The Bishops’ Bible is an English translation of the Bible produced under the authority of the established Church of England in 1568. Its purpose was to provide an alternative to the Geneva Bible, which had strong association with Calvinism and Protestant exiles during the reign of Queen Mary I. The Bishops’ Bible was the third official English Bible translation, following the Great Bible of 1539 and the Geneva Bible of 1560.
The Bishops’ Bible was produced by a committee of bishops and scholars appointed by Archbishop Matthew Parker. The committee included bishops such as Edmund Grindal, Richard Cox and Matthew Parker himself. The translation work began in 1563 and was completed in 1568. It went through several revisions between 1572 and 1606.
The Bishops’ Bible takes its name from the bishops who produced and authorized the translation. It was also known as the “Authorized Version” at the time, not to be confused with the King James Version which took on that title later. While officially authorized, the Bishops’ Bible was not as popular as the Geneva Bible and did not replace it in the hearts and minds of many English reformers.
Some key facts about the Bishops’ Bible:
- It was a revision of the Great Bible of 1539, which was the first authorized English Bible translation.
- It was done in response to the Geneva Bible, which had strong Calvinist leanings.
- The goal was to make a new authorized translation that aligned better with Anglican doctrine.
- Archbishop Matthew Parker led the effort and assigned different sections of the Bible to various bishops and scholars.
- The New Testament was completed in 1568, followed by the full Bible in 1572.
- It went through several minor revisions up until 1606.
- The Bishops’ Bible was authorized for use in Anglican churches, though the Geneva Bible remained very popular.
- It had an overtly anti-Catholic tone and contained polemical notes targeting Roman Catholicism.
- The Bishops’ Bible was superseded by the King James Version in 1611.
While produced by Church of England bishops, the Bishops’ Bible was still influenced by Calvinist and Protestant thinking. It contained prefaces and notes that were strongly anti-Catholic. Nevertheless, its language and style were more conservative than the Geneva Bible. The goal was to make something that aligned better with Anglican worship and doctrine.
Some key features of the Bishops’ Bible include:
- Extensive marginal notes and commentary throughout, often of a polemical nature.
- Apocryphal writings grouped and labeled separately from the Old Testament scriptural books.
- More conservatively translated in places compared to the Geneva Bible.
- Deliberate employing of ecclesiastical language, e.g. use of “charity” rather than “love.”
- Engraved frontispiece depicting the Apostles and biblical scenes.
- Quality illustrations and maps throughout.
- Large, readable black letter text in folio format.
Here are some key differences between the Bishops’ Bible and the Geneva Bible it was meant to replace:
- The Bishops’ Bible had more emphasis on ecclesiastical language.
- It contained notes and commentary supporting Anglican positions.
- The Geneva Bible contained more radical Protestant and Calvinist content.
- The Bishops’ Bible used less inclusive language than the Geneva Bible.
- The Geneva Bible was printed in more compact and affordable formats.
- The Bishops’ Bible relied on the Great Bible more than the Geneva Bible did.
- The Geneva Bible’s notes were more extensive.
Despite being officially authorized, the Bishops’ Bible failed to gain traction and widespread acceptance. There were several reasons for this:
- English reformers were partial to the Geneva Bible and its Protestant leanings.
- Multiple editions of the Geneva Bible were more affordable and portable.
- The language in the Bishops’ Bible was considered archaic by some critics.
- Printers favored the Geneva Bible since it had wide demand.
- Readers viewed notes in the Bishops’ Bible as too overtly anti-Catholic.
- The Bishops’ Bible was written more for public reading in churches.
- The Geneva Bible appealed more to personal study and family use.
The Bishops’ Bible ended up having limited impact, though it remained officially authorized for use in the Church of England. The more popular Geneva Bible was printed in over 150 editions between 1560 and 1644. The Bishops’ Bible went through about 20 editions and revisions until being superseded in 1611.
Here is a sampling of key passages from the Bishops’ Bible and how they compare with today’s ESV translation:
Psalm 23
Bishops’ Bible:
The Lord is my shepherd, therefore can I lack nothing.
He will make me to rest in green pasture, and lead me forth besides the waters of comfort.
He shall convert my soul, and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Though I should walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me: thou hast anointed my head with oil, and filled my cup full.
But thy loving kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for a long time.
ESV:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
John 3:16
Bishops’ Bible:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
ESV:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
As these examples demonstrate, the Bishops’ Bible often has a more antiquated style and relies on more ecclesiastical language compared to modern translations. But it established a basis that later Bible versions built upon.
In summary, the Bishops’ Bible was an attempt by the Church of England to make an authorized Bible translation that adhered more closely to Anglican doctrine and push back against the radical Protestant leanings of the widely used Geneva Bible. While approved for church use, it failed to gain popularity and wide readership among everyday people. Nevertheless, it did help move the Bible translation process in England forward and paved the way for the monumental King James Version of 1611 which finally displaced the Geneva Bible.
The Bishops’ Bible illustrates the theological tensions and battles for authority that shaped the English Reformation. It sheds light on the effort by Anglican bishops to craft a Bible that bolstered their positions. Though not widely read today, it is an important part of the history of the English Bible and the shaping of Anglican doctrine and practice.
While surpassed by later translations, the Bishops’ Bible can still enrich our understanding of Tudor religion and politics. It provides insight into an officially sanctioned view of scripture at that time, one more aligned with episcopal authority and emerging Anglican identities. The Bishops’ Bible may not have succeeded as well as the Geneva Bible, but it does represent an influential milestone in the ongoing story of the English Bible.