History of the English Bible

English Translations of the Bible

1384—John Wycliffe was the first to translate the entire Bible into English

1455—John Gutenberg produced the first printed Bible.

Was a copy of the Vulgate (Jerome’s translation from 400 AD)

Printed in Gothic type—42 lines on each column of the 1282 pages.

There are 47 existing copies remaining of the original 200 printed.

1534-36—William Tyndale was an English reformer who translated the NT based on Luther’s German version. This was the basis of the KJV.

1539—Great Bible by Miles Coverdale.

1557—William Wittingham produced the first English NT in Roman type & w/text divided into verses.

1560—a revision to Wittingham’s bible would become known as the Geneva Bible.

1568—Bishop’s Bible—done by Archbishop Parker & 8 other bishops.

1611—King James Version—a revision of earlier English translations (Bishop & Geneva)

1884—Revised Standard Version—brought about to recognize the changes in English since 1611.

1901—American Standard Version

1971—Living Bible—a paraphrase into simple English by Kenneth Taylor

1976—Good News Bible—another paraphrase Bible.

1977—New American Standard Version—revision of the ASV

1978—New International Version

1982—New King James Version—a modernization of the KJV.