Bible in English Wycliffe to King James Junior C Jane Junior A Clare Junior C Joan

Outline Introduction Time line Important persons and Bibles in English Significance of Wycliffe’s Bible & King James Version

Introduction—Background 14th century England Black Death the sale of indulgences local priest only read the Bible in Latin never read the whole Bible

Introduction—John Wycliffe a Roman Catholic priest did not consider the clergy to have any special rights views were grounded in Scripture the Bible rather than the Pope was our ultimate authority translated into their own language

Introduction—John Wycliffe the impetus behind a translation of the NT into English the prime mover in its production the OT was done entirely by others

From Wycliffe to King James: the Period of Challenge small portions of the Bible had been translated into English three problems: (1) all translations from the Latin Vulgate, rather than from the original Greek and Hebrew texts (2) not very good translations (3) were not accessible to lay folks, but were “translation ponies” to help the priests understand the Latin Vulgate better

Time line 1384 AD: Wycliffe is the First Person to Produce a (Hand-Written) manuscript Copy of the Complete Bible; All 80 Books AD: Martin Luther's German New Testament AD: William Tyndale's New Testament; The First New Testament printed in the English Language AD: Myles Coverdale's Bible; The First Complete Bible printed in the English Language (80 Books: O.T. & N.T. & Apocrypha).

Time line 1539 AD: The "Great Bible" Printed; The First English Language Bible Authorized for Public Use (80 Books) AD: The Geneva Bible Printed; The First English Language Bible to add Numbered Verses to Each Chapter (80 Books) AD: The King James Bible Printed; Originally with All 80 Books. The Apocrypha was Officially Removed in 1885 Leaving Only 66 Books.

Wycliffe to King James Important persons & Bibles in English

John Wycliffe –before Wycliffe –first complete English Bible (1384 A.D.) –hand-written –difficult time John Hus was burned at the stake Beginning of the Gospel of John

Johann Gutenberg-- printing press –invented the movable-type printing press (1450’s) –Bibles and other books could be effectively produced William Tyndale –first translated and printed the New Testament in English (1525) –based on the original Greek of the New Testament –a free idiomatic English –influential

Myles Coverdale –printed the first complete Bible in English (1535) –was hired to publish the “Great Bible” for King Henry VIII first English Bible authorized for public use great size

Great Bible published 1539 –a large pulpit folio measuring over 14 inches (35.56 cm) tall

Geneva Bible –added numbered verses to the chapters –was considered the first English “Study Bible” Geneva Bible

Bishops’ Bible –a revision of the Great Bible Rheims and Douai versions –an official Roman Catholic English translation King James Bible (1611) –the most broadly distributed version

Significance 1. Wycliffe’s Bible 2. King James Version

Wycliffe’s translation First complete Bible in English Break down the power structures of the political-religious machinery of the Roman Catholic church. (did not need to rely on the priests to access God. )

King James Version’s signficance Only England has an "authorized version" A king who was also the head of the Church Mostly broadly version The King James Bible has served Christians, and unbelievers for almost 400 years and has brought millions to the life saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for listening!