History of the English Bible Timeline

1,400 BC: The first written Word of God: The Ten Commandments delivered to Moses.

500 BC: Completion of All Original Hebrew Manuscripts which make up The 39 Books of the Old Testament.

200 BC: Completion of the Septuagint Greek Manuscripts which contain The 39 Old Testament Books AND 14 Apocrypha Books.   Septuagent (LXX) – Greek translation of the Hebrew.  72 Jewish scholars translated in 72 days in Alexandria.   Reminiscent of the 72 elders with Moses in the presence of the lord (Exodus 24:9-11.  The very first translation of the Hebrew Bible was made into Greek, probably as early as the third century BC. This, the so-called Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek, is traditionally dated to the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt (285-246 BC).

1st Century: Completion of All Original Greek Manuscripts which make up The 27 Books of the New Testament.

185-254: Origen Hexapla (Sixfold) – This book is one of the earliest examples of textual criticism and scholarly apologetics, as well as a true interlinear Bible. The Hexapla is formatted in six columns: one column of Hebrew text in parallel with five columns of various Greek translations. Origen’s purpose in compiling this was to counter Gnostic and Jewish attacks on early Christianity. This work also provided Christians with a comprehensive guide to the Old Testament. The original is estimated to have been more than 6,500 pages long and took more than 28 years to complete.  Lost between 4th and 7th centuries.  Only fragments exist today. 

Codex invented – The basic form of the codex was invented in Pergamon in the third century B.C.E. Rivalry between the Pergamene and Alexandrian libraries had resulted in the suspension of papyrus exports from Egypt.

315: Athenasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, identifies the 27 books of the New Testament which are today recognized as the canon of scripture.

c.360: Codex Sinaiticus – The Sinai Bible, the world’s oldest Bible, discovered in 1844 by Constantine Tischendorf in a monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai.

382: – 405 AD: Jerome’s Latin Vulgate Manuscripts Produced which contain All 80 Books (39 Old Test. + 14 Apocrypha + 27 New Test).  Pope Damasus, assigned Jerome to translate to standard Latin. Vulgate = vulgata or Common.

397: Roman Catholic canon approved at the Council of Hippo

4th Century: Codex Vaticanus – The Codex Vaticanus, designated by siglum B or 03, δ 1, is a Christian manuscript of a Greek Bible, containing the majority of the Greek Old Testament and the majority of the Greek New Testament. It is one of the four great uncial codices.

400:  Codex Bezae – The Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis, designated by siglum Dea or 05 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts), δ 5 (in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts), is a bi-lingual Greek and Latin manuscript of the New Testament written in an uncial hand on parchment. It contains most of the four Gospels and Acts, with a small fragment of 3 John. 

5th Century: Codex Alexandrinus – designated by the siglum A or 02, δ 4, is a manuscript of the Greek Bible, written on parchment. Using the study of comparative writing styles, it has been dated to the fifth century. It contains the majority of the Greek Old Testament and the Greek New Testament. British Library.

440: Roman legions withdraw from Britain.

450: Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus – (Paris, National Library of France, Greek 9) designated by the siglum C or 04 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts), δ 3 (in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts), is a manuscript of the Greek Bible, written on parchment. It contains most of the New Testament and some Old Testament books, with sizeable portions missing.

450: Anglo-Saxon invasions and settlement of Britain displace the native Celts in the south.

500: Scriptures have been Translated into Over 500 Languages.

597: Pope Gregory sends missionaries to Ethelbert of Kent, in the southeast of Britain.

600: LATIN was the Only Language Allowed for Scripture.

629: Mohammed becomes ruler of Mecca in Arabia, publishes the Koran.

633: Christian churches in Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem are seized by Mohammedans and turned into mosques.

669: Theodore of Tarsus becomes archbishop of Canterbury, promotes episcopal hierarchy and Roman culture in the south of Britain.

670: The herdsman Caedmon in northern Britain composes poems based on Biblical narratives in Old English.

700: Beowulf, Nordic epic poem, written about this time.

715-720: The Lindisfarne Gospels (London, British Library Cotton MS Nero D.IV) is an illuminated manuscript gospel book probably produced in the monastery at Lindisfarne, off the coast of Northumberland, which is now in the British Library in London. The manuscript is one of the finest works in the unique style of Hiberno-Saxon or Insular art, combining Mediterranean, Anglo-Saxon and Celtic elements.

768: Charlemagne begins rule in France.

825: Vespasian Psalter gives interlinear Old English translation.

856: Danes begin large scale invasion of eastern Britain. Destruction of monasteries there.

878: King Alfred halts Danish invasion, divides Britain by treaty. Danes inhabit northeast half of Britain.

900: Paris Psalter gives Old English version of the first fifty Psalms.

924: Ethelstan becomes King and pursues conciliation and fushion with the Danes. Oda (a full-blooded Dane) appointed archbishop of Canterbury.

950: The Masoratic Text  – The Masoretes were a group of Jewish scribes and scholars who worked from the 5th to 10th centuries CE. They were based in medieval Palestine, Iraq, and Tiberias and Jerusalem.  They worked to reproduce the original text of the Hebrew Bible, adding vowel signs to “YHWH”. They also established a system to ensure that the text of the Hebrew Bible was transmitted accurately.

950: Aldred (Bishop of Durham) writes Old English between the lines of the Lindisfarne Gospels.

970: Faerman (Priest in Yorkshire) makes the first Old English version of the Gospel of Matthew in the Rushworth Gospels, based upon Aldred’s gloss.

995: Anglo-Saxon (Early Roots of English Language) Translations of The New Testament Produced.

1000: England overwhelmed by new invasion of Danes. King Ethelred flees to allies in Normandy. Aelfric (Abbot in Oxfordshire) translates abridged Pentateuch and several other portions of Scripture into Old English. Wessex Gospels give first Old English version of all four gospels.

1042: King Edward, brought up in Normandy, attempts to Normanize the English Court, appoints a Norman archbishop. Godwin (Earl of Wessex) opposes him and causes the deposition of the archbishop.

1054: The Great Schism, Roman Catholic and Eastern Greek Orthodox.  Latin west would dominate.

The Mass becomes the main source of scripture.  Publishing the bible was expensive, difficult and took a long time.

1066:  The Norman Conquest, middle English (used by Poet – Geoffrey Chaucer).  Norman conquest of Britain, sponsored by Pope Alexander II, destroys Old English literature, makes Norman French the language of the nobility.

1150: Old English yields to Middle English as the common language of Britain.

1200: Orm composes poetical paraphrase of Gospels and Acts in Middle English.

1300: Midland Psalter gives metrical version of the Psalms in Middle English.

1309: Pope Clement V moves the headquarters of the Papacy from Rome to Avignon under domination of the French King.

1320: Richard Rolle’s Middle English Psalter.

1330: Birth of John Wyclif.

1340: Birth of Chaucer.

1348: English replaces Latin as the medium of instruction in schools (except at Oxford and Cambridge).

1360: Various gospel narratives translated into Middle English.

1362: English replaces French as the language of law in England. English used for the first time in Parliament.

1377: Pope Gregory XI moves the Papacy back to Rome.

1378: French Cardinals create schism in the Roman Catholic Church by electing a rival Pope and returning to Avignon. Rival popes excommunicate one another.

1380: Oxford professor John Wyclif publicly rejects Roman doctrine of transubstantiation, begins translating Latin Vulgate into English.

1381: Peasants revolt in England. They seize London, but are soon overcome.

1382. Wyclif expelled from his teaching post at Oxford for heresy. Completes translation of Bible with help of his students.

Early 1300 to late 1400’s – Biblia Pauperum, wood cut prints with plant based paper. “Poor Man’s Bible”.  34 to 48 scenes with an explanation. 

1384 AD: The Wycliffe Bible- John Wycliffe(1330-1384) is the First Person to Produce a (Hand-Written) manuscript Copy of the Complete Bible; All 80 Books. Made from the Latin Vulgate.  Wycliffe could not read Greek or Hebrew.  250 copies survive today.  Wycliffe translated Jacob in the NT (latin-lakobus, Hebrew-Ya’akov) as James, unless referring to the OT Jacob.

1384: Death of Wyclif. His disciples continue to preach against the clergy, copy and sell manuscripts (mostly the Gospels).

1388: Wyclif Bible revised by his student John Purvey.

1400: Death of Chaucer.

1401: English parliament decrees the burning of heretics. Statute is aimed against the followers of Wyclif, called Lollards

1407:  by 1407 the Wycliffe translation was outlawed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Wycliffe was declared a heretic on May 4, 1415 at the Council of Constance, and his writings were ordered to be burned.

1408: Arundelian Constitutions enacted by Convocation of bishops at Oxford forbids unauthorized translation, distribution, or public reading of the Scripture.

1411: Bonfire of Wyclif’s writings at Oxford.

1415: John Hus, the radical Bohemian reformer and advocate of Wyclif’s anti-clerical teachings, is burned at the stake.

1417: Concil of Constance elects Martin V as Pope, and ends Roman Catholic schism.

1450: Middle English yields to Early Modern English as the common language of Britain about now.

1453: Moslems take Constantinople. Great exodus of Greek scholars from there to Western Europe, bringing with them Greek manuscripts of the Bible.

1453: Fall of Constantinople – Greek scholars and manuscripts began to arrive in Europe

1455: Moveable Type Printing Press – Gutenberg Invents the Printing Press; Books May Now be mass-Produced Instead of Individually Hand-Written. The First Book Ever Printed is Gutenberg Bible in Latin.

1456: First printed book: Gutenberg Bible, containing the Latin text.

1466: Birth of Erasmus.

1476: First English book printed by William Caxton (The Recital of the Histories of Troy, translated from French).

1478: Caxton prints Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

1483: Birth of Martin Luther.

1484: Birth of William Tyndale.

1485: Henry Tudor becomes king Henry VII of England.

1488: Birth of Miles Coverdale. • Hebrew Old Testament first printed by Jews at Soncino, Italy.

1489: Birth of Thomas Cranmer.

1491: Greek first taught at Oxford University.

1496: John Colet gives lectures on Romans at Oxford.

1499: Erasmus at Oxford.

1500: Birth of John Rogers.

1504: Birth of Matthew Parker.

1505: Birth of Richard Taverner. • Birth of John Knox. • Luther enters the Augustinian Order.

1506: New Cathedral of St. Peter begun in Rome (completed in 1590).

1509: Henry VIII becomes king of England. • Birth of John Calvin. • Erasmus professor of Greek at Cambridge University.

1510: William Tyndale at Cambridge.

1514: Coverdale ordained.

1514: First completed New Testament of the Complutensian Polyglot Bible.  The Complutensian Polyglot Bible is the first multilingual printed edition of the entire Bible.  The printing was done between 1514 and 1517, but it was not until 1520-after receiving authorization from Rome-that the book was distributed.

1515: Luther begins lectures on Romans at Wittenberg University. • Tyndale gets M.A. degree at Oxford.

1516: Erasmus’ first Greek New Testament (First printed Greek New Testament).

1516: Erasmus (Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus) was a Dutch Christian humanist, Roman Catholic Priest and theologian, educationalist, satirist and philosopher). Produced a Greek/Latin Parallel New Testament. Did not have complete book of Revelation.  Produced 5 editions before Erasmus dies in 1535.  First 2 editions did not have the Comma Johanneum (1John 5:7), Erasmus attacked because it is based on the Latin Vulgate.  Erasmus Greek NT was used by Tyndale.

1517: Pope Leo X decrees preaching and sale of indulgences for the benefit of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. • Luther nails his 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg on October 31. Reformation era begins.

1517: Complutensian Polyglot Old Testament completed. 

1518: Septuagint printed by Aldus in Italy. • Zwingli begins Reformation in Switzerland.

1519: Erasmus’ 2nd Greek New Testament • Birth of Theodore Beza.

1520: Luther excommunicated. • Tyndale goes home to Gloucester, begins translating.

1520: Complutensian Polyglot published.  Multiple languages, Hebrew, Latin Vulgate, Greek Septuagint.

1522: First edition of Martin Luther’s German New Testament • Parker at Cambridge. • Complutensian Polyglot (including Septuagint, Vulgate, Hebrew Old Testament) published. • Erasmus’ 3rd Greek New Testament • Tyndale goes to London in search of financial help.

1524: Tyndale leaves England for Germany. • Peasants revolt in Germany. • William Whittingham born.

1525: Tyndale’s English New Testament (first printed English text) published in Germany. • Rogers gets B.A. degree at Cambridge.

1525: Tyndale Bible New Testament – William Tyndale’s (1494-1536) Ne; The First New Testament printed in the English Language. 1525, 1526, 1534.  The Father of the English Bible.  Knew many languages.  Believed the Vulgate was translated incorrectly.  1524 went to Cologne, Germany (Catholic City). Only a single copy of the Cologne Translation of the first 22 chapters of Matthew exists today.  Escapes to Worms, Germany

1526:  Worms Germany Tyndale NT Bible published. Only 3 complete copies survive.  Tyndale responsible for such translations as: Passover, scapegoat, atonement and Jehovah (YHWH) – Adonai.  Copies of Tyndale’s New Testament enter England, many burned.

1527: Erasmus 4th Greek “Novum Testamentum” completed.

1528: Coverdale preaches against the mass, is compelled to leave England.

1529: Tyndale and Coverdale work together at Hamburg. • Luther’s Small Catechism. • Cranmer commissioned by king Henry to write a treatise justifying his divorce from Catherine.

1530: Augsburg Confession.

1531: Tyndale’s Pentateuch is published. • Zwingli killed in battle – Huldrych or Ulrich Zwingli was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland, born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swiss mercenary system.

1533: Cranmer made Archbishop of Canterbury, approves Henry’s divorce.

1534: Tyndale Bible again published.  83% of the 1611 KJV Bible relies on this text

1534:  King Henry VIII breaks ties with the Roman Catholic Church and forms the Anglican Church

1534: Tyndale’s New Testament and Pentateuch revised. • Henry VIII excommunicated by the Pope, severs English churches from Rome, becomes head of the Church of England without any intention of reforming it. • Cranmer petitions Henry for creation of an authorized English version. • Luther’s first complete German Bible. • Anabaptists establish short-lived socialist community at Münster. • Geneva becomes independent Protestant commonwealth.

1535: Coverdale Bible- Myles Coverdale (c.1488-1569); The First Complete Bible printed in the English Language (80 Books: OT, NT & Apocrypha). Coverdale was an assistant of Tyndale, former Augustinian Friar who eventually became the protestant Bishop of Exeter.  Moved Apocrypha to back of the Bible. 

1535: Tyndale’s last revised New Testament • Tyndale betrayed to Roman Catholic authorities, charged with heresy and imprisoned. He continues to translate the historical books of the Old Testament • Erasmus’ 5th edition of the Greek New Testament.

1536:  Tyndale burned at the stake – “Lord. Open the King of England’s Eye’s”

1537: Matthew Bible; The Second Complete Bible printed in English. Done by John “Thomas Matthew” Rogers (80 Books) in Germany, giving Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament, Pentateuch, and historical books of the Old Testament.  Tyndale’s New Testament reprinted in England. • Tyndale condemned. He commits his manuscript to his friend John Rogers, and is burned at the stake. • Calvin publishes his Institutes of the Christian Religion.  • John Calvin preaches in Geneva. • Matthew’s and Coverdale’s Bibles licensed for unhindered sale in England.

1538: Coverdale in Paris editing Great Bible. • English bishops instructed to display largest English Bible in parish churches.

1539: The “Great Bible” Printed; The First English Language Bible Authorized for Public Use (80 Books). Myles Coverdale, also known as Cranmer’s Bible.  15” x 9”.  First Authorized English Bible by the King of England. Great Bible (dedicated to Henry VIII) published and authorized in England.

1539. Coverdale returns to England • English parliament adopts the Act of Six Articles, reaffirming various Roman Catholic teachings. “Lutherans” subjected to persecution.

1539: The Taverner Bible, A revision of Matthew’s Bible, in which the sharply Protestant notes are omitted or toned down. 

1540: 2nd edition of Great Bible with preface of Cranmer, called Cranmer’s Bible. • Coverdale, under pressure as a “Lutheran,” leaves England again.

1543: English Parliament bans Tyndale’s version and all public reading of Bible by laymen.

1545: Council of Trent convened.

1546: Robert Estienne (Stephanus), printer – First Greek New Testament (last Bible without verses).  John Calvin’s printer.

1546: Death of Luther. • Council of Trent decrees that the Latin Vulgate (with Apocryphal books) is authoritative version of Scripture. • Henry VIII bans Coverdale version. • Stephens publishes his first Greek New Testament.

1547: Death of Henry VIII. • Edward VI becomes king of England. • Parliament repeals the anti-Protestant Act of Six Articles and removes restrictions on printing and reading of English versions. Cranmer begins Protestant reformation of the Church of England. • Coverdale, Rogers return to England. • John Knox preaches Reformation in Scotland.

1549: English Book of Common Prayer compiled by Cranmer. • Stephens’ 2nd Greek New Testament

1550: Stephanus 3rd Greek New Testament, designed by Garamond (from the font fame).  1551 edition of the Textus Receptus (which added verse numbering to the 1550 edition).

1551: Last edition of Matthew’s Bible. • Coverdale appointed bishop of Exeter. • Stephens’ 4th Greek New Testament

1552: John Knox refuses offer to become an English bishop.

1553: “Bloody” Mary Tudor becomes queen of England. • Last edition of Coverdale Bible.

1553: Queen Mary returns England to its former Roman Catholic loyalties.  Burned John Rogers alive at the stake as the first martyr.

1554. Mary reverses the reforms of Edward and enforces Romanism in England. • Knox leaves England for Geneva.

1555. John Rogers burned at the stake. • Cranmer burned at the stake. • Coverdale and other leading Protestants flee England for Geneva. • Peace of Augsburg ends wars between Lutherans and Romanists in Germany, legitimizes Lutheranism.

1555: Stephanus Latin Vulgate with verse numbers.  Also dropped the use of heavy dark font “Traditional Gothic Blackletter” in favor of Latin or “Roman Letters”. 

1556: Beza’s Latin New Testament

1557: William Whittingham’s English New Testament published in Geneva. English exiles there begin work on English Old Testament

1558: Elizabeth becomes queen of England.

1559: Elizabeth repudiates Romanism. Act of Supremacy makes her head of Church of England. Romanist bishops expelled. Coverdale and other leading Protestants return to England. Matthew Parker made Archbishop of Canterbury.

1560: The Geneva Bible with revised New Testament published by Whittingham in Geneva. The First English Language Bible to add Numbered Verses to Each Chapter (80 Books). Used Latin Letters.  Dedicated to Queen Elizabeth.  1557 NT, 1560 whole bible. Verse divisions, chapter headings, maps, tables, marginal notes.  Also known as the Breeches Bible – Rendering in Genesis where Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. • Whittingham returns to England. • Knox’s Scots Confession ratified by the Scottish parliament.

1563: Whittingham made Dean of Durham. • Archbishop Parker and eight of his bishops begin work on the “Bishops’ Bible.” • Thirty-nine Articles of Religion adopted as doctrinal standard for Church of England. • Heidelberg Catechism published. • Apostolic Constitutions (ancient book of church order and dogma, purporting to be from the apostles) published by the Jesuit Turrianus.

1564: Death of John Calvin. • Birth of Shakespeare.

1565: Theodore Beza Greek New Testament

1566: Last edition of Tyndale’s New Testament

1567: Mary Stuart abdicates throne of Scotland, is succeeded by her son James under Protestant regency.

1568: Bishops’ Bible (dedicated to Elizabeth) published by Archbishop Parker, and authorized for church use.

1568: The Bishops Bible Printed; A revision of the Great Bible of 1539. The Bible of which the King James was a Revision (80 Books). 1576 and 1599 expanded commentary and footnotes added.

1569: Last edition of Cranmer’s Great Bible. • Death of Coverdale.

1571: Every bishop and cathedral in England ordered to have Bishops’ Bible.

1572: Bishops’ Bible revised and published with the old Great Bible Psalter. • Antwerp Polyglot published. • Death of John Knox.

1575: Death of Taverner and Parker. Parker succeeded as Archbishop of Canterbury by the strongly Calvinistic Edmund Grindal, who actively promotes the Geneva Bible during the next eight years.

1578: Martin begins Rheims version of the New Testament (authorized Roman Catholic version, translated from the Vulgate).

1579: Geneva Bible reprinted and authorized in Scotland. Every Scotch household of sufficient means is required by law to buy a copy. • Death of Whittingham.

1580: Lutheran Formula of Concord.

1582: Rheims NT – Catholic English Bible (translated from the Latin) published by English Roman Catholics living in France. 1582 New Testament, Douay OT – 1609/10 Old Testament.  Reaction to the Geneva Bible.  • Beza’s 2nd Greek New Testament

1583: Grindal succeeded by John Whitgift as Archbishop of Canterbury.

1587: Death of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots.

1588: Destruction of Spanish Armada.

1589: Beza’s 3rd Greek New Testament

1592: Sixtine-Clementine Latin Bible.

1598: Theodore Beza – 4th Textus Receptus (Novum Testamentum. 4th folio edition) was published in Geneva in 1598.

1599: Geneva Bible updated

1602: Last edition of the Bishop’s Bible updated, the 1602 edition was prescribed as the base text for the King James Version that was completed in 1611.

1603: James I made king of England.

1604: English bishops and Puritan leaders meet with King James in the Hampton Court Conference. Revision of Bishops’ Bible proposed to become official bible of England. King James nominates revision committee of 54 scholars. • First English dictionary published by Robert Cawdry.

1605: English Romanists attempt to blow up Parliament in the “Gunpowder plot,” arousing great and lasting public indignation against Rome. • Death of Theodore Beza.

1607: Work on King James Bible begun.

1608: Pilgrim Fathers leave England for Holland.

1609: Douay-Rheims- The Douay Old Testament is added to the Rheims New Testament (of 1582) Making the First Complete English Catholic Bible; Translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by English Roman Catholics (80 Books). Only authorized English Bible for Catholics until the 20th century. 

1611: The King James Bible Printed; Originally with All 80 Books. The Apocrypha was Officially Removed in 1885 Leaving Only 66 Books. Based on the Greek texts of Erasmus, Stephanus and Beza or the “Textus Receptus”. KJV translators relied more on Beza when differences appeared. 

1615: Archbishop Abbot forbids printing of the Bible without Apocrypha.

1616: Birth of John Owen. • Death of Shakespeare.

1618: Beginning of Thirty Years War on Continent.  The Thirty Years’ War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, lasting from 1618 to 1648. Fought primarily in Central Europe, an estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of battle, famine, or disease, while parts of modern Germany reported population declines of over 50%.

1619. Synod of Dort condemns Arminianism as heresy, propounds five points of orthodox Calvinism.

1620. Pilgrims land at Plymouth.

1624: Elzevir’s Textus Receptus, Abraham and Bonaventure Elzevir.  The Elzevir’s published three editions of the Greek New Testament. The dates being; 1624, 1633 and 1641. The Elzevir text is practically a reprint of the text of Beza 1565 with about fifty minor differences in all.  First to be called “The Received Text” in the advertisements for this edition.  • Louis Cappel publishes his opinion that the vowel points of the Hebrew text were added by rabbis in the fifth century.

1625: Charles I (Romanist) made king of England.

1627: William Ames’ Marrow of Theology spreads knowledge of Dutch Covenant Theology in England.

1633: Elzevir’s 2nd Greek New Testament • William Laud (Romanist) is made Archbishop of Canterbury, begins to persecute Puritans. Forbids importation of the Geneva Bible.

1643: Puritan Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defense of Religion sworn throughout Scotland and England.

1642: Parliament raises an army and makes war against the despotic king Charles and his Romanizing bishops. • Brian Walton (Romanist) deprived of office. • Parliament closes theaters of England.

1643: Westminster Assembly convened.

1645: Archbishop Laud put to death.

1647: Westminster Confession published.

1648: Parliament adopts the Westminster Confession of Faith, establishing Calvinistic doctrine and presbyterianism in England. • Buxtorf assails Cappel’s view of the Hebrew vowel points. • Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years War on the continent, legitimizes Calvinism.

1649: King Charles I put to death. Cromwell rules as “Protector of the Commonwealth.” • John Owen (Puritan) preferred to offices. • George Fox disrupts church service in Nottingham, begins preaching Quakerism.

1650: Louis Cappel’s book advocating critical reconstruction of the Hebrew text is published in Paris by his son Jean, after turning Roman Catholic. Publication of the work had been prevented by Cappel’s opponents in Protestant lands.

1651: Thomas Hobbes’ The Leviathon.

1657: Brian Walton publishes the London Polyglot with revision of Hebrew vowel points, several ancient versions, and appendix of various readings of the Greek manuscripts.

1658: Death of Cromwell. • John Owen deprived of office.

1659: Walton’s Polyglot assailed by John Owen.

1660: Monarchy restored with king Charles II. • Walton made a bishop.

1662: New England churches begin to admit unconverted members under the “Half-Way Covenant.”  Half-Way Covenant, religious-political solution adopted by 17th-century New England Congregationalists, also called Puritans, that allowed the children of baptized but unconverted church members to be baptized and thus become church members and have political rights.

1665: Great Plague of London kills over 68,000.

1666: Great Fire of London.

1667: Milton writes Paradise Lost.

1675: John Fell’s Greek New Testament with critical annotations. • Helvetic Consensus Formula maintains verbal inerrancy of Scripture, extending to vowel points in the traditional Hebrew text (against Cappel and Walton).

1678: Bunyan writes Pilgrim’s Progress.

1679: Publication of the first volume of Francis Turretin’s Institutio Theologiae Elencticae.

1683: Death of John Owen.

1685: Death of Charles II. He is succeeded by a Roman Catholic king, James II.

1688: James II deposed by Parliament, and replaced by William of Orange, with regulation for Protestant succession and greatly enlarged powers of Parliament. Threat of Romanism forever ended in England.

1689: Toleration Act of parliament grants freedom of worship to all Protestants except Unitarians. • Richard Simon (French Roman Catholic) publishes first treatise on textual criticism in Paris.

1690: John Locke publishes his Essay concerning Human Understanding.

1695: Abolition of censorship in England. • John Locke publishes The Reasonableness of Christianity as Delivered by the Scriptures.

1697: Blasphemy Act of Parliament bars Unitarians, Deists and atheists from public office.

1702: Publication in London of the first regular daily newspaper in English.

1703: Daniel Whitby, A Paraphrase and Commentary on the New Testament, containing the Gospels, the Acts, all the Epistles, with a discourse of the Millenium. 2 vols. London, 1703. The second volume of this paraphrase of the New Testament was first published as A Paraphrase and Commentary upon all the Epistles of the New Testament in 1700. Whitby was a learned Arminian controversialist, who after 1712 advocated Arian views. His most famous work was an anti-Calvinist treatise entitled A Discourse concerning the True Import of the Words Election and Reprobation, etc. (London: John Wyat, 1710)

1704: Publication of Sir Isaac Newton’s Optics marks the point at which significant scholarly work begins to appear in English instead of Latin.

1705: Humphrey Hody’s De Bibliorum textis originalibus (“On the Original Text of the Bible”) thoroughly examines the text of the ancient versions and the ancient canon of Scripture.

1707: John Mill’s annotated Greek New Testament displays 30,000 various readings of the Greek manuscripts. • England and Scotland are united under the name of United Kingdom of Great Britain.

1711: William Whiston’s Primitive Christianity Revived.

1714: Death of Matthew Henry.

1720: Richard Bentley publishes his Proposals for critical revision of the Greek New Testament

1725: Johann Albrecht Bengel publishes his prospectus for a critical revision of the Greek New Testament

1726: Jeremiah Jones publishes first English translation of several “apocryphal New Testament” books in his New and Full Method of Settling the Canonical Authority of the New Testament.

1729: American Presbyterians constitute first Synod in Philadelphia, requiring subscription of ministers to “essential and necessary” doctrines of the Westminster Standards.

1729: [Daniel Mace], The New Testament in Greek and English, Containing the Original Text Corrected from the Authority of the most Authentic Manuscripts: And a New Version Form’d agreeably to the Illustrations of the Most Learned Commentators and Critics: with Notes and Various Readings, and a Copious Alphabetical Index. 2 vols. London: for J. Roberts, 1729. → Further information.

1730: Wettstein’s treatise on textual criticism.

1734: Bengel’s revised Greek New Testament with notes. • Alexander Pope’s Essay on Man.

1739: John Wesley organizes the first Methodist Society, begins widespread preaching.

1740: Frederick the Great becomes king of Prussia. German culture flourishes under his patronage. • George Whitefield draws large crowds in revivalistic preaching tour of American colonies.

1741: Jonathan Edwards preaches Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. • George Frideric Handel composes The Messiah.

1742: Bengel’s Greek textual commentary. • Height of “Great Awakening” revivalism in America.

1743: First Bible printed in America at Germantown, Penn. (Luther Bible). • Revivalist James Davenport instigates public bonfire of Puritan books. End of “Great Awakening.”

1745: William Whiston, The Primitive New Testament. Stamford and London, 1745. In this revision of the KJV Whiston adopts the readings of the three earliest (“primitive”) manuscripts which were then known to scholars. The Gospels and Acts are revised according to the Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis, the Pauline epistles according to Codex Claromontanus, and the rest according to Codex Alexandrinus. Whiston’s source of information for the readings of these manuscripts was the apparatus of Mill 1707.

1746: John Taylor, A Paraphrase with Notes on the Epistle to the Romans: to which is Prefix’d a Key to the Apostolic Writings, or an Essay to Explain the Gospel Scheme, and the Principal Words and Phrases the Apostles have Used in Describing it. Dublin: John Smith, 1746. Published on the internet by Google Books in 2008.

1750. Richard Challoner, The Holy Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgat: diligently compared with the Hebrew, Greek, and other editions in divers languages, and first published by the English College at Doway, Anno 1609 : newly revised, and corrected, according to the Clementin edition of the scriptures : with annotations for clearing up the principal difficulties of Holy Writ. [Dublin?], 1750. → Further information.

1750: Jonathan Edwards forced from his pastoral office for withholding Communion from the unsaved. • Death of Johann Sebastian Bach.

1755. John Wesley, Explanatory notes upon the New Testament. London: William Boyer, 1755. Reprinted 1757, with further editions in 1760, 1790, and 1837. The 1790 reprint, in which the notes were eliminated, was published under the title, The New Testament, with an Analysis of the several Books and Chapters (London: at the New Chapel, 1790). John Wesley’s New Testament revises the KJV with use of Bengel’s Greek New Testament • Samuel Johnson publishes his comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language. → Further information.

1756. Philip Doddridge, The Family Expositor; or, a Paraphrase and Version of the New Testament; with Critical Notes; and a Practical Improvement of each Section. First published in 6 volumes from 1739 to 1756. Volume 1, “Containing the Former Part of The History of our Lord Jesus Christ, As recorded by the Four Evangelists, Disposed in the Order of an Harmony,” was printed by John Wilson in London, 1739. Volume 2, continuing the Gospels, appeared in 1740. Volume 3, containing the Acts of the Apostles, was printed by J. Waugh, 1748. Doddridge died in 1751, but he had completed the whole work in manuscript, and the remaining volumes were published by J. Waugh under the care of Job Orton. Volume 4, containing the Epistles to the Romans and Corinthians, was published in 1753; volumes 5 (Galatians to Philemon) and 6 (Hebrews to Revelation) appeared in 1756. There were many subsequent reprint editions.

1764. Anthony Purver, A New and Literal Translation of All the Books of the Old and New Testament; with Notes, Critical and Explanatory. 2 Vols. London: W. Richardson and S. Clark, 1764. → Further information.

1768. Edward Harwood, A Liberal Translation of the New Testament; being An Attempt to translate the Sacred Writings with the same Freedom, Spirit, and Elegance, With which other English Translations from the Greek Classics have lately been executed … with select Notes, Critical and Explanatory. 2 Vols. London, 1768. → Further information.

1769: “Oxford Standard Edition” of King James version published.

1771: Francis Asbury arrives in America.

1774: Griesbach’s critically revised Greek Testament.

1775: J.S. Semler (the German “father of rationalism”) advocates re-examination of the Biblical canon in his Treatise on the Free Investigation of the Canon. • American Revolutionary War begins.

1776: Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations.

1782: Robert Aitken’s Bible; The First English Language Bible (KJV) Printed in America.

1783: American Revolutionary War ends. • First daily newspaper in America begins in Philadelphia.

1784: Ethan Allen’s Reason the Only Oracle of Man rejects the authority of the Bible. • John Wesley organizes Methodists as a separate denomination in the American colonies, prepares his Twenty-Five Articles of Religion for their constitution. Francis Asbury appointed as general superintendent.

1785: New York’s first daily newspaper begins.

1786: Woide publishes facsimile of Codex Alexandrinus.

1788: Birch’s collation of Codex Vaticanus in the Gospels published.

1789: Federal Constitution ratified by American states. • French Revolution begins.

1789. George Campbell, The four Gospels, translated from the Greek. With preliminary dissertations, and notes critical and explanatory. 2 vols. London: A. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1789. After Campbell’s death (1796), a “second edition with the author’s last corrections” was published in Aberdeen by J. Chalmers & Co. in 4 volumes, 1803-04.

1790. William Gilpin, An Exposition of the New Testament; intended as an introduction to the study of the Scriptures, by pointing out the leading sense and connection of the sacred writers. London: for R. Blamire, 1790. 2nd edition, 1793. A paraphrastic modern speech version.

1790: America has eight daily newspapers.

1791: Death of John Wesley.

1791. Gilbert Wakefield, A Translation of the New Testament. 3 Vols. London: Philanthropic Press, 1791. 2nd edition, 1795. Reprinted 1820. Featured a paragraphed text with verse numbers in the margin. Wakefield was a prominent Unitarian minister.

1791: Isaac Collins and Isaiah Thomas Respectively Produce the First Family Bible and First Illustrated Bible Printed in America. Both were King James Versions, with All 80 Books.

1793: Reign of Terror in France. • Eli Whitney invents the Cotton Gin.

1795: Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason bitterly attacks the Bible and Christianity.

1795. Thomas Haweis, A Translation of the New Testament from the original Greek. Humbly attempted with a view to assist the unlearned with clearer and more explicit views of the mind of the Spirit in the Scriptures of Truth. London: printed for T. Chapman, 1795. An original version by one of the founders of the London Missionary Society.

1795. James MacKnight, A New Literal Translation from the Original Greek, of All the Apostolical Epistles: With a Commentary, and Notes Philological, Critical, Explanatory, and Practical. In Four Volumes. To which is Added a History of the Life of the Apostle Paul. Edinburgh and London, 1795. First published in four volumes from 1787-1795. A second edition, in six volumes, was published in London by Longmans & Co., 1806, and in Boston by W. Wells and T.B. Wait & Co., 1810. Reprints of the second edition in one large volume were later published in Philadelphia, 1835 and 1841. The most recent reprint (of the one-volume edition) was issued by Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, 1984. The text of MacKnight’s translation, minus the notes, was reprinted in The New Testament Translated from the Original Greek, by G. Campbell, P. Doddridge and J. MacKnight. London: John Lepard, 1818. This text was revised by Alexander Campbell for his edition of the New Testament published in 1826. Another similar edition containing MacKnight’s translation, unrevised, was published in London by Wightman and Cramp in 1827.

1796. William Newcome, An Attempt toward revising our English Translation of the Greek Scriptures, or the New Covenant of Jesus Christ; and toward illustrating the sense by philological and explanatory notes. 2 Vols. London: for J. Johnson; Dublin: John Exshaw, 1796. A revision of the KJV by Archbishop Newcome, based on the text of Griesbach 1774. This was the first English version to represent Griesbach’s new critical text. → Further information.

1796: Griesbach’s 2nd Greek New Testament

1797: First Sunday newspaper in America begins in Baltimore.

1798: Birch publishes collation of Codex Vaticanus for entire New Testament • Napoleon wages war in Egypt and Palestine.

1798. Nathaniel Scarlett, ed., A Translation of the New Testament from the Original Greek, humbly attempted by Nathaniel Scarlett, assisted by men of piety and literature. London: Printed by T. Gillet; F. & C. Rivington, 1798. The collaborating “men of piety and literature” were all of Universalist convictions. They included James Creighton (Anglican), William Vidler (Universalist), and John Cue (Sandemanian).

1800: Birth of John Nelson Darby, first theologian of modern Dispensationalism.

1801: “Plan of Union” adopted by American Presbyterians and Congregationalists for cooperative ministry in frontier districts. • Barton Stone directs giant camp meeting revival at Cane Ridge in Kentucky, sparking “Second Great Awakening” in America.

1802: Marsh publishes English translation of Michaelis’ Introduction (basic source of text-critical information for English scholars).

1803: U.S. purchases Louisiana territory (Great Plains) from France, doubles in size.

1804: Napoleon declared Emperor in France.

1805: Griesbach’s last Greek New Testament • Unitarian control of Harvard College becomes evident with the appointment of Henry Ware to Chair of Divinity.

1807: Slave trade abolished in England.

1808: “Improved” Version of the New Testament published by Unitarians in England.

1808. [Thomas Belsham et al.,] The New Testament, in an Improved Version, upon the Basis of Archbishop Newcome’s New Translation: with a Corrected Text, and Notes Critical and Explanatory. London: Richard Taylor & Co., 1808. An American edition was distributed by William Wells of Boston in 1809. A fourth London edition “with corrections and additions” was printed by Richard and Arthur Taylor in 1817. This Unitarian revision of Newcome’s version (1796) provoked much indignation when it appeared. → Further information.

1808: Jane Aitken’s Bible(Daughter of Robert Aitken); The First Bible to be Printed by a Woman.

1808. Charles Thomson, The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Covenant, Commonly called the Old and New Testament; Translated from the Greek, by Charles Thomson, Late Secretary to the Congress of the United States. 4 vols. Philadelphia: Jane Aitken, 1808. Thomson was secretary of the Continental Congress from 1774-1789. Volumes 1-3 present the first English translation of the Septuagint. The Old Testament was reprinted by S. F. Pells in 1904 (London: Skeffington), and revised by C. A. Muses in 1954 (Indian Hills, Colorado: Falcon’s Wing).

1812. London has 18 Sunday newspapers.

1813. English Parliament extends Toleration Act (cf. 1689) to cover Unitarians.

1814. Richard Laurence (English Archbishop) publishes defense of the traditional Greek text against Griesbach.

1815. Nolan publishes defense of traditional Greek text against Griesbach. • Napoleon defeated by British and German armies at Waterloo.

1816. Death of Francis Asbury.

1819. Political agitation leads to labor riots in Manchester, put down by troops. • Revivalist movement known as the Second Great Awakening underway in America. • William Channing publicly espouses Unitarianism in his “Baltimore Sermon.” • U.S. purchases Florida from Spain.

1820. William Hone publishes in popular and inexpensive form a collection of early Christian writings under the title Apocryphal New Testament. • America has forty-two daily newspapers.

1821. Richard Lawrence publishes English translation of The Book of Enoch. • Death of Thomas Scott.

1823. Abner Kneeland, H KAINH DIAQHKH. The New Testament, in Greek and English; the Greek According to Griesbach; the English upon the basis of the fourth London edition of the Improved Version, with an attempt to further improvement from the translations of Campbell, Wakefield, Scarlett, MacKnight, and Thomson. In Two Volumes. By Abner Kneeland, Minister of the First Independent Church of Christ, called Universalist, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Abner Kneeland, 1823. This Greek-English diglot gave side-by-side the Greek text of Griesbach 1805 and a revision of Thomas Belsham’s English version (1808). Also in 1823 Kneeland issued The New Testament: Being the English Only of the Greek and English Testament, etc., in one volume. Like Belsham, Kneeland was a Unitarian, and also a Universalist. He changed several verses of Belsham’s version according to his own opposition to the doctrine of eternal punishment. He later renounced Christianity altogether, and became a deist. For a discussion of his version see Paul Gutjahr, An American Bible, pages 95-100.

1824. Premiere of Beethoven’s Choral Symphony in Vienna. • First steam-powered cylinder newpaper press in America.

1825. American Unitarian Association formed at Boston.

1826. Alexander Campbell, ed., The Sacred Writing of the Apostles and Evangelists of Jesus Christ, Commonly Styled The New Testament. Translated from the Original Greek, by George Campbell, James MacKnight, and Philip Doddridge, Doctors of the Church of Scotland. With Prefaces to the Historical and Epistolary Books; and an Appendix, Containing Critical Notes and Various Translations of Difficult Passages. Buffaloe, Virginia: Alexander Campbell, 1826. → Further information.  . • British and Foreign Bible Society stops printing Apocrypha.

1827. Charles Finney emerges as leading American revivalist.

1828. Alexander Greaves, The Gospel of God’s Anointed, the Glory of Israel, and the Light of Revelation for the Gentiles: or, the Glad Tidings of the Service, Sacrifice, and Triumph of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God; and of the gracious and mightily operative powers of the Holy Spirit, which were the first-fruits of that labour of divine love: being a recent version, in two parts, of the Christian Greek Scriptures (commonly called the New Testament) in which is plainly set forth the New Covenant promised by God through Moses and the Prophets. London: A. Macintosh, 1828.

1828. John Gorham Palfrey, The New Testament in the common Version, conformed to Griesbach’s Standard Greek Text. Boston: Gray & Bowen, 1828. Third edition, 1830. Palfrey, a Unitarian, published this version anonymously. It is a revision of the King James version in accordance with Griesbach 1805. This is perhaps the earliest example of a scholar’s attempt to fully inform the public at large of the results of the new textual criticism pioneered by Griesbach. → Further information.

1828. Noah Webster publishes his American Dictionary of the English Language. • Liberal English journalists called “a fourth estate of the realm” by essayist Thomas Macaulay.

1829. Catholic Emancipation Act removes legal disabilities of Romanists.

1830. Scholz’s Greek New Testament published. • Revivalist movement known as the Second Great Awakening reaches its high point in America. • John Nelson Darby leads the Plymouth Brethren movement in Dublin. • Alexander Campbell breaks with American Baptists to found the independent “Restoration Movement” in America. • Joseph Smith publishes The Book of Mormon in New York.

1831. Karl Lachmann publishes first thoroughly revised critical Greek New Testament

1832. English Parliament adopts Reform Bill, extending voting rights to the middle class.

1833. Abolition of slavery in the British Empire. • Revivalist Charles Finney conducts abolitionist rallies in America • American Antislavery Society formed by Christian abolitionists. • First “penney” newspaper begins in New York.

1833. Webster’s Revision of the KJV – Noah Webster, The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, in the Common Version. With Amendments of the Language. New Haven: Durrie and Peck, 1833. Reprinted Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1987. A conservative revison of the KJV, in which obsolete words and constructions are replaced with modern equivalents. → Further information.

1833. Rodolphus Dickinson, A New and Corrected Version of the New Testament; or, a minute revision, and professed translation of the original histories, memoirs, letters, prophecies, and other productions of the Evangelists and Apostles: to which are subjoined a few, generally brief, critical, explanatory and practical notes. Boston: Lilly, Wait, Colman and Holden, 1833. A foppish translation by an Episcopal rector, based on the text of Griesbach 1805. Luke 1:41 is translated thus: “And it happened, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the embryo was joyfully agitated”.

1835. David Strauss, Leben Jesu (Atheistic critical treatment of the life of Jesus) published in Germany. • Charles Finney becomes professor of theology at newly-formed Oberlin College in Ohio. Oberlin becomes center of perfectionist teaching, feminism, and abolitionist movement.

1836. Union Theological Seminary founded by liberal-Arminian “New School” Presbyterians.

1836. Granville Penn, The Book of the New Covenant of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, being a critical revision of the text and translation of the English version of the New Testament, with the aid of most ancient manuscripts unknown to the age in which that version was last put forth by authority. London: James Moyes, for James Duncan, 1836.

1837. Calvinist majority in General Assembly of PCUSA abrogates 1801 Plan of Union; New School Presbyteries organize separate church. • Victoria made Queen of England.

1838. Romish “Oxford Movement” party in the Church of England is at its peak of influence about now. • Ralph Waldo Emerson espouses mystical transcendentalism in an address at Harvard Divinity School.

1840. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit.

1840. Samuel Sharpe, The New Testament, translated from the Text of J.J. Griesbach. London: John Green, 1840. Second edition, 1844; third edition, 1856; fourth edition, 1859; fifth edition, 1862; seventh edition, 1881. A translation of Griesbach 1805, by a Unitarian. Sharpe also published a light revision of the KJV Old Testament in 1865. A one-volume edition of the complete Bible appeared in the year of his death, 1881.

1841: English Hexapla New Testament; an Early Textual Comparison showing the Greek and 6 Famous English Translations in Parallel Columns.

