How We Got the Bible, Part Four – Part 4, Our English Bible

How We Got the Bible
Part 4 – Our English Bible
Original Languages
Oldest Translation of O.T.
Oldest Translation of N.T.
Latin Vulgate
Old English Anglo Saxon
Caedmon paraphrase verses 670 A.D.
Bishop Aldhelm – Psalms 700 A.D.
Bede – Four gospels 735 A.D.
Aldred – Lindisfarne Gospels interlinear 950
Alefric – Genesis – Judges 980 A.D.
John Wycliffe
Wycliffe later Condemned
Wycliffe later was condemned as a heretic and his body was dug up and burned.
In 1408, at Oxford, the clergy forbade anyone to translate, or read, an English version of the Bible without the proper ecclesiastical consent.
Gutenberg Bible 1452-55

William Tyndale
Published New Testament in English 1525, smuggled 6000 copies into England
William Tyndale
The true father of the English Bible is William Tyndale.
“The story of Tyndale and his unrelenting efforts to put the Bible in the hands of the people is a story of triumph mingled with tears.”
Miles Coverdale
The completion of the English Bible was reserved to Miles Coverdale.
Matthew’s Bible (1537)
Matthew’s Bible, the work of Tyndale’s friend John Rogers, appeared in 1537.
Taverner’s Bible (1539)
Taverner’s Bible of 1539 was an independent revision of Matthew’s Bible.
The Great Bible - 1539
Edited by Coverdale, it was the first of the English Bibles authorized to be read in the churches.
The Great Bible - 1539
This authorization was given by King Henry VIII, who wanted to have this version of the Bible spread among the people.
Tyndale’s dying plea to “open the King of England’s eyes” was now granted.

The Great Bible - 1539
Tyndale’s dying plea to “open the King of England’s eyes” was now granted.
A copy of the Great Bible was placed in every church in the land.
The Geneva Bible (1560)
Geneva Bible 1560
The Geneva Bible became the Bible for the family just as the Great Bible was the Bible for the church.
It is sometimes called the “Breeches Bible.”
The “Breeches Bible”
The Geneva Bible was not popular with the English church officials.
Its commentary presented the views of John Calvin and the Reformation.
Rheims-Douai Version (1582-1610)
The zeal of Protestant revisions and editions eventually forced into being a Roman Catholic translation of the Bible.
It was translated, however, not from the original languages of Scripture but from the Latin Vulgate.
The King James Version (1611)
Provides a translation for public and private use which was satisfactory to all.
About 48 scholars were selected and their task was not to make a new translation but to revise the 1602 edition of the Bishops’ Bible.
Reasons For Its Supremacy
Greek and Hebrew scholar-ship had made tremendous strides during the 75 years that had elapsed since the time of Tyndale.
Literary scholarship and learning in general at this time were at a high.
The revision was made at an opportune time – a good English translation was needed.
The revision was the work of no one man or party.
Westcott & Hort

English Versions
of the Bible
Some versions should NOT be trusted as careful translations
– The Living Bible: Paraphrased
• Because it was produced by one man (Kenneth Taylor)
• It is a rephrasing of the Bible “thought for thought”
– The Message – Eugene Peterson
English Versions
of the Bible
Some versions should NOT be trusted as careful translations
– The Living Bible: Paraphrased
• “…We started out bad, being born with evil natures, and were under God’s anger just like everyone else.” Eph. 2:3b

English Versions
of the Bible
But even these English versions present the Bible student with differences.
– Different English texts in different versions
• Example: Acts 8:37
• Another example: 1 John 5:7-8
English Versions
of the Bible
I John 5:7-8
– KJV - “7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”
Other Passages in Question
– John 7:53-8:11; Acts 8:37
How We Got the Bible
Part 4 – Our English Bible