History of the English BibleFamily FellowshipMay 18, 2014

Early Church – before “English”First Five Centuries – over 500

translations.AD 600 – “Latin only” decree by

the Pope.AD 900 – Began to enforce the

“Latin only” decree.

Translation into Gothic

Translation by Ulfilis

Precursors to English Bible-or- It happened this way…

The Norman ConquestMajor changes in

Language.Infusion of

French“Word splits”

(like beef and veal.)

“God lufode middan-eard swa, dat he seade his an-cennedan sunu, dat nan ne forweorde de on hine gely ac habbe dat ece lif.“

John 3:16Wessex Gospels, 995 AD

Major FactorsCorruption of the churchCourage of scholars to oppose it“Personal Piety” movementSins of Henry 8th

Invention of the printing press with moveable type.

Overview of Bible Development

History is the shadow of great men.• Wycliffe• Gutenberg• Erasmus• Tyndale

WycliffeSuperb scholar –

poor politicianAuthority of

ScriptureTranslated from

the VulgateIdeas carried to

Bohemia by John Hus

Johann GutenbergFirst to print with

movable typeFirst book so

printed was Latin Bible

Died broke – business partner

ErasmusCollated and

cross checked several Greek manuscripts

Produced a parallel Greek/Latin New Testament.

Inadvertently gave us the “Textus Receptus”

TyndaleFirst Bible

printed in English (using Erasmus)

Burned at the stake

Three years after his death, Henry 8th commissions the “Great Bible”

“Official” BiblesAuthorized by Somebody!

Henry 8th No Divorce? No

problem!Created Anglican

ChurchCommissioned

Myles Coverdale to create “Great Bible”

Followed by “Bloody Mary”

Geneva BibleNot authorized –

but prompted King James

First to have chapters and verses!

Extensive, biased notes

Printed 1560 – popular for about 100 years

King JamesInvented

committee translation

No doctrinal footnotes

“The Bible of the English Speaking Peoples”

Baskerville spelling reform 1769

Modern VersionsA large number!

New International VersionBenefits

◦ Differing Versions – by footnotes.

◦ 6th grade reading level

◦ Phrase by phrase translation

◦ “Seeker Friendly” (politically correct)

◦ Most used from the pulpit

Drawbacks Pro-homosexual

bias “Gender neutral”

Other Modern TranslationsNew American Standard, etc.Bible in Basic English (special

needs)Paraphrases such as Living BibleUpdated King James