The History of the English Bible. Part III

This is the last installment in this series and will discuss the attempts to gain the official approval of the King of England to Present day translations.  The journey of our Bible is one filled with excitement, fury, danger, and devotion.  I pray that everyone will find meaning in the Bible you possess in your hands today.

Vying for the King’s Approval

After Tyndale’s death his work passed to his more political savvy follower Miles Coverdale.  Coverdale was actually able to do a translation that was the first authorized translation in the British Empire.[1]  Many versions followed including a revised version in 1535, The Matthews Bible, then Coverdale’s Great Bible, and a 2^nd edition of the Great Bible known as the Cranmer’s Bible.  All of these different versions were presented for the King’s approval trying to be the one Bible the king would approve. None were ever officially licensed.

Then came along Queen Mary I, Mary intended to return England to the Catholic traditions and intensely persecuted the Protestants.  This led to a gathering in Geneva that led to perhaps one of the greatest Bibles ever printed, The Geneva Bible.[2]

Then when Elizabeth I ascended the throne she returned the nation to the Protestantism and commissioned a new translation which gave us The Bishop’s Bible.  It was never officially licensed, but it was enthusiastically received at first.  The problem was that it was beautiful but not practical and it never caught on.[3]  After falling ill the throne was taken over by King James I.

It was on Monday January 16, 1604 in a conference presided over by King James that John Rainolds made a comment regarding the need for a new translation.  This would lead to the most recognizable names in all the world of Bibles.[4] 

The King James Version was a true committee work. The committee worked from earlier English translations and only used Greek and Hebrew versions for some general guidance.  The work was cautious and careful, using exact guidelines to govern their work.  The Bible was completed in 1611.[5]

The 1^st edition was a large folio that was 16” x 10 ½”

printed on linen and rag paper with chapter titles, summaries, parallel passages, and marginal references.  The Bible was never officially licensed although it had been commissioned by King James.[6] 

     It took considerable time for the King James Version to catch on, but by the mid 17^th century the entire English speaking world used the King James Version.  It reigned for 270 years before it was ever challenged by the English Revised Version of 1881.[7]  Even today the King James argument is often fought in churches, admittedly it is not usually the original 1611 version, but many still hold to the King James Bible.

The English Bible Reproduced

     Throughout history the Bible has been used by every manner of man, as a public symbol of status and wealth, to a private devotion of education and learning.  It has been written on everything from papyrus to animal skin to top grade high quality paper.[8]  What we can see is that the most sought after book in history, has a colorful past.

Men have fought and died to preserve it and ensure others had access to it.  They saw the need for the scriptures to be available for the everyday people in a language they understood.  Today is no different.  Modern translations are needed to help in understanding to update language expression and to promote the comprehension of the Bible.[9] 

     It took centuries to get the Bible in English.  Today it is readily available.  The top ten most influential and best known Bible in English today are[10]:

      1.     King James 1611

      2.     Revised Standard Version 1952 (NRSV 1989)

      3.     New American Bible 1970 (Rev. 1986)

      4.     New English Bible 1970 (REB 1989)

      5.     New American Standard Bible 1971 (Rev. 1995)

      6.     Good News Bible (Today’s English Version 1976)

      7.     New International Version 1978 (Rev. 1984)

      8.     New King James Version 1982

      9.     The Message 1993

    10.     New Living Translation 1996

Today we have a plethora of choices and opportunities to read God’s word.  There is no misunderstanding and there is no excuse.  The Scriptures are available in English and we need to take advantage of the wonderful gift so many gave their life to bring to us through history.

     Oral traditions were part of the heritage of people.  Eventually the need arose for a system to preserve these traditions.  The solution was the creation of alphabets and writing.  This unique ability allowed for the recording of the sacred law and testimony of the nation of Israel.  This law is our Bible.

It went from being written on plants and animal skins to the finest paper available.  In history it was as simple as rolled scrolls of animal skins and later there came giant magnificent books illuminated with extravagant artworks.  Once it was a mystical artifact preserved as an object of worship, but today thanks to the blood, sweat, and tears of many we have access to the greatest story ever told.  The church history would not exist without the history of the Bible.  The Bible defines us as Christians, it guides as disciples, and it has traveled throughout the jagged ravages of time to land in our hands as a testimony to God.

[1] Brake, A Visual History of the English Bible , 112-113.

[2] Ibid., 144-149.

[3] Brake, A Visual History of the English Bible , 164-165.

[4] Ibid., 183-184.

[5] Ibid., 188-191.

[6] Ibid., 195.

[7] Brake, A Visual History of the English Bible , 203-204.

[8] De Hamel, The Book. A History of the Bible , 8.

[9] Brake, A Visual History of the English Bible , 268.

[10] Huber, The Bible: A History the Making and Impact of the Bible , 224-225.