The Geneva Bible GNV 1599 Breeches Bible Large Print: A Historic Treasure of 16th Century English Protestantism

The Geneva Bible, though largely forgotten today, was the most widely read and influential English Bible of the 16th and 17th centuries. It was one of the Bibles taken to America on the Mayflower. Mary I, who was Queen of England and Ireland from 1553 until her death in 1558, earned the sobriquet "Bloody Mary" due to her executions of Protestants. It was her persecution that caused the Marian Exile, which drove 800 English scholars to the European continent, where a number of them gathered in Geneva, Switzerland. There, a team of scholars led by William Whittingham, and assisted by Miles Coverdale, Christopher Goodman, Anthony Gilby, John Knox, and Thomas Sampson, produced The Geneva Bible, based on Greek and Hebrew manuscripts and a revision of William Tyndale's New Testament, which first appeared in 1526. The Geneva Bible New Testament was published in 1557, with the complete Bible appearing in 1560.

The Geneva Bible was a superb translation, produced by the best Protestant scholars of the day, and became the Bible of choice for many of the greatest writers and thinkers of that time. William Shakespeare, John Bunyan, and John Milton all used the Geneva Bible in their writing. The Geneva Bible's widespread popularity and influence during the 16th and 17th centuries can be attributed to its high-quality translation, which was informed by the latest biblical scholarship of the time. Additionally, the Geneva Bible's use of marginal notes and cross-references made it a valuable study tool for readers, further contributing to its popularity and impact.

Despite its historical significance, the Geneva Bible has largely faded from public consciousness in recent centuries, overshadowed by later translations such as the King James Version. However, its enduring legacy as a seminal work of English biblical translation and its influence on some of the greatest literary figures of the era ensure that the Geneva Bible remains an important and fascinating chapter in the history of the Bible and its impact on Western culture.

product information: