The Historic Bible Collection tour

welcome to the virtual tour

the virtual tour

The books kept in the Historic Bible Collection span centuries of change, charting the work that was done to preserve and translate the Christian message.

In this virtual tour, we’ve included key facts and background details about the most important volumes in the Collection.

This video introduces the oldest Bible copies. You can listen to audio guides about the others.

THE HISTORIC BIBLE COLLECTION

The books kept in the Historic Bible Collection span centuries of change, charting the work that was done to preserve and translate the Christian message.

In this virtual tour, we’ve included key facts and background details about the most important volumes in the Collection.

This video introduces the oldest Bible copies. You can listen to audio guides about the others.

Luther Bible

The Luther Bible in our collection is a spectacular exhibit, with a stunning cover, annotated dedication page and leaves of beautifully-set German text. More than this, however, the story of Martin Luther shows the power of the Bible to challenge human rule.

Martin Luther used his theological work to demonstrate the truth that salvation cannot be paid for, and that the Bible is the only source of divinely-revealed knowledge. The Luther Bible’s German vernacular (common language) allowed normal people to understand what God really says in His message. In turn, this was part of a major religious revolution in Europe.

Key facts

Key facts:

Birth of translator: 1483
Technical enabler: Mechanical printing
Pope at the time: Leo X

Geneva Bible

The Geneva Bible is featured twice in our collection. We have copies from 1599 and 1606. These ancient books pre-date the King James Version, which relied in part on this translation of the Bible.

The name of the Geneva Bible reflects the flight of Protestants from the British Isles to Geneva, where they were safe from the reign of Catholic Queen Mary I. However, the success of this Bible was unhindered, being used by a number of notable figures such as William Shakespeare and John Bunyan. It uses powerful, lively language, and it was also the first Bible to have maps and study notes.

Key facts

Key facts:

Date of our copies: 1599 & 1606
May be known as: Breeches Bibles
Ocean crossed: Atlantic

Rheims Bible

The New Testament Rheims Bible is the counterpart to the Old Testament published by the University of Douai. These French publications form the Douai- (or Douay- ) Rheims Bible. This is still distributed and used, mainly by those in Catholic congregations, but our copy is particularly old.

The Rheims Bible was effectively an admission by the Roman Catholic Church that they should have an authorised edition of the Bible in the language of the common people. The Rheims version used the Latin Vulgate as its base, but the translation had to be revisited by Bishop Challoner to make it more readable.

Key facts

Key facts:

Work authorised: 1582
Full work also has: The Apocrypha
Vulgate version: Clementine Version

other volumes in the collection

Isaiah Scroll

The largest exhibit in our collection, this faithful photographic copy of the Isaiah Scroll holds poignant messages about a troubled Israel in the past, as well as amazing prophecies of the future life and work of Jesus Christ.

The Isaiah Scroll was discovered around 1946-1947 by a Bedouin shepherd in a cave in the Qumran area, now managed as part of a National Park in the West Bank. The message is extraordinarily accurate, with all 66 chapters of the book of Isaiah on record. When examined, the writings in the scroll were found to be approximately 95% identical to more recent Hebrew copies.

Key facts

Key facts:

Date of original: 335-107 BC
Location found: Qumran
Date of our print: Late 20th-21st Century

Leningrad Codex

This copy of the Leningrad Codex displays the oldest existing Hebrew Masoretic manuscript of the entire Old Testament. It is in book form, which is why it has the name “codex”.

Although there is only one original copy, stored in Russia, it’s been reproduced for wider distribution worldwide. The meticulous tradition (Hebrew: masorah) of the scribes means we can be sure of its accuracy.

The Old Testament of the Bible is where we find the foundations of the Gospel Message. Every book shows us the need for salvation, which was promised in the coming of Jesus.

Key facts

Key facts:

Date of original: After 1008 AD
Date of our copy: 1998
Original located in: St Petersburg

Wycliffe's Bible

We have a copy of the Wycliffe Bible from 1810, as well as a more modern transcribed edition. Part of our copy from 1810 is particularly fragile.

John Wycliffe inspired a number of translators to work on a Bible version called the Latin Vulgate, making it available in English. The work of Wycliffe and his followers attracted extreme persecution. Even the name of the group – the Lollards – became a derogatory term.

However, nobody could stop the work to translate the Bible into the people’s language – and also to challenge some “orthodox” teaching.

Key facts

Key facts:

Date of original: 1408 AD (approx.)
Date of our copy: 1810
Original located in: The British Library

Gutenberg Bible

With Gutenberg’s printing innovations came a revolution in book distribution. Although Gutenberg did not translate the Bible from Latin, he did pioneer repeated production of an accurate version without the use of scribes.

The original versions were printed either on paper or vellum (animal skins). The process was labour-intensive at the time. Fittingly, our facsimile copy of the Gutenberg Bible is bound in three heavy, dignified volumes.

The Gutenberg Bible allowed the Bible message to spread further and faster than ever before, showing God’s will.

Key facts

Key facts:

Original scholar: Jerome
Copies left: Around 49
Date of originals: From 1450 AD

Tyndale Bible

William Tyndale was modest but brilliant, starting his university studies at just 12 years old at Oxford. However, he did not always work there, as he then tutored in the Cotswolds. He is said to have declared that a humble ploughboy should be able to gain better knowledge of the Bible than the rich and wealthy.

Tyndale’s unswerving attitude to access to the Bible drove him to translate some of the Old Testament and all of the New Testament, the latter being shown in the replica copy that we have available. Tyndale was persecuted, like many others, but also imprisoned and killed for his work.

Key facts

Key facts:

Date of original: 1526
Translated in: Germany
Tyndale learned: Hebrew, Greek & Latin

King James Version

The King James Version is one of the most iconic Bible translations, still in use by numerous Christians today, providing an especially dignified text both for personal reading and public religious services. Our copy is not an original, but instead it is from the early 20th Century. Copies of various ages are seen across the globe.

The 1604 Hampton Court Conference was convened to seek agreement on the production of one official English translation. The King James Version was finished by 1611. This is why it is also known as the Authorized Version, although various names were initially in use. It reflects Tyndale’s work.

Key facts

Key facts:

Translators used: 47 in 4 groups
Puritan influencer: John Rainolds (Reynolds)
Date of our copy: 1911

what does this mean for you?

In such a short tour, we can’t tell you everything about the way the Bible came to you. However, we’re sure you can see how the timeline of its translation and preservation is full of drama. More than this, we believe the chain of events has created an indelible record of God’s message.

Our Christadelphian community has worked tirelessly to find historic volumes for decades. This collection only has meaning if the message is read and understood. We encourage you to open your Bible and find hope in God’s purpose.