1841. John T. Conquest, ed., The Holy Bible, containing the Authorized Version … with twenty thousand emendations. London: Longman, Brown & Co.; Bungay: John Childs and Son, 1841.

1841. Tischendorf’s first Greek New Testament • Bagster’s English Hexapla. • Emerson’s Essays.

1842. Lachmann’s 2nd Greek New Testament

1843. Greek text of Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus published by Tischendorf. • Phoebe Palmer’s The Way of Holiness.

1844. Year of Christ’s return as predicted by William Miller, founder of the Adventist movement. • Methodists split over the slavery controversy in America.

1845. Baptists split over the slavery controversy in America. Sothern Baptist Convention is formed. • Texas annexed by the U.S.

1846. Potato famine in Ireland leads to emigration of nearly a million Irish Catholics to American cities. • Strauss’ atheistic Life of Jesus translated into English. • U.S. claim to Oregon country recognized by Great Britain.

1846: The Illuminated Bible; The Most Lavishly Illustrated Bible printed in America. A King James Version, with All 80 Books.

1848. Karl Marx publishes his Communist Manifesto in England. Revolutions break out in several nations of Europe. • Perfectionistic Oneida commune established by John Noyes. • Kate and Margaret Fox of New York cause public sensation with claims of ability to communicate with the dead: beginning of Spiritualist séance craze in America. • Southwestern territory ceded to the U.S. by Mexico.

1849: First edition of Novum Testamentum Graece

1849. Tischendorf’s 2nd Greek New Testament • Alford’s annotated Greek New Testament • Cholera epidemic kills 14,000 in London.

1850. Antoinette Brown becomes first woman to complete theological course at Oberlin. • Ellen White begins to publicize “visions” fundamental to Seventh-Day Adventism.

1850. Spencer H. Cone and William H. Wyckoff, The Commonly Received Version of the New Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with Several Hundred Emendations, edited by Spencer H. Cone and William H. Wyckoff. New York: Lewis Colby, 1850. Cone and Wyckoff were Baptists, and founders of the American Bible Union. Their limited revision of the King James Version substitutes “immerse” for “baptise.” → Further information.

1851. James Murdock, The New Testament; or, the Book of the Holy Gospel of our Lord and our God, Jesus the Messiah. A literal translation from the Syriac Peshito version.. New York: Stanford and Swords, 1851.

1851. Great Exhibition of science and industry held in London.

1852. Greek text of Codex Claromontanus published by Tischendorf. • Publication of Roget’s Thesaurus.

1853. Antoinette Brown becomes first woman formally ordained as a minister in the U.S. (in an independent Congregational church in New York).

1853. Isaac Leeser, The Twenty-four Books of the Holy Scriptures: Carefully Translated According to the Massoretic Text, On the Basis of the English Version, After the Best Jewish Authorities; and Supplied with Short Explanatory Notes. By Isaac Leeser. Philadelphia, 1853. → Further information.

1854. Tregelles’ Account of the Printed Text. • Dogma of Immaculate Conception promulgated by the Roman Pope. • Cholera epidemic kills 11,000 in London.

1855. Charles Spurgeon preaches to thousands in public halls of London. • Abolition of Stamp Tax in England removes financial burden from newspaper publishers; cheap and vulgar daily newspapers begin to flourish.

1856. Tregelles’ Introduction to Textual Criticism. • Tischendorf’s 3rd Greek New Testament • Wordsworth’s Greek New Testament • Western Union Telegraph Co. formed • Slavery controversy rages in America. Southern scholar Albert Taylor Bledsoe’s Essay on Liberty and Slavery presents a Scriptural defense of slavery.

1857. Tregelles’ Greek text of Gospels.

1857. [George Moberly, Henry Alford, William G. Humphry, Charles J. Ellicott, and John Barrow,] The Gospel According to St. John, after the Authorized Version. Newly Compared with the Original Greek and Revised by Five Clergymen. London: John W. Parker and Son, 1857. Followed by The Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, after the Authorized Version Newly Compared with the Original Greek and Revised by Five Clergymen in 1858; The Epistles of St. Paul to the Corinthians, after the Authorized Version. Newly Compared with the Original Greek and Revised by Five Clergymen in 1858; and The Epistles of St. Paul to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, after the Authorized Version. Newly Compared with the Original Greek and Revised by Four Clergymen in 1861. Although this revision of the KJV New Testament was not carried through to completion, it has special significance because of the eminence of the “five clergymen” (minus Barrow for the fourth volume) who produced it. It was in some respects a preparation for the Revised Version of 1881, in which Moberly, Alford, Humphry, and Ellicott participated.

1858. Leicester Ambrose Sawyer, The New Testament, Translated from the Original Greek, with Chronological Arrangement of the Sacred Books, and Improved Divisions of Chapters and Verses. Boston: J. P. Lewett, 1858. A modern version, based on the Greek text published by Tischendorf in 1849, retaining “thou” only in prayers; an innovative system of text divisions based on sense units. Revised by Sawyer in 1891.

1858. Brief “Prayer Meeting Revival” sweeps America. • Act for the admission of the Jews to the Parliament adopted in England.

1859. Vercellone’s edition of Codex Vaticanus. • John Nelson Darby’s New Translation of New Testament with critical notes. • Darwin’s Origin of Species. • John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty.

1859. Charles Wellbeloved, George Vance Smith, and John Scott Porter, The Holy Scriptures of the Old Covenant, in a Revised Translation, by the late Rev. Charles Wellbeloved, the Rev. George Vance Smith, B.A., the Rev. John Scott Porter. 3 volumes. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts, 1859-1862. A limited revision of the KJV. Volume 1 (1859) contains the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. Vol. 2 (1861) contains the books of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job and Psalms. Vol. 3 (1862) contains Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Prophets. Wellbeloved is the reviser of the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Minor Prophets. Smith is the reviser of Samuel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the Lamentations. Porter is the reviser of Kings, Chronicles, Ezekiel and Daniel.

1860. Liberal scholars in the Church of England “come out of the closet” in Essays and Reviews.

1861. Scrivener’s Plain Introduction to Textual Criticism. • American Civil War begins. • President Lincoln attends Spiritualist séances in Georgetown, receives advice from the famous medium Nettie Colburn Maynard in the White House.

1862. Greek text of Codex Sinaiticus published by Tischendorf. • Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible.

1863. President Lincoln proclaims Thanksgiving Day holiday.

1863. Young’s Literal Translation – Robert Young, The Holy Bible … literally and idiomatically translated out of the original languages. Edinburgh: A. Fullarton and Co., 1863. Revised edition 1887. Third edition 1898. Reprinted frequently under the title, The Holy Bible, consisting of the Old and New Covenants, translated according to the Letter and Idioms of the Original Languages. Reproduces Hebrew and Greek idioms by an exceedingly literal translation (in the New Testament based on Estienne 1550). → Further information.

1863. Herman Heinfetter [Pseudonym of Frederick Parker], A Literal Translation of the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, on definite rules of translation, from the text of the Vatican Manuscript. 6th ed. London: Evan Evans, 1863. Although this is called the “sixth edition,” in fact it is the first edition of Parker’s translation of the entire New Testament. The parts had been issued separately in preceding years. By the same author: A Collation of an English version of the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, from the text of the Vatican Manuscript, with the Authorized English version (London: Evan Evans, 1864); and Corrections of the copies of the New Testament portion of the Vatican Manuscript (London: Evan Evans, 1866). Parker’s translation of Codex Vaticanus is based upon Cardinal Mai’s edition of the manuscript.

1864. Benjamin F. Wilson, The Emphatic Diaglott. Geneva, IL: B. F. Wilson, 1864. Originally published by the author in parts, which were bound together in 1864, and reprinted in 1865 and 1866. Later editions were published by Samuel R. Wells (later Fowler & Wells) of New York in 1873, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, and in 1882. The 1873 and 1882 reprints are titled, The Emphatic Diaglott: containing the original Greek Text of what is commonly styled the New Testament, according to the Recension of Dr. J.J. Griesbach, with an interlineary word for word English Translation; a new Emphatic Version, based on the interlineary Translation, on the Renderings of eminent Critics, and on the various Readings of the Vatican Manuscript, No. 1209 in the Vatican Library, together with illustrative and explanatory Footnotes, and a copious Selection of References, to the whole of which is added a valuable alphabetical Appendix. This is the Greek text of Griesbach 1805, printed with a literal interlinear English version, and beside it in a parallel column there is a very peculiar English version, with certain words made “emphatic” by typography. Brief notes and references are given at the foot of the page. At the end is an “Alphabetical appendix of the geographical and proper names, weights, measures … etc.” This version is of interest chiefly because of its subsequent use by the “Jehovah’s Witness” organization, which also reprinted it for the use of its members.

1864The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Common English Version, Corrected by the Final Committee of the American Bible Union. New York: American Bible Union, 1862-64. A revised edition appeared in 1865. Further information.

1864. John Nelson Darby visits America for the first time, promotes fully developed Dispensationalism among Presbyterians in lecture tour. • “In God We Trust” first put on U.S. coins.

