Matthew's Bible (1537).--The publisher of this version was John Rogers, Chaplain to

the English merchants at Antwerp. It is really a completion of Tyndale's work. It was

dedicated to Henry 8:, and sold by his permission. So that Tyndale's translation,

which the same king had proscribed in 1525, was sold by his permission in 1537. The

Bible, however, was not yet "authorized".

Coverdale was again employed to revise Matthew's Bible, and in 1539-41 produced--

The Great Bible.--In accordance with Cromwell's orders. Copies of this Bible were

set up in all churches and were eagerly read.

The Geneva Bible (1557-1560).--Fugitives from England gathered at Geneva,

attracted there by the great personality of John Calvin and of the great biblical scholar

Beza. Here the Geneva Bible was produced; and it soon became the English Bible,

not to be displaced from its position until the arrival of the Authorized Version. It is of

interest to some to find that Shakespeare's quotations are generally from the Geneva

The Bishops' Bible (1568).--With the accession of Elizabeth to the throne came a

fresh demand for the free reading of the Scriptures, and a revision was made by several

Bishops. On the whole it was not a success, and the Geneva Bible more than held its own

with the people. In 1607 the work on a new version commenced, and in 1611 the

Authorized Version was published.

The Authroized Version (1611).--The A.V. is closely associated with the religious life

of England, and with the very language that we speak, that it would be impertinent to

attempt a judgment upon it at the close of an article. With its publication the history of

the English Bible practically closes.

The Revised Version (1885).--After holding a dominant position for nearly three

hundred years, and wielding an influence beyond computation, a revision of the A.V. was

called for, and in 1885 The Revised Version was published. The revisers had access to

manuscripts unknown in the year 1611. It must be remembered that the A.V. translators

were less proficient in Hebrew than in Greek, so that the R.V. is probably superior in the

matter of O.T. translation. The reception of the R.V. was not enthusiastic, and while it

may be used with considerable profit, it is doubtful whether it will ever occupy the place

held for so long by the A.V.

We will not pursue our subject further. Most readers know that other translations have

appeared from time to time, each having a distinct place in the student's equipment, but

not being of sufficiently universal importance to justify inclusion here.

In this series we have purposely avoided the technicalities of the subject, and have

kept the simpler reader in view. May we all rejoice in that watchful providence that has

so preserved the sacred Scriptures up to this day, and has surrounded us with so great a