Observant

erve all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:20).

Observant May, 2011

Publisher: Randy Neal

A History of the English Bible

Introduction Many changes have come to the Neal household since the last time this monthly newsletter went out. We are now residing in Christiana, TN and working with the Mars Hill congregation. We have finally moved into our house after living with my parents for four months (the term short sale does not imply a quick sale). We are still trying to get things organized, slowly but surely. With the price of stamps continuing to rise, I have decided to send this monthly newsletter out by email. For those of you who are not familiar with this publication, I began mailing out a monthly article about four or five years ago (to individuals and churches throughout the southeast). The mailing list grew so large that the postage was getting quite steep (a good problem to have). In time, I plan on starting a website and placing the back issues online. With all of our attention centered

around the devastating tornado damage in Alabama (and other areas) and the record level flooding along the Mississippi River, many in our country have overlooked the fact that this year marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible (1611-2011). Over two billion people recently watched the Royal Wedding in London. Little did these billions realize that the Queen of Great Britain (Elizabeth, Williams grandmother) is the ninth greatgranddaughter of King James VI of Scotland and I of England. We are living in the tenth generation since the publication of the KJV. The apostle Paul writes, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We realize that Gods Divine Word provides us with all things that pertain unto life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). But do we appreciate the sacrifices of many down through the centuries who have given us a copy of the Bible in our modern tongue? The history and story of the making of the English version of the Bible is a remarkable one. Many men paid the highest price for giving us the Bible in English their

lives. But before we begin with a study of the King James Bible, we need to have a better understanding of the history of the English Bible as a whole.

The Anglo-Saxon Translation The earliest record of Christianity upon the British Isles comes from the fourth century A.D. There is a record of three bishops from Britain attending the church Council of Arles (314 A.D.). One of Britains greatest thinkers from this time period is Pelagius (370-450 A.D.), who opposed the teaching of original sin and predestination (argued in favor of by the church father, Augustine). All of these early European theologians wrote in Latin. The great Bible of this time period is Jeromes Latin Vulgate (Vulgate means common). The early history of the English version in the AngloSaxon tongue begins with the historian, Bede, some four centuries after Christianity appears in Britain. Around the time of Bedes death in 735, he produces a translation of the Gospel of John in the Anglo-Saxon tongue (which did not survive). Bede is also credited with writing down Bible stories in poetic form in the Anglo-Saxon language. The

bishop of Sherborne, Aldhelm (who died in 709 A.D.) translates the Psalms into Anglo-Saxon; from this same century, Egbert translates the gospels into the language of the Brits. King Alfred (also known as Alfred the Great, 848-901 A.D.) took part in translating the book of Psalms into Old English, as well as incorporates the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses (from the Pentateuch) into his law codes. Around 950, a priest named Aldred paraphrases into Old English the Psalms. Then around 1000 A.D., Abbot Alfric of Bath translates the gospels. The first translation into Middle English takes place in 1325 when William de Shoreham (of Kent) translates the Psalms into English and so does Richard Rolle (of Hampole) in 1330. 1

Wycliffes Translation The first Bible translated into English (or Middle English as we know of it today) is John Wycliffes New Testament (translated from the Latin) which appears in 1382. Wycliffes desire is for the common man to have a copy of
1 George Arthur Buttrick, Ed. The Interpreters Dictionary Of The Bible, R-Z. (New York: Abingdon, 1962), s.v. English Versions, by J.R. Branton, 760. F.F. Bruce, The Books and the Parchments, 3rd Ed. (New Jersey: Revell, 1963), 211-12.

the Bible in his own hand. Two of his disciples would carry on this work to see the Old Testament eventually published in 1382. Wycliffe dies in 1384 and his body is later exhumed and burned in 1482. Although his version was publically condemned and consigned to the flames, yet his work stands as a beacon which would greatly influence later translations.2