1865. American Civil War ends. • President Lincoln assassinated.

1865. Samuel Sharpe, The Hebrew Scriptures, Translated by Samuel Sharpe, Being a Revision of the Authorized English Old Testament, in three volumes. London: J. Russell Smith, 1865. 2nd ed, 1871; 3rd ed., 1876; 4th ed. (in one volume with the New Testament) 1881. A light revision of the KJV Old Testament, by an English Unitarian. Genesis 1:2 is translated “and the breath of God moved upon the face of the waters,” eliminating the reference to the Spirit of God. Sharpe (1799-1881) had published his own version of the New Testament in 1840. A detailed account of Sharpe’s life and work is given in Peter W. Clayden, Samuel Sharpe: Egyptologist and Translator of the Bible (London: Kegan Paul, Trench and Co., 1883).

1866. Henry T. Anderson, The New Testament Translated from the Original Greek, by H.T. Anderson. Louisville, Kentucky: John P. Morton & Co., 1866. → Further information.

1866. Trans-Atlantic telegraph cable connects England and America. • Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution greatly increases Federal power.

1867. Tischendorf’s edition of Codex Vaticanus. • Parliament adopts Second Reform Act, giving vote to the working class.

1867. John Nelson Darby, The Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Book of Revelation: Commonly called the New Testament. A New Translation from a Revised Text of the Greek Original. London: G. Morrish, 1867. Second edition 1872. Third edition 1884. → Further information.

1867. Joseph Smith, Jr., The Holy Scriptures, Translated and Corrected by the Spirit of Revelation, by Joseph Smith, Jr. the Seer … Plano, Illinois: Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Joseph Smith, I.L. Rogers, E. Robinson, Publishing Committee, 1867. → Further information.

1868. Vercellone’s facsimile edition of Codex Vaticanus.

1869. Tischendorf’s 4th Greek New Testament • New and Old School American Presbyterians reunite. • American transcontinental railroad line completed • Susan Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton organize the National Woman Suffrage Association.

1869. George R. Noyes, The New Testament: Translated from the Greek text of Tischendorf, by George R. Noyes, D.D., Hancock Professor of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages, and Dexter Lecturer on Biblical Literature, in Harvard University. Boston: American Unitarian Association, 1869. An English version of Tischendorf 1856, by a Unitarian. The manuscript was at the printer when Noyes died in 1868, and it was seen through the press with some editorial alterations by Ezra Abbott. → Further information.

1870. English parliament asks bishops of the Church of England to form a committee for the revision of the King James version. Revision committee is formed, and work begins on the English Revised Version. • Vatican Council of the Roman Catholic Church sets forth dogma of Infallibility of the Pope. • German principalities unified under imperial crown of Prussia by Bismarck. • Manufacture of new wood-pulp paper greatly reduces cost of newspaper publishing.

1871. J.N. Darby’s 2nd edition of the New Testament • Darwin’s Descent of Man.

1872. Last portion of Tregelles’ Greek New Testament published. • Alford’s New Testament for English Readers.

1872. Rotherham Version. Joseph Bryant Rotherham, The New Testament: newly translated from the Greek text of Tregelles and critically emphasised, according to the logical idiom of the original; with an introduction and occasional notes. London: Samuel Bagster and Sons, 1872. → Further information.

1875. Samuel Davidson, The New Testament. Translated from the Critical Text of Von Tischendorf; with an Introduction on the Criticism, Translation, and Interpretation of the Book. London: Henry S. King and Company, 1875. A translation of Tischendorf’s eighth edition of the Greek text.

1875. Premillennialist evangelist Dwight Moody begins sensational preaching tour of American cities. • Foundation of annual Niagara Bible Conference. • Mary Baker’s Science and Health publicizes principles of Christian Science.

1876. Charles Taze Russell begins publication of Zion’s Watchtower.

1876. Julia E. Smith, The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments; Translated Literally from the Original Tongues. Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company, 1876. The first Bible translation by a woman. → Further information.

1878. Rotherham’s English translation of Tregelles’ text. • Julius Wellhausen, History of Israel. • William Blackstone’s Jesus is Coming. • Ninth edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica makes critical arguments and essays on the Bible generally available in English. • First commercial telephone exchange set up in Boston.

1879. Robert Ingersoll attacks the Bible in popular lecture tours, publishes his Some Mistakes of Moses.

1881. The English Revised Version. C.J. Ellicott, ed., The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated out of the Greek: Being the Version Set Forth A.D. 1611, Compared with the Most Ancient Authorities and Revised, A.D. 1881. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1881. → Further information.

1881: Brooke Westcott and Fenton Hort were 19th-century theologians and Bible scholars. Together, they produced The New Testament in the Original Greek, one of the earliest examples of modern textual criticism.

1882. Death of John Nelson Darby. • Charles Darwin buried in Westminster Abbey with full Christian rites.

1883. Dean Burgon leads strong conservative attack on the English Revised Version and against all critical Greek texts. The new version is eventually refused by the British churches.

1884. Parliament adopts Third Reform Act, granting vote to agricultural laborers. • Telephone service between New York and Boston.

1885: RV (1881-1895)- The “English Revised Version” Bible; The First Major English Revision of the KJV (Oxford University Press), Apocrypha published 1895.

1886. John Wesley Hanson, The New Covenant: Containing I. An accurate translation of the New Testament. II. A Harmony of the Four Gospels. III. A Chronological Arrangement of the Text. IV. A Brief and Handy Commentary. By J.W. [John Wesley] Hanson, A.M., D.D., two volumes (Boston: Universalist Publishing House, 1884, 1886). A second edition of volume 1 (containing the Gospels) appeared in 1888. Hanson’s preface explains that his translation was designed to support Universalist teachings. The version was the subject of a long and mostly negative review article by H.P. Forbes in the Universalist Quarterly and General Review of April, 1884 (pp. 212-221); to which Hanson responded at even greater length in the issue of October 1884 (pp. 465-483).

1886. Benjamin Warfield appointed Professor of Theology at Princeton.

1888. British Baptist Union censures Charles Spurgeon for his campaign against liberal Baptists.

1890. J.N. Darby’s English Old Testament • Great labor strikes throughout England. • National American Woman Suffrage Association formed.

1893. Ecumenical and inter-faith “World’s Parliament of Religions” held in Chicago. • Dwight Moody preaches to huge crowds at Chicago World’s Fair.

1894: Textus Receptus (Scrivener 1894) – F. H. A. Scrivener produced an edition of the Greek New Testament which reflects the Textus Receptus underlying the English Authorized Version.

1895:  RV with Apocrypha

1895. American Anti-Saloon League founded in Washington, D.C. • Elizabeth Stanton’s Woman’s Bible repudiates Biblical teaching on woman’s place.

1897. Robert D. Weekes, Η ΚΑΙΝΗ ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ. The New Dispensation. The New Testament translated from the Greek by Robert D. Weekes. New York: Funk & Wagnalls Co., 1897.

1898. Francis Aloysius Spencer, The Four Gospels: A New Translation from the Greek Text Direct, with Reference to the Vulgate and the Ancient Syriac Version. New York: William H. Young & Company, 1898. One of the first translations of the Greek text done by a Roman Catholic. The complete New Testament appeared in 1937.

1898. George Barker Stevens, The Epistles of Paul in Modern English: A Paraphrase. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1898. → Further information.

1898: Novum Testamentum Graece was first published by the Württemberg Bible Society (Germany). It was edited by Eberhard Nestle who compared the three most significant editions of the Greek New Testament from the 19th century (Tischendorf, Westcott/Hort, and Weymouth; the last mentioned was replaced by the edition of B. Weiss in 1901).

1898. Eberhard Nestle’s Greek New Testament • Spanish-American War.

1899. Death of Dwight Moody, foundation of Moody Bible Institute.

1900. Final meeting of the Niagara Bible Conference.

1901. American Standard Version. Philip Schaff, ed., The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, Translated out of the Original Tongues, Being the Version Set Forth A.D. 1611, Compared with the Most Ancient Authorities and Revised A.D. 1881-1885, Newly Edited by the American Revision Committee A.D. 1901, Standard Edition. New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1901. → Further information.

1901. Frank Schell Ballentine, The New Testament. The Modern American Bible … The Books of the Bible in Modern American Form and Phrase with Notes and Introduction. New York: Thomas Whittaker, 1899-1901. Revised 1909. → Further information.

1902The Twentieth Century New Testament. A Translation into Modern English. Made from the Original Greek. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1902. Revised 1904. A history of the version is given in Kenneth W. Clark, “The Making of the Twentieth Century New Testament,” Bulletin of the John Rylands Library, 38 (1955), pp. 58-81. → Further information.

1902. Joseph Bryant Rotherham, The emphasised Bible: a new translation, designed to set forth the exact meaning, the proper terminology and the graphic style of the sacred originals: arranged to show at a glance narrative, speech, parallelism, and logical analysis, also to enable the student readily to distinguish the several divine names: and emphasised throughout after the idioms of the Hebrew and Greek tongues: with expository introduction, select references & appendices of notes. 4 volumes. London: H.R. Allenson, 1897-1902. → Further information.

1902. William B. Godbey, Translation of the New Testament from the Original Greek. Cincinnati: M. W. Knapp, Office of God’s Revivalist, [1902?]. Based on Codex Sinaiticus. The Gospels are presented synoptically in parallel columns.

