A Visual History of the English Bible: The Tumultuous Tale of the World's Best-Selling Book

A stunning look at the process of transformation from medieval manuscripts to today's contemporary translations! Renowned scholar Brake traces the Bible's journey from the pulpit to the people, supplementing his engaging narrative with more than 100 gorgeous color illustrations. A great gift for history buffs, bibliophiles, or anybody interested in the story of God's Word! 304 pages, hardcover from Baker.

Donald L. Brake (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is vice president and dean of Multnomah Biblical Seminary in Portland, Oregon. A former pastor, Brake lives in Camas, Washington.

"Brake opens up a world of information about the English Bible. I found myself repeating the exclamation, 'I didn't know that!' I have several popular books on the history of the English Bible, but none that so thoroughly addresses the historical background of those hoary tomes of the Reformation era as does Brake's." -Daniel B. Wallace, executive director, Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts

"Compellingly written and richly illustrated. The reader will be drawn into the many twists and turns that the Bible took from the monasteries to the masses." -Charles C. Ryrie, editor, Ryrie Study Bible; author, Balancing the Christian Life, Basic Theology, and Survey of Bible Doctrine

"Brake leads you on a memorable journey through royal courts filled with intrigue, rare book shops in search of treasures, and rigorous scholarly debates in the historic battle over the Bible. You will come away with a far greater appreciation for the English Bible and what countless people throughout the centuries have paid with gold, sweat, tears, and even blood to bring God's Word to us today." -Paul Louis Metzger, PhD, professor of Christian Theology and Theology of Culture, Multnomah Biblical Seminary

The fascinating journey of the Bible from the pulpit to the people

Dozens of English translations of the Bible are available today, but Scripture was not always so easy to obtain. Donald L. Brake invites you to discover the tumultuous tale of how the Bible was transformed from medieval manuscripts read only by clergy to a bestseller widely available in contemporary languages.

From John Wycliffe to King Henry VIII, from the Geneva Bible and the King James Version to the American Revolution and the Civil War, Donald L. Brake brings to life the story of the Bible's transformation into an English bestseller. Along the way you'll meet a number of heroes of the Christian faith who dedicated themselves to preserving and publishing the Scriptures, often at risk to their own lives. You'll also find over one hundred illustrations, helpful explanations of principles in Bible translation and biblical interpretation, and a comparison of today's major new translations. You'll never take your copies of the English Bible for granted again.

That the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God is a fundamental tenet among Christians; the text was originally written, however, in Aramaic, Greek, and Hebrew. The history of the translation of the Bible into English between the 14th and 20th centuries is both a fascinating and a turbulent one. With this profusely illustrated, informed, and concisely written book, Brake (dean, Multnomah Biblical Seminary, Portland) relates that history. In 16 chapters, he employs a descriptive narrative chronological method that treats major issues (e.g., the seven rules for translation), the versions of the Bible (e.g., Geneva, King James, and Douay-Rhemes), and translators (e.g., John Wycliff, William Tyndale, and Myles Coverdale). The text is complemented by color illustrations of important Bible translations (many from the author's own collection), time lines, maps, tables, and digressions describing Brake's personal experiences collecting rare Bibles. Aimed at a broad general audience, its purpose is to trace how the Bible, whose interpretation the church strictly controlled, became available to laypeople through vernacular translation into English, as well as that process's violent, persecution-filled, and tumultuous history. Highly recommended.-Charles Murray, Boston Univ. Sch. of Theology Lib.

Not unlike an epic story, the history of the formation and translation of the Bible is filled with intrigue and adventure, heroes and knaves. Considering how much ink has been spilled about the Bible's purported meanings, it's surprising how few authors have captured the excitement of its evolution from disparate manuscripts to accepted canon to bestselling book. Brake, who is president of Multnomah College and has a Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary, takes the reader on a wonderful journey through several thousand years of history (though the heaviest emphasis is on the 15th century to the present), marking the people, events, and crises through which the Bible has had to pass, finally emerging in our time as a versatile and vital document. Nearly every page contains an illustration, chart or other visual aid to assist the reader. Refreshingly readable and lavishly illustrated, this volume is essential to anyone wanting to understand the Bible and its hazardous journey through the ages. (Sept. 15) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Average Rating:

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Reviewed by Rev. Doyle Peyton (Bellville, Ohio), April 07, 2009

One of the most interesting introductions to this important subject. A lot of key information creatively presented and wonderfully illustrated.

Reviewed by Jean Hilton (Beaverton OR), October 22, 2008

I never knew "history" could be so enjoyable and inspirational. "Visual" is an understatement with the author's original charts, stories, photos, and illustrations. Solid documentation and explanations of views varying from the author's, I believe, would even qualify this as a textbook. Textbook sounds "stuffy" but this book is far from stuffy, using the author's life experiences in his conquest to preserve the history of the English Bible.

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