Tyndales Translation William Tyndale was born in 1484, exactly one hundred years after the death of Wycliffe. His work as a translator is significant; there were three events that helped shape the mass productions of the Bible. First, during this time there is a great revival in the knowledge of Hebrew and Greek (the original languages of scripture) languages now available to scholars in Western Europe. Tyndale was a product of this renewed knowledge; he was trained under Classical scholars at both Oxford and Cambridge and was at home in seven languages. Secondly, Luthers posting of the 95 theses on the Wittenberg church door helped pave the way for the Reformation Movement (thus the
2 Interpreters Bible, English Versions, 761.

need to have copies of the Bible in the hands of everyday people who could read the scriptures for themselves and not reserved solely for the clergy). Third, mass production of the Bible would not have been possible without the invention of moveable-type printing by Guttenberg. Up to this time, every manuscript/Bible was handwritten and copied from the first century A.D. until the 1500s. The magnitude of Guttenburgs printing press never hit home to me until Kim and I had the privilege of attending an exhibit in Knoxville (dealing with the history of the English Bible) a few years back where a man from Texas had made a working replica of Guttenbergs press and actually (with the help of Kim) printed a section of the Psalms on a large sheet of paper (which I have hanging in my office).3 Tyndales desire, like that of Wycliffe, was to get a copy of the Bible for everyone to read for themselves. Tyndale once told one of his adversaries (whom he referred to as a learned man), If God spare my lyfe, ere many years I wyl cause a boye that dryveth the plough shall know more of the scripture than thou doest.4
3 Ibid. Bruce, 214. 4 Early Versions, 761.

Tyndale tried to win support and approval for translating the Bible (New Testament) from the original from the bishop of London, Cuthbert Tunstall, but to no avail! Tyndales work was supported by a London business man named Humphrey Monmouth (at a price of 1o pounds). After his year was up, he would end up moving to Germany in 1524 where he would develop a close relationship with Luther (at Wittenburg) and fulfill his dream of translating the New Testament (which was finished in Hamburg, Germany, in 1525). Tyndale would latter on smuggle 3,000 copies of his New Testament into England (which the Archbishop tried to buy up and burn up). Tyndale began work on translating the Old Testament, but only finished the Pentateuch and the book of Jonah. While living at the English House in Antwerp (a British merchants club), he was betrayed by a friend and put to death (by strangulation) and his body was burned on October 6, 1536. Tyndales last words were, Lord, open the King of Englands eyes.5

became an ordained priest in the year 1514. He was an Augustinian friar who lived in their house in Cambridge. He left the order in 1528 due to his reformist beliefs. He fled England for Antwerp because his teachings concerning images and transubstantiation (the belief that the bread and wine become the literal body and blood of Christ in the Lords Supper) flew in the face of church teaching at this time. He would return to Britain in 1535.6 Although not a Greek and Hebrew scholar like Tyndale, he went on to become the first translator to finish the complete English Bible (Old and New Testament) in 1535. Miles Coverdale became acquainted with Tyndale at Hamburg, Germany. Coverdale was in good standing with King Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell (a political figure who helped him receive approval to publish his version). In his 1537 edition, Coverdale indicates that the king had given him the license to publish the Bible.7 One area in which Coverdale parted company with Tyndales
6 Matthews Bible, A Facsimile of the 1537 Edition, Combining the Translations of William Tyndale & Myles Coverdale, Edited by John Rogers. Introduction by Dr. Joseph W. Johnson. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2009), ix. 7 Ibid.

Coverdales Bible Miles Coverdale was born in York, England in 1488 and
5 Ibid, 762.

version is that Miles restored many of the ecclesiastical terms which William Tyndale rejected as not being faithful rendering of the original text. Coverdale also omitted some of the harsh and controversial marginal notes that were found in Tyndales version.8

Matthews Bible The Matthews Bible of 1537 can be viewed as a key step in the sixteenth century development of the English Bible. The Latin Vulgate was still the Bible authorized in the Catholic Church and the language of the upper class. The ability of the common man to know and understand scripture was largely limited to what they heard in church services.9 This version appears (probably in Antwerp) in 1537 under the name of one Thomas Matthew, but the real identity is believed to be the work of John Rogers. Rogers was a 1525 graduate of Oxford and worked as chaplain at the English merchants house in Antwerp (a close friend of Tyndale who mentored Rogers). Following the death of Tyndale, Rogers assembled and printed the entire Bible into English in 1537.
8 Ibid. 9 Matthews Bible, viii.