1903. Ferrar Fenton, The Holy Bible in Modern English, containing the complete sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, translated into English direct from the original Hebrew, Chaldee and Greek languages. London: Bradbury, Agnew, and Co., for S. W. Partridge and Co, 1903. The Epistles were published in 1884, and the New Testament in 1895. Fenton was a businessman who, it appears, had no real knowledge of Hebrew and Greek. His version contained many amateurish errors. Despite this, it became popular for a while, because it was easy to understand.

1903. WNT – Richard Francis Weymouth, The New Testament in Modern Speech: an idiomatic translation into everyday English from the text of ‘The Resultant Greek Testament’ by Richard Francis Weymouth; edited and partly revised by Ernest Hampden-Cook. London: James Clarke and Co., 1903. → Further information. The Weymouth New Testament (“WNT”), otherwise known as The New Testament in Modern Speech or The Modern Speech New Testament, is a translation of the New Testament into nineteenth-century English by Richard Francis Weymouth.  It was based on the text of The Resultant Greek Testament. The text was produced by Weymouth

1904. Twentieth Century New Testament (modern English version). • Sigmund Freud, Psychopathology of Everyday Life.

1904. Adolphus S. Worrell, The New Testament, revised and translated by A.S. Worrell, A. M. With Notes and Instructions designed to aid the earnest Reader in obtaining a clear Understanding of the doctrines, Ordinances, and primitive Assemblies as revealed in these Scriptures. Louisville, Kentucky: A.S. Worrell, 1904. Reprinted by the American Baptist Publication Society (Philadelphia, 1907), and recently as The Worrell New Testament: A. S. Worrell’s translation with study notes. (Springfield, Missouri: Gospel Publishing House, 1980). Worrell (1831-1908) was an American Baptist educator and evangelist. His translation is a moderate revision of the American Standard Version (1901), in which “immerse” replaces “baptise,” and verbs and participles are rendered more literally. His notes and appendixes reflect doctrines characteristic of the holiness movement.

1905. Samuel Lloyd, The corrected English New Testament: a Revision of the “Authorised” version (by Nestle’s resultant text) prepared with the assistance of eminent scholars and issued by Samuel Lloyd, a life govenor of the British and foreign Bible Society, as his memorial of the Society’s centenary, 1904, with preface by the Bishop of Durham. London: Samuel Bagster, 1905. A revision of the KJV New Testament. This revision was not sponsored or recognized by the British and Foreign Bible Society, as the title might lead some to think. The editor, Samuel Lloyd, was a wealthy Quaker without academic credentials.

1906. Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles inaugurates modern Pentecostal movement.

1907. The foundation of Hollywood as a film-making center. • Walter Rauschenbusch’s Christianity and the Social Crisis articulates the “Social Gospel.”

1908. Delegates from 33 denominations meeting in Philadelphia establish the Federal Council of Churches to promote Social Gospel. • Ford Motor Company introduces the “Model T.”

1908: Thompson Chain Reference Bible – The first version of Thompson’s study Bible was published in 1908 by the Methodists Book Concern of Dobbs Ferry, New York. Five years later, in 1913, Thompson was joined by B. B. Kirkbride, of Indianapolis, Indiana.

1909:  Scofield Study Bible, revised in 1917

1910. First volume of The Fundamentals is published to counter liberal theology in America. • General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. adopts “Five Point” doctrinal test (Biblical inerrancy, virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection, and reality of miracles).

1912The Holy Bible … An Improved Edition. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1912. The New Testament was a new revision of the 1891 revision of the American Bible Union 1862-1863 version.

1913. James Moffatt, The New Testament: A New Translation in Modern Speech, by James Moffatt, based upon the Greek text by von Soden. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1913. Revised 1917. The Old Testament was published in New York in 1924-1925 (2 vols.), followed by an one-volume edition of the complete Bible in 1926. → Further information.

1913. Von Soden’s Greek New Testament • Moffat New Testament (popular paraphrase).

1914. E. E. Cunnington, The New Covenant, commonly called the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: A revision of the version of A.D. 1611. London: G. Routledge & Sons, 1914. Based on the so-called “Western” readings noted in the Greek Nestle text (4th edition). Other editions appeared, e.g., in 1919 published by by T. Foster Unwin of London under the title, The Adelphi New Testament; and in 1926 under the title, The Western New Testament.

1914. Ivan Panin, The New Testament from the Greek text as established by Bible Numerics. New Haven: Bible Numerics Co., 1914. A literal version, revised 1935, reprinted by Oxford University Press from 1944.

1914. British declare war on Germany. • Ford Motor Co. installs chain-driven assembly lines.

1915. Telephone service between New York and San Francisco.

1917. Improved edition of Scofield Reference Bible. • U.S. declares war on Germany. • Communist revolutionaries gain control of Russian Empire.

1917The Holy Scriptures, according to the Masoretic Text. A New translation with the aid of previous versions and with constant consultation of Jewish authorities. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1917. A revision of the Old Testament of the American Standard Version (1901) by American Jews.

1918. Henry T. Anderson, The New Testament Translated from the Sinaitic Manuscript discovered by Constantine Tischendorf at Mount Sinai. Cincinnati: The Standard Publishing Company, 1918. This purports to be an English version of Codex Sinaiticus, but in fact it is a revision of Anderson’s earlier translation of the New Testament (1866), with alterations according to some of the readings of Codex Sinaiticus. The preface gives no information about what sources Anderson used. It is said that the version was prepared by Anderson shortly before his death in 1872. → Further information.

1918. English Parliament adopts the “Representation of the People Act,” giving women the right to vote. • Treaty of Versailles humiliates Germany, ends First World War. League of Nations established.

1919. Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits manufacture and sale of alcohol.

1920. Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires all states to give voting rights to women. • First commercial radio station in U.S. (KDKA Pittsburgh) begins broadcasting.

1922. Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. approves ordination of women as deacons. • Harry Emerson Fosdick preaches against Second Coming of Christ, Biblical inerrancy, Virgin Birth. • Lincoln Memorial dedicated in Washington, D.C.

1922: The Companion Bible, E.W. Bullinger

1923. Edgar J. Goodspeed, The New Testament: An American Translation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1923. → Further information.

1923. William G. Ballantine, The Riverside New Testament, a translation from the original Greek into the English of to-day. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1923. A version in modern speech, based on the Nestle text; slightly revised in 1934.

1923. J. Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism. • Time magazine founded. • Radio becomes popular craze in America.

1924. Methodist Episcopal Church approves ordination of women as local preachers.

1924. Helen Barrett Montgomery, The Centenary Translation of the New Testament. Philadelphia: The American Baptist Publication Society, 1924. A Baptist revision of the American Standard Version (1901), called “centenary” because it was published in commemoration of the centenary of the American Baptist Publication Society.

1925. Major newspapers ridicule conservative opposition to theory of evolution in coverage of Scopes “Monkey” Trial in Dayton, Tennessee. • Liberals of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. overturn the “Five Point” test adopted in 1910. • Canadian Mehodists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists merge to form the United Church of Canada.

1926. James Moffatt, A New Translation of the Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments. New York: Doran, 1626. Revised edition, New York and London: Harper and Brothers, 1935. Reprinted, Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1995. This version was highly regarded by scholars, and also popular. → Further information.

1926. Adolph Ernst Knoch, Concordant version, the Sacred Scriptures: designed to put the English reader in possession of all the vital facts of divine revelation without a former knowledge of Greek, by means of a restored Greek text, with various readings, conforming, as far as possible, to the inspired autographs, a consistent sublinear based upon a standard English equivalent for each Greek element, and an idiomatic, emphasized English version with notes, which are linked together and correlated for the English reader by means of an English concordance and lexicon and a complementary list of the Greek elements. Los Angeles: Concordant Publishing Concern, 1926. A.E. Knoch (1874-1965) was associated with the ultra-dispensationalist E. W. Bullinger for a time, was the editor of a magazine called Unsearchable Riches, and founded the Concordant Publishing Concern to publish his translation of the Bible. The version resembles Young’s Literal Translation, being hyper-literal, but it was evidently designed to support Knoch’s peculiar teachings, which included such heretical doctrines as Universalism, “soul sleep,” Arminian soteriology, and Arian Christology. He avoids orthodox interpretations by various means, as for example in his treatment of the Greek word aionios (“eternal”). Knoch translates this word “eonian” instead of “eternal,” and explains in his writings that this adjective should be understood in the sense “pertaining to the æon” or “age-long.” By this means he obscures the biblical teaching on the soul’s immortality and the eternal punishment of the unredeemed. Knoch had no formal education in the biblical languages.

1927. J.M. Powis Smith, ed., The Old Testament: An American Translation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1927. → Further information.

1928. Moffat Bible published with Old Testament

1929. Exodus of conservatives from Princeton; Westminster Theological Seminary founded in Philadelphia.

1929: ASV update

1930. Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. approves ordination of women as elders • First television program with sound broadcast by the BBC. 

1931. Edgar J. Goodspeed and J.M. Powis Smith, eds., The Bible: An American Translation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1931. 2nd edition, 1935. → Further