Hello Friends!
Published
in 1560, the Geneva Bible’s popularity kept it in print
until 1644 – long after the advent of the Authorized Version (King James
Version). It was an English Bible that met the needs of both clergy and
laity.
Although the Apocrypha is included in this version of God's Word, it has
never been accepted or received as canonized Scripture text by
Protestants.
Perhaps the Geneva Bible’s greatest contribution was its commentary, which
under girded the emerging practice of sermonizing and helped foster scripture
literacy…
The
Geneva Bible of the Protestant Reformation
Sixteenth century English Protestant
scholars were determined to make the scriptures understandable to common
people.
It is well known that a
clergyman hopelessly entrenched in Roman Catholic dogma once taunted William Tyndale
with the statement:
“We are better to be
without God’s laws than the Pope’s”
Tyndale was so infuriated
by such Roman Catholic heresies that he abruptly replied:
“I defy the Pope and all
his laws. If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause the boy that drives
the plow to know more of the scriptures than you!”
The motto of the Protestant Reformation became Post Tenebras Lux – After the
Darkness, Light. This motto meant that truth
– light – was now piercing a dark world that had been taken captive to
mysticism and tradition due to the lack of having access to the inspired Word
of God – to read for themselves.
Queen Mary’s (1553–1558)
persecution of her Protestant subjects caused many to flee the continent to
avoid imprisonment – or execution. Geneva, Switzerland soon became a center for
Protestant biblical scholarship. It was there that a group of the movement’s
leading lights gathered to undertake a fresh translation of the scriptures into
English, beginning in 1556.
The Geneva Bible was the first to feature
many innovations in the field of Bible publishing:
- Text printed in readable roman type; 7pt. typ
- Division of the text into numbered verses
- Italic type used for words not in the original language
- Marks placed over the accented syllables to aid in pronouncing proper names
- Extensive textual and explanatory commentary placed in the margin
- Words/phrases displayed at the heads of pages to promote scripture memorization
- Maps and woodcuts illustrating biblical scenes included
- Sold in a variety of sizes so many people could afford a household Bible
The Geneva Bible accompanied English
settlers voyaging to the new world. It is probable that the Geneva Bible came
to America in 1607 and was used in the Jamestown colony. Thirteen years later
the Pilgrims brought it with them on the Mayflower’s perilous voyage to
religious freedom. The Geneva Bible stands as a landmark in the history of
English Bible translation.
For those of you interested in reading an excellent version of God’s Word, the 1560 Geneva
Bible is an excellent resource. Bible collectors and anyone
interested in the history of the English Bible will treasure this volume. Not
to mention, it makes a priceless addition to the study “arsenal” of the serious
student of God’s Word!
We here at Encouraging Concepts highly recommend this excellent piece
of Christian history - the Word of God
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
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Lighthouse Publications <><
"Dedicated to the Never Ending Search for the Creator's calling within You" (TM)
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