This version contained all of Tyndales work (the Pentateuch, Joshua-2 Chronicles, Jonah, and his New Testament of 1534) and Coverdales work to fill in the gaps that Tyndale had not completed. Rogers also included the apocryphal book, the Prayer of Manasseh, included marginal notes, a church calendar, an article that encouraged people to study the Bible, a concordance, and a summary of the chief doctrines of the Bible.10

The Great Bible Church authorities were not happy with the new Matthews Bible (either due to Tyndales influence upon this translation or due to the harsh marginal notes inserted by Rogers), so Cromwell urges Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, to produce a new English Bible. Miles (Myles) Coverdale is given the responsibility by the church to
10 Ibid, ix. English Versions, 761. While the name Tyndale was anathema to the King of England, the Bible uses the name Thomas Matthew which carried no baggage. Rogers does sneak in a passing reference to Tyndale; at the end of the book of Malachi, he inserts the letters, WT, probably as a tribute to William Tyndale. Matthews Bible, x.

produce another version.11 This version is known as the Great Bible due to the size of the Bible. No publisher in England had presses that could handle the 15x9 inch paper (13 x 8 text), so Coverdale goes to France to the King, Francis I (at the request of Henry VIII) to find a publisher for the Great Bible. The renowned publisher, Regnault, accepts the challenge. Work on the new version began in 1538 and was completed in the spring of 1539. Cromwell urged the clergy for the Bible to be set up in summe convenient place within the church that ye may have care of, whereat your parishioners may most commodiously resort to the same and read it.12 This Bible became so popular among the church goers that the clergy were upset over their ability to read and interpret scripture for 13 themselves.

About the same time the Great Bible is completed, a scholar by the name of Richard Taverner makes a revision of Tyndales version. Taverner was an Oxford graduate (a Greek scholar). The Old Testament portion follows closely the Matthews Bible and the New Testament clearly shows the editorial hand of one who knew the Greek text. Taverners translation is noted for being the first complete Bible printed in England since it appeared before the Great Bible.14

The Geneva Bible

The period of 1525-39 is a time of religious toleration (under the reign of Henry VIII) when there were many translations and Bible versions were published. However, there was a Catholic backlash which caused Henry VIII to change his religious tolerance. This Catholic rebellion led to Cromwells execution in 1540. The king of England forbade anyone from reading the Bible, or else be punished by imprisonment.15 Following the death of Henry VIII, his son, Edward VI (a Protestant supporter), worked to restore the Bible to the people. King Edward
14 Ibid. 15 English Versions, 764.

Taverners Bible
11 English Versions, 763. Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1533-1556. He was the religious leader that spearheaded moderate doctrinal reform and supported an official translation of the Bible. George Thomas Kurian, Ed. Nelsons New Christian Dictionary, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001), 212. 12 Ibid, 764. 13 Ibid.

was supported in his efforts by Englands Archbishop Cranmer. Those English reformers who fled Great Britain during Henrys reign began to return during Edwards reign. Unfortunately, his kingship was cut short and Mary Tudor (Queen of Scotts, i.e., Bloody Mary) ascended to the throne in 1553. Mary was a staunch Catholic and undermined Edwards religious reforms. Some 3oo religious reformers and students of the Bible were executed by Queen Mary (including Archbishop Cranmer and the great translator John Rogers).16 Cranmer opposed Mary Queen of Scotts ascension to the throne (he supported Lady Jane Grey) and because of his actions Cranmer was tried and convicted and condemned to death for treason.17 During this time of persecution, Miles Coverdale fled the country to Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva was home of Thedore Beza and John Calvin. William Whittingham, Calvins brother-in-law, became the successor to the great preacher, John Knox, at the English congregation in Geneva. Whittingham played the key role in the preparation and publication of the Geneva New Testament Bible in 1557. Both
16 Ibid. 17 Nelsons New Christian Dictionary, 213.

the Old and New Testament were finally published in 1560. This version became known as the Breaches Bible because of the way the translators rendered Genesis 3:7 (Adam and Eve sewed for themselves breeches of fig leaves).18 The Geneva Bible is really a revision of Coverdales Great Bible. Tyndales translation played an important part in the Geneva Bible. While the New Testament portion of the Geneva Bible was largely a revision of William Tyndales version, yet the Old Testament portion of the Geneva version was a revised thoroughly based upon the Hebrew text. The marginal notes were Protestant polemics against the Catholic Church. In Revelation 9:11, for example, the pope is branded as being the angel of the bottomless pit and the Anti-Christ, the King of hypocrites, and the ambassador of Satan.19 With the ascension to the throne of Queen Elizabeth (who was a great supporter of Protestantism), the Geneva Bible was dedicated to her Majesty. The much smaller size, easier to read text type (Roman rather than the Old
18 English Versions, 764. The verse reads, They sewed figge tree leaves together and made themselves breeches, Genesis 3:7. 19 Ibid.

English or block text type), and the cost being much less expensive than earlier Bibles made this a popular version among the common man. Yet the Geneva Bible did not replace the Great Bible in congregational use; these two Bibles stood side by side until the publication of the Bishops Bible. The popularity of the Geneva Bible is evident that she went through 140 different editions and was not surpassed until the 1611 King James Version. The Geneva version was read by Oliver Cromwell and his army, the Pilgrims/Puritans, the signing of the Mayflower Compact was based upon the Geneva Bible, was read by John Bunyan, William Shakespeare, and even King James I.20

for the English clergy. Third, since the Bible was so popular among the lower classes of society that ecclesiastical leaders thought the Geneva Bible was politically incorrect to use from the pulpit.21 The Archbishop of Canterbury (Parker) determined that a new translation was needed to be used in the churches. He gathered a committee together to produce a new version that was based upon the Great Bible, except in places where this older translation varied greatly from the original Hebrew and Greek.22 The work on the Bishops Bible (named because this version was translated and authorized by English bishops) began in 1564 and completed in 1568. The translators of the Old Testament portion did not do a good job in making the passages flow smoothly; the Old Testament was a much more stiff or wooden rendering difficult to read. The New Testament was vastly 23 superior in readability. Some classify this as the fourth revision of Tyndales Bible. For some unknown reason, Queen
21 Daniel Wallace, The History of the English Bible: Part I: From Wycliffe to King James (The Period of Challenge), www.bible.org. English Versions, 765. 22 English Versions, 765. 23 Wallace.

The Bishops Bible

While the Geneva Bible remained the version popular among the common people, the Great Bible continued to be used from the church pulpit. There are two reasons why the Geneva Bible was not allowed to be read from English pulpits. First, the Geneva version was a much superior translation than the version it replaced (the Great Bible). Secondly, the Geneva Bible was viewed as being too Calvinistic
20 Ibid, 764-65.

Elizabeth never granted an official approval for the Bishops version. Yet the church did officially endorse this translation (by bishops and archbishops) at the 1571 Convocation. While this version never caught on, the Bishops Bible did go through nineteen editions and remained in print until 1606 (replaced by the KJV). Thus the Bishops version became the basis for the Authorized or King James Version of 1611.24

portions of the Psalms and a paraphrase of Revelation). In January of 1604 (some sources say this conference was called in October of 1603), James I calls a conference of ecclesiastical leaders to Hampton Court to try and iron out some differences between the church and the Puritans. During this meeting, a suggestion was made by the Puritan leader and president of Corpus Christi College, Oxford (Dr. Reynolds), that the English Bible be revised.26 Reynolds proposal struck a chord with the King of England. James began to think himself of the good that might ensue by a new translation, and presently after gave order for this translation.27 King James declared on February 10, 1604, that a new translation of the Bible be undertaken (based upon the original languages) to be used by all the people in the services of the churches of England. The King specified that the Bible was to be read only in church services and that the Bible was to contain no marginal notes. Then in July of 1604, King James appointed 54 scholars from the following churches/schools: Westminster Abbey, Cambridge, and Oxford. The translators work was to be reviewed by church bishops and scholars and then to
26 English Versions, 766. 27 Ibid.

The King James Bible

Queen Elizabeth dies in 1603, but during her reign she put an end to the Catholic controversy within the Church of England. The idea of translating the Bible into English was finally accepted by both Protestants and Catholics (the Catholic version was known as the Douay or Douai Version, 1609-10). When King James VI of Scotland and I of England came to the throne of England (son of Queen Mary), he had already ruled Scotland for thirty-seven years.25 James was a deeply religious man who had great interest in Bible translations (he himself had attempted translating
24 Wallace. English Versions, 765. 25 Daniel B. Wallace, The History of the English Bible Part II: The Reign of the King James (The Era of Elegance), www.bible.org.

be ratified by Privy Council and by royal authority. Among the translating committee, there were Anglicans, Puritans, and laymen. The committee was to be divided up into six different groups; four groups worked on the Old Testament, and two on the New Testament. They way the groups divided up the different sections of the Bible are as follows: one Westminster group took the Pentateuch to 1 Chronicles; one Cambridge group took 2 Chronicles through the book of Ecclesiastes; the other Cambridge group took the rest of the Old Testament up to the Apocryphal book the Prayer of Manasseh and the rest of the Apocrypha;28 the other Oxford group took the four gospels, Acts, and Revelation; the other Westminster group took the New Testament epistles. The translators of the KJV also came up with a set of 15 rules to guide them in their translation process (which is followed even today in translating the Bible). The word did not actually begin
28 When many Bible students do not know is that most versions of the Bible still contained the Apocryphal books up to this time. The first KJV to remove the Apocrypha is the 1769 Major Revision (and the last, I might add, of the Middle English spelling and the first to be put into the language we are familiar with today) by Dr. Blaney (also known as the Oxford Bible).

until 160729 In addition to following closely the original Hebrew and Greek text, the translating committee relied heavily upon previous versions, such as the works of Tyndale, Coverdale, and several other Latin versions as well as German translations (the bulk of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts were not discovered until the 19th and 20th century, the oldest Hebrew manuscripts up to that time were from the 9th century A.D.; not until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls do you have copies of the Old Testament the date prior to the first century A.D.). In reality, then, the K.J.V. is not a new English Translation, but a revision of those that came before them, especially that of William Tyndales 1525 New Testament.30 Their goal in this new English translation is as follows: But it is high time to leave them, and to shew in brief what wee proposed to our selves, and what couse we held in this our persuall and survey of the Bible. Truly (good Christian Reader) wee never thought from the beginning, that
29 English Versions, 767. 30 The New Testament in Four Versions: King James, Revised Standard, Phillips Modern English, New English Bible, Christianity Today, 10th Ed. Washington, DC: Christianity Today, Inc., 1970, xii of the preface to the RSV.

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we should neede to make a new Translation, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one but to make a good one better, or out of many good ones, one principall good one, not justly to be expected against; that hath bene our indeavor that our marke. The translators of the KJV did not condemn the translators and version that came before them, but looked upon their past accomplishments as a foundation upon which to base their present work.31 The King James Version utilized the chapter division of Stephen Langton, archbishop of Canterbury in the thirteenth century, and the verse divisions of Robert Estienne of 1551.32 As we find first with the Geneva version, each verse was printed as a paragraph.33 T The finished product is presented to the public in 1611. The introduction to the 1611 King James Bible reads as follows: To the Most High and Mightie Prince, James by the grace of God King of Great Britaine, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. The Translators of The Bible, wish Grace, Mercie, and Peace,
31 www.kingjamesbibleonline.org. See the Introduction to the 1611 Edition of the K.J.V. 32 English Versions, 768. 33 Ibid.

through Jesus Christ our Lord.34 The original 1611 English Bible was not called the KJV nor the Authorized Version (1814 is the earliest date on record of this version being called either the King James Version or the Authorized Version).35 The original Bible was simply titled, The Holy Bible Conteyning the Old Testament, And The New, Newly Translated out of the Originall tongues 36

Conclusion This study could easily continue into the other great English translations in both Great Britain and America (some which are not quite as well known), but especially the English Revised Version of 1881 which led to the American Standard Version of 1901 (and some, might say, the A.S.V. was the foundation stone to many of the other great th translations of the 20 and 21st centuries). Hopefully this overview will cause us to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the countless men who helped
34 www.kingjamesbibleonline.org. 35 www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Me dia-Press-Kit-400th-Anniversary/. 36 www.kingjamesbibleonline.org.

give us the word of God in our own language. To quote from (and adapt somewhat) a song made popular on the Country Music charts a few years ago, All translators gave some, but some translators gave all. Yes, some paid the highest price they paid with their own blood. The history of the English Bible, you might say, was written in ink and blood.37 Randy Neal -

Harvard University, to name just a few). Barclay, William. The Making of the Bible. Edinburgh: The Saint Andrew Press, 1961, 1979. Bruce, F.F. The Books and the Parchments, 3rd Ed. New Jersey: Revell, 1963. Buttrick, George Arthur, Ed. The Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, R-Z. New York: Abingdon, 1962. S.V. English Versions, by J.R. Branton: 760-771. Hall, Isaac H. History of the King James Version Edition of the Revised New Testament. Philadelphia: Hubbard Brothers; Atlanta: C.R. Blackall & Co.; New York: A.L. Bancroft & Co., 1881. Hastings, James, Ed. Dictionary of the Bible. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1909. S.V. English Versions, by Sir Frederic G. Kenyon. Kurian, George Thomas, Ed. Nelsons New Christian Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001. Lightfoot, Neil R. How We Got The Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988. Matthews Bible, A Facsimile of the 1537 Edition, Combining the Translations of William Tyndale & Myles Coverdale, Edited by John

Bibliography Picture on Front Courtesy of: <a href= James Bible Online<la>. There are many wonderful sites on the internet where one can go a view these ancient Bible versions. Several of our private and state universities have websites where you can view these treasures (University of Chicago, University of Michigan,
37Dr. William H. Noah, Ink & Blood: Dead Sea Scrolls to the English Bible. The Museum Exhibit Of The Bible. Commemorative Exhibit Catalogue. Murfreesboro: ACO, LLC., 2005, 5. Dr. Noah is a physician who has spent his own money to purchase a substantial library of facsimile Bibles and original old and rare Bibles. Kim and I saw this wonderful exhibit a few years back in Knoxville (also shown in Murfreesboro and a few other cities). I have been privileged to see many of these ancient Bibles in libraries and museums around the world (my favorite being the British Museum in London).

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Rogers. Introduction by Dr. Joseph W. Johnson. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2009. Metzger, Bruce M. The Geneva Bible of 1560, Theology Today. Vol. 17, No. 3, October 1960: 339352. Noah, Dr. William H. Ink & Blood: Dead Sea Scrolls to the English Bible. The Museum Exhibit of the Bible. Commemorative Exhibit Catalogue. Murfreesboro: ACO, LLC., 2005. The New Testament in Four Versions: King James, Revised Standard, Phillips Modern Speech, New English Bible, Christianity Today, 10th Ed. Washington, DC: Christianity Today, Inc.: 1970. Walker, Williston and Richard A. Norris, David W. Lotz, Robert T. Handy. A History of the Christian Church, Fourth Ed. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1985 (Especially Chapter Nine, The English Reformation.). Wallace, Daniel B. The History of the English Bible, Part I. From Wycliffe to King James (The Period of Challenge), www.bible.org. Wallace, Daniel B. The History of the English Bible, Part II. The Reign of King James (The Era of Elegance), www.bible.org. www.kingjamesbibleonline.org.

There are numerous other sources I could have cited, but I am still in the process unpacking my library!

Celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the King James Version Bible!

This picture is used courtesy of the kingjamesbibleonline.o rg. I would invite you to go to their website for other helpful information.

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