smith, The Holy Bible, the first portions of the Bible into the common spoken 1745, William Whiston, The Primitive New Tes- Bible by a woman. tongue of the country so the populace could tament. This revision of the KJV uses three earliest more easily read it. (i.e., primitive) manuscripts then known to scholars 20th Century Originally the Bible was written in Hebrew, — Cantabrigiensis, Codex The 20th Century saw a new wave of Biblical and Greek, with a Latin translation Claromontanus, and Codex Alexandrinus. translations into English for many different attributed to St. Jerome (c. 347 - 420 A.D., reasons: accuracy, current idiom and dialect, also known as Sophronius Hierony- 1755, John Wesley, Explanatory notes upon the inclusion and more. mus before sainthood was conferred) made in . One printing was titled, The the late 4th century. This Vulgate (“commonly New Testament with Notes, for Plain Unlettered 1901, American Standard Version. used”) Latin Bible became the standard used by Men who know only their Mother Tongue. 1937, Charles Bray Williams, The New Testa- the Roman Catholic Church for a 1,000 years. 1764, Anthony Purver, A new and literal transla- ment in the Language of the People. Published by Efforts to translate the Bible into tion of all the books of the Old and New Testa- (i.e., Anglo-Saxon) began in the 8th century Moody Institute. Tower of Babel Illustration ment. This is often called “The Quaker when Bishop Aldhelm (639 - 709 A.D.) trans- (c. 1035 A.D.) Bible” because Purver was a Quaker. 1952, . lated the . A monk named Bede (673 - 735 A.D., also known as Venerable Bede) trans- Image courtesy of The 1960 - 1995, New American Standard Version. 1768, Edward Harwood, A Liberal Translation of lated the , which was lost. MS Cotton Claudius B.iv., f. 19 the New Testament. This ornate paraphrase repre- 1966, The Bible (Catholic). In the 9th century, King Alfred (849 - 899 sents a style of writing common in the eighteenth A.D.) translated “The ,” ing the late 10th and early 11th century. 1976, Good News Bible. century, but heavily criticized by Harwood’s probably the But the Norman Invasion of in contemporaries. 1989, New Revised Standard Version. Psalms and some 1066 brought a temporary end to Anglo-Saxon other Biblical translation efforts. segments. Toward the end of the 1300s, teacher THINK ABOUT IT! Later, English and John Wycliffe and his followers began 1 Summarize 2 Pose & Answer Question 3 Discussion Subjects & Abbot Ælfric of translation work on the first complete Bible in Write a short summary of If someone proposes a new Additional Research Eynsham . These manuscript Bibles were up to 300 words on the Bible translation to you r Reasons for so many (c. 955 - c. suppressed. And the next major translation ef- translation of Bibles into tomorrow, what questions Bible translations over 1010) and oth- fort would wait until the 1520s and . English and the lessons would you ask? the past 300 years. ers translated the you have learned. r Differences in transla- beginning books Medieval England tions listed between Aelfric of Eynsham of the Bible dur- One of the earliest vernacular translations — 18 1960 and 1995. 3 the language spoken by the ordinary people in a Psalm 23 particular country or region — of the first six Geneva Bible, 1560 books of the Old Testament into the English The is my shepherd, I shal not want. He maketh me to rest in grene pasture, & leadeth me by language was probably compiled in the second the stil waters. He restoreth my soule, & leadeth me in the paths of righteousnes for his Names sake. quarter of the 11th century at St Augustine’s Yea, thogh I shulde walke through the valley of the shadow of death, I wil feare no euil: for art Abbey, Canterbury, circa 1035 A.D. with me: thy rod and thy staffe, they comfort me. This text of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy and was richly Bishops’ Bible, 1568 illuminated in a manuscript called The Old is my sheephearde, therfore I can lacke nothyng: he wyll cause me to repose my selfe in pasture English Hexateuch or Old English Illustrated full of grasse, and he wyll leade me unto calme waters. He wyll convert my soule: he wyll bring me Hexateuch. The Tower of Babel Illustration from foorth into the pathes of righteousnesse for his name sake. Yea though I walke through the valley of the manuscript accompanies this article on the the shadowe of death, I wyll feare no evyll: for thou art with me, thy rodde and thy staffe be the thyn- preceding page. ges that do comfort me. The Old English Hexateuch manuscript con- sists of translations and a preface by Ælfric of King James Version of the Bible, 1611 Eynsham, while the remaining parts were car- The Lord is my shepheard, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in greene pastures: he leadeth ried out by anonymous authors. Another copy mee beside the still waters. He restoreth my soule: he leadeth me in the pathes of righteousnes, for his of the text, without lavish illustrations but names sake. Yea though I walke through the valley of the shadowe of death, I will feare no euill: for including a translation of the thou art with me, thy rod and thy staffe, they comfort me. instead of Joshua (hence also called the Old English Hexateuch), is found in the Bodleian Familiar English Language Bible Phrases Library in Oxford University. Bible translator William Tyndale coined many phrases in the early which entered It is notable that in his translations, Ælfric 1395 Wycliffe Manuscript Bible in Middle English the culture and became familiar to generations, such as: did not translate it word for word from the r knock and it shall be opened unto you r my brother's keeper Latin, often paraphrasing to better convey the He also preached that the Eucharist was sym- r twinkling of an eye r the salt of the earth meaning. bolic. r a moment in time r a law unto themselves Wycliffe’s followers were derisively called Lol- r r Wycliffe & Lollards lards, or “mutterers,” by the Catholic Church. seek and you shall find it came to pass r r John Wycliffe (c. 1324 - December 1384), Wycliffe declared that every Christian had eat, drink and be merry gave up the ghost r r also spelled Wyclif, Wycliff, Wiclef, Wicliffe, or the right to read the Bible, and that the Bible ask and it shall be given you the signs of the times r r Wickliffe, was a reformer. enabled every Christian to learn the importance judge not that you not be judged the spirit is willing, but the is weak A priest and an educator of Christ as salvation, without the trappings of r the powers that be r fight the good fight at Oxford, he was a critic pilgrimages, performed and the THINK ABOUT IT! of some of the church’s Latin . practices. In his latter years, Among Wycliffe’s followers, Nicholas of 1 Evaluate 2 Evaluate 3 Evaluate Wycliffe increasingly pro- Hereford apparently finished the Wycliffe Bible Which version of Genesis I Which version of Psalm 23 How many of the Tyndale moted the need to have manuscript in Middle English about 1384. An do you like the best? do you like the best? phrases had you heard the Scriptures in the ver- improved second edition was translated by before? nacular. He challenged the Wycliffe’s secretary, John Purvey, about 1395. Why? Why? church’s hierarchy and John Wycliffe These Bibles collectively are known as Wycliffe luxurious living of bishops. Bibles, even though Wycliffe did not do the 4 17 final translations. Nearly 200 copies of these Comparisons of Selected Translations two manuscript versions have survived. Spelling was not a settled issue in the 14th to early 17th centuries. In addition, printers sometimes When John Purvey made his 1395 revision, used u for v characters, as well as the reverse. Ye was used to denote a plural pronoun thee (thou was there were three dialects existing in Middle singular) as well as the sound for “the.” Here are some comparison of various texts. Sometimes it is eas- English. Purvey chose Midland English, the ier to read aloud to understand the original words. dialect of , which was also used by Chaucer, a contemporary of Wycliffe. Genesis 1 The Wycliffe or Lollard movement was effec- John Wyclif (or Wycliffe) Bible (Wyclif and his followers produced the first complete manuscript tively suppressed in England. But his writings English Bible). Nicholas of Hereford 1384 (translator; completed first Wyclif Bible translation) migrated to Bohemia through students who had In the firste made God of nouȝt heuene and erthe. The erthe forsothe was veyn with ynne and studied under Wycliffe at Oxford. His cause void, and derknessis weren vpon the face of the sea; and the Spiryt of God was born vpon the wa- and teachings were taken up by John Hus. trys. And God seide, Be maad liȝt; and maad is liȝt. Forty-four years after Wycliffe’s death (in Forty-four years after Wycliffe’s death, the church (Note: nouȝt = nought and liȝt = light) 1428), the Catholic Church showed its linger- condemned him for heresy in promoting transla- ing displeasure with Wycliffe and his followers tion of the Bible and exhumed his body, burned it William (OT translation) c. 1529 (first printed English Bible portions) by disinterring Wycliffe’s bones, burning them and scattered his ashes in a river. In the beginnyng God created heauen and erth. The erth was voyde and emptye, and and dumping the ashes into a river. The act is darknesse was vpon the depe, & the spirite of God moued upon the water. Than God sayd: let there depicted in the accompanying illustration from The followers of Hus religious teachings be lighte and there was lighte. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, PHC Collection. (known as Hussites) rebelled against their Roman Catholic rulers and the church, defeating The Great Bible 1539 (first authorized English Bible by Henry VIII, edited by Myles Coverdale) John Hus and Western Continental Pre-Reformers five consecutive In ye begynning God created heauen & erth. The erth was voyde & emptie and darcknesse was Czech cleric John (or Jan) (c. 1369 – papal upo the face of the depe ad ye Sprete of god moued upon the face of the waters. And God sayde: 6 July 1415), often referred to as John Hus or between 1420 Let there be made lyght, and there was lyght made. John Huss, was a Czech priest, philosopher, and 1431 — the early Christian reformer and Prague professor. Hussite Wars. Geneva Bible 1560 (first English language Bible in Roman (modern) ; first team of translators; Exposed to teachings of John Wycliffe, Hus was first English Bible to number verses, second such Bible to use verse numbers) a key forerunner of . He exserted a In the beginning God created ye heauen and the earth. And the earth was without forme & strong influence in Western Europe, most pro- voyde, and darkenes was vpon the depe, & the Spirit of God moued vpon the waters. Then God nounced in the approval of a reformist - saide, : And there was light. hemian religion, and, then more than a century later, on through his writings. John Hus, Bishops Bible 1568 (authorized English Bible during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign) He was burned at the stake in 1415. Czech reformer. In the beginnyng GOD created the heauen & the earth. And the earth was without fourme, & THINK ABOUT IT! was voyde: & darknesse was vpon the face of the deepe, and the Spirite of God moued vpon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be lyght: and there was lyght. 1 Analyze Cause & Effect 2 Pose & Answer Question 3 Make Inferences Why did the Norman In- Think of a question the Why do you think the King James Bible 1611 (authorized English Bible by King James I (England) & VI (Scotland); six vasion of England in 1066 church leaders would have church only wanted to companies of 47 translators and 7 editors worked on this version) result in a temporary end asked to John Wycliffe use the Latin language In the beginning God created the Heauen, and the Earth. And the earth was without forme, and (some 300 years) of Bible about why he translated Vulgate Bible? voyd, and darknesse was vpon the face of the deepe: and the Spirit of God mooued vpon the face of translation efforts in the the Bible into Middle the waters. And God said Let there be light and there was light. country? English. 16 5 these goals, the Bible fell short, but for English Protestants during Oliver The Dawn of the Reformation — Individual Efforts the King James Bible would even- Cromwell’s 11 years leading the When Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to tually gain prominence. Commonwealth. the church doors in Wittenburg in 1517, the The translation took from 1604 But the of the English internal debates and conflicts within the to 1609, with printing taking over monarchy under King Charles II in Catholic Church became highly public — a year. 1660 reignited a public fondness for leading to the period called the Protestant The King James Version (KJV) things related to kings and queens. Reformation. of the Bible was published in 1611. So the King James Version of the Reformers throughout Europe had been busy While the KJV Bible was the Bible came back into use and gained translating the Bible into the vernacular — official Bible, it widespread popularity in England French, Spanish,Czech, Hungarian, English, was not immediately popular. Even and in the Anglican Church in the and others. Printed portions of the Bibles in Bishop American colonies. common languages began appearing by 1522. continue to use the Geneva Bible , Presbyterians and other translation in some sermons. dissenters from the Anglican Church continued William Tyndale & the first printed When the monarchy was overthrown in to use the Geneva Bible. English-language New Testament 1649, the Geneva Bible was the prefered text William Tyndale (1494 - 1536) also spelled Tindale, Tindall or Tyndall, was an English chaplain, tutor and scholar with a gift for languages. Around 1529, Tyndale started translating the THINK ABOUT IT! In 1524, working with Old Testament while in Europe. By 1535, he 1 Analyze Cause & Effect 2 Explain 3 Discussion Subjects & his assistant William Roye, had finished the Pentateuch and nine other Explain why you think the What do you think of the Additional Research Tyndale left England after books of the Old Testament before he was cap- King James Version of the process and organization r Puritans & Presbyterians failing to get permission to tured outside . Bible became so popular, used to create the KJV coming to the American work on the English trans- Below is an illustration from Foxe’s Book of even today? Bible translation? colonies. lation of the New Testa- Martyrs depicting the strangulation and burning ment. of Tyndale in October 6, 1536. Tyndale’s last At upper right is the words were reportedly: “Lord, open the King of opening page of the Gospel England’s eyes,” not realizing that Henry VIII of John from Tyndale’s had licensed the to use in 1535. 1526 New Testament — the first printed NT English Bible. Tyndale’s NT translation formed the base for most future translations. His wording featured such well-known phrases as “fight the good fight” and “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Tyndale had 3,000 copies printed, but active suppression by the Catholic Church in England by burning and destroying the book was nearly complete. Two copies survive. 6 15 Myles Coverdale & the first printed was appointed a priest in Norwich in 1514. 15 Guidelines for King James Version Translators complete Bible in English During the 1520s, he became more of a radical 1. The ordinary Bible read in the Church, com- rest, to be considered of seriously and judiciously, Myles Coverdale, also spelled Miles, completed reformer, having to flee England in 1528. It was monly called the Bishops Bible, to be followed, for His Majesty is very careful in this Point. the printing of the first complete English Bible while at in Antwerp that Coverdale worked on a and as little altered as the Truth of the original in 1535. Because of restrictions on importing complete English Bible. 10. If any Company, upon the Review of the will permit. bound books into England, Coverdale had the Coverdale Book so sent, doubt or differ upon any Place, to pages printed on the Continent and shipped to would later be 2. The names of the Prophets, and the Holy send them Word thereof; note the Place, and an English binder. authorized to , with the other Names of the Text, to be withal send the Reasons, to which if they consent In the preface to the Bible, Coverdale praised translate and retained, as nigh as may be, accordingly as they not, the Difference to be compounded at the King Henry VIII and his new Queen, Anne print The were vulgarly used. general Meeting, which is to be of the chief Per- Boleyn. This was the marriage that had led Great Bible of sons of each Company, at the end of the Work. 3. The Old Ecclesiastical Words to be kept, viz. Henry to split with the Catholic Church in Henry VIII in the Word Church not to be translated Congrega- 11. When any Place of special Obscurity is Rome and set up a Church of England. 1539. tion &c. doubted of, Letters to be directed by Authority, Formerly a priest, Coverdale was primarily an Myles Coverdale to send to any Learned Man in the Land, for his editor and translator using other Bibles already (right) and the title 4. When a Word hath divers Significations, that Judgement of such a Place. published in Latin and German because he was page of his 1535 to be kept which hath been most commonly not yet proficient in Hebrew or Greek. complete English used by the most of the Ancient Fathers, being 12. Letters to be sent from every Bishop to the language Bible. Coverdale also used Tyndale’s published and agreeable to the Propriety of the Place, and the rest of his , admonishing them of this unpublished English translations, including Analogy of the Faith. Translation in hand; and to move and charge as Tyndale’s partial Old Testament. many skilful in the Tongues; and having taken 5. The Division of the Chapters to be altered, After its publication, the Coverdale Bible was pains in that kind, to send his particular Obser- either not at all, or as little as may be, if Necessity the first Bible licensed by King Henry VIII for vations to the Company, either at Westminster, so require. use in England. Cambridge, or Oxford. The most innovative thing in this Bible was 6. No Marginal Notes at all to be affixed, but 13. The Directors in each Company, to be the that it placed the Apocrypha — those books only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek Deans of Westminster, and Chester for that that Roman Catholics accept as canonical, but Words, which cannot without some circumlocu- Place; and the King's Professors in the Hebrew or which Protestants would reject — at the end of tion, so briefly and fitly be expressed in the Text. Greek in either University. the Old Testament rather than interspersed 7. Such Quotations of Places to be marginally set throughout the Old Testament. All Protestant 14. These translations to be used when they down as shall serve for the fit Reference of one Bibles that were to follow, if they included the agree better with the Text than the Bishops Bible: Scripture to another. Apocrypha at all, included them as an appendix Tyndale's, Matthew's, Coverdale's, Whitchurch's, — just like Coverdale had done. 8. Every particular Man of each Company, to Geneva. Coverdale lived overseas for many years, care- take the same Chapter or Chapters, and having 15. Besides the said Directors before mentioned, fully timing his trips to England when the translated or amended them severally by himself, three or four of the most Ancient and Grave Di- threat to translators was mini- where he thinketh good, all to meet together, vines, in either of the Universities, not employed mal. He fled to the Continent again when confer what they have done, and agree for their in Translating, to be assigned by the vice-Chan- Queen Mary assumed the throne and tried to Parts what shall stand. cellor, upon Conference with the rest of the re-institute Catholicism in England. Coverdale was born in 1488 and died on 9. As any one Company hath dispatched any one Heads, to be Overseers of the Translations as well January 20, 1569. In his formative years, he Book in this Manner they shall send it to the Hebrew as Greek, for the better observation of the 4th Rule above specified. trained and became an Augustinian friar. He 14 7 John Rogers and the Matthews Bible Coverdale’s work was incorporated into the King James Version of the Bible, 1611 Matthews (or Mathews) Bible printed in 1537. When King James VI of Scotland assumed Another friend of Tyndale, John Rogers the throne of England in 1603 as King James I (c. 1505 – February 4, 1555) edited Tyndale’s of England (at right), there were serious problems work to issue this Bible originally in 1537. among Protestants — between the Anglican King Henry VIII’s advisors, Archbishop bishops in the Church of England and the and Chancellor Thomas Separatists and Dissenters (such as Puritans and Cromwell strongly pushed the king for his Presbyterians). approval of the work, for which they claimed: At an ecclesiastical conference at Hampton “There will not be a better English Bible until Court in January 1604 with King James, it was the day after Doomsday.” suggested that a new Bible translation needed The king was not ready to authorize the to be made to replace Elizabeth I’s Bishops’ Bible to be read in churches, but did give it his Bible. official license as the approved version. It James readily agreed and developed 15 rules became the second licensed Bible in English. to guide the translators, including the edict When Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas against Geneva Bible type commentaries in the Cranmer and Chancellor volume. The translators were to base their work finally convinced King Henry VIII to authorize on the Bishops’ Bible, but the other major Eng- Above, King James I of England. a Bible for use in the Church of England pulpits, lish versions also were considered including the Myles Coverdale was selected to prepare “The Geneva Bible, and the whole corrected from Below, Bishop Lancelot Andrewes led the Great Bible,” which was released in 1539. original Hebrew, Greek and Early Latin texts. First Westminster Team and acted as the Rogers matriculated at the There were forty-seven known translators, general editor of the overall translation project. University of Wittenberg in 1540. divided into six companies (two at Oxford, two He became a close friend of at Cambridge, and two at Westminster). Each Philipp Melanchthon and other company was assigned specific books of the early Protestant Reformation. On Bible. Each company had to agree on a transla- leaving Wittenberg, he spent four tion, then the books were sent to the other and a half years at a Lutheran companies for review. Then, the Bible was re- church in Meldorf, Germany. viewed by a representative committee sitting in Rogers returned to England in London, where Bishop Lancelot Andrewes 1548. served as a general editor. John Rogers would be martyred The plans for the King James Version of the in 1555 during Queen Mary’s Bible were the most elaborate that had ever reign when she sought to return been devised for any such project. The panel of England to Catholicism. translators was the largest; the rules imposed upon them were the most detailed and the most restrictive. The aim was a scholarly and literary version Bible translator and John Rogers (upper right) produced that would both satisfy the leaders of all ecclesi- the Matthews Bible in 1537. He was burned at the stake (right) in astical parties and evoke universal affection. In 8 1555 for being a Protestant. 13 ond) edition. The Bishops’ Bible failed to tant rule of Queen Elizabeth I. Henry VIII’s The Great Bible achieve its purpose, however, as the Geneva Known as the Rheims Bible, this New Testa- Printed in 1539 by Myles Coverdale, The Bible continued to be the most popular version ment volume had extensive commentary and Great Bible is the first authorized version of the in England. notes along with a Latinate style of English, English Bible. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer But everyone was at least familiar with the rendering it sometimes difficult to read. It was commissioned Myles Coverdale to revise the Bishops’ Bible because it was the official text printed in quarto size, approximately 9 x 11.5. existing Bibles, removing all of the polemical used in all Church of England (Anglican) Twenty-seven years later during 1609-1610, annotations. Coverdale completed the revision church services. the Old Testament in English was produced at in less than two years. the Catholic seminary at the University of The printing began in Paris because at this Rheims-Douai Bible Douai (also spelled as Douay) in the Spanish time there was no press in England capable of Archbishop Cranmer Chancellor Cromwell Some 70 years after the appearance of Low Country (now in France). producing volume of this size, i.e. “Great.” The Protestant English-language Bibles, the These translations were significantly revised French authorities discovered what was being Catholic Church finally produced its own by Catholic Bishop Richard Challoner during done and raided the printing press, but complete English translation from the Latin 1749 - 1752. Coverdale succeeded in smuggling the presses, Vulgate Bible. type, labor and completed sheets across the Since the church had fought for centuries to English Channel, and the Bible was published maintain Latin as the only language for the in 1539. Bible other than original sources in Hebrew The title woodcut is attributed to Hans and Greek, it was difficult to agree to translate Holbein. A benevolent Henry VIII is depicted, it into the vernacular. slightly beneath God, giving the Bible to The English New Testament translation was Archbishop Cranmer and Chancellor Thomas led by Gregory Martin, formerly Fellow of St. Cromwell — with their official coat of arms John's College, Oxford. He was assisted by depicted — and thence to the people. who was the founder of the When Thomas Cromwell fell out of favor English College at Douai, Richard Bristow, with the king and was executed in 1540, his Thomas Worthington and others. coat of arms was carved out of the woodblock Part of the Counter Reformation efforts by leaving a blank circle on the title page of the the Catholic Church, the New Testament was Title page of the second printing. printed in 1582 in Rheims, France (also spelled 1582 Rheims The king authorized it for use in churches, as Rhemes or Reims). These Bibles were part of version of the and copies were chained in all cathedrals so an attempt to re-establish Catholicism in Eng- New Testament that anyone could come and read — but not land where it had been ban under the Protes- Bible. remove it. The Great Bible, 1539. THINK ABOUT IT! THINK ABOUT IT! 1 Evaluate 2 Draw Conclusions 3 Discussion Subjects & 1 Analyze Cause & Effect 2 Explain 3 Discussion Subjects & What was the effect of the Henry VIII’s Great Bible Additional Research What was the effect on the With death threats by the Additional Research long gap between the first and Elizabeth I’s Bishops’ r Geneva Bible population of translating church and monarchy, why r William Tyndale Protestant English language Bible have few margin r John Knox the Bible into common do you think Bible transla- r Henry VIII’s split with Bibles and the publication notes and explanations, as r Protestant Reformation speech? tors went ahead anyway? the Catholic Church in of a Catholic English compared to the Geneva r Counter Reformation How do you think you the 1530s. language Bible? Bible. Why do you think would have reacted? 12 that was? 9 In addition, the Geneva Bible contained maps and illus- Teams of Translators — Geneva, Bishops & Douai-Rheims trations. After a series of English-language Bibles of “Bloody Mary.” Hundreds of English and The main translators were and translated by individuals from imperfect Scottish Protestants fled to the continent to ; other contributors included Christopher sources, the next stage of Biblical translation Protestant controlled areas in Germany and Goodman, Thomas Cole, John Pullain, . was led by teams of scholars from original texts. , especially Geneva. The Geneva Bible became the primary Bible of 16th The first of these team English-language As one exile to Geneva explained, Geneva was century Protestantism and was the Bible used by William Bibles was the Geneva Bible, the most popular “the store of heavenly learning and discipline, Shakespeare, , John Knox, , version during the century from 1560 to 1660. the place where God hath appointed us to dwell.” Pilgrims, and , author of Pilgrim's Progress One goal was to produce an English language (1678). The Geneva Bible Bible more contemporary than the Great Bible, When Catholic Queen Mary assumed the (1539) and more reflective of the things they The Bishops’ Bible English throne, she started a purge, burning were learning under Reformed theologian John When Elizabeth I succeeded her sister Mary, A hand-col- scores of Protestants. It earned her the nickname Calvin. to the throne, she strove a middle ground in ored title page The Geneva Bible of 1560 accomplished the Protestant Anglican Church she headed. of the 1568 many firsts — the first English language The “Bishops’ Bible” of 1568 was a revision Bishops Bible. Bible in Roman (modern) typeface; the first of the Great Bible done by several bishops of team of translators to work on a Bible; the the Church of England under the direction of But the Geneva Bible was unacceptable to first English Bible to number verses — an Queen Elizabeth’s Archbishop of Canterbury, the bishops on account of its anti-episcopal innovation adopted by all following Bibles — (1504 - 1575) (image below). explanatory notes. and the first Bible to have so many explana- The project was undertaken as an attempt to Archbishop Parker launched the new transla- tions or commentaries in the side margins. create an official version that could compete tion to create a more “sober” Bible that would with the Geneva Bible. The Geneva Bible was replace the Geneva Bible and update the Great Title page of 1560 Geneva Bible (far left) and generally acknowledged to be the most accurate Bible of 1539. Prepared by a panel of bishops, a Genesis page (left) with a map locating the version at the time, and it had become far more the translation would prioritized “polite” lan- Garden of Eden in Mesopotamia as well as popular than the officially sanctioned Great guage and excised all polemical marginal notes. sample of explanatory comments. Bible. It was substantially revised in the 1572 (sec-

Archbishop Matthew Parker 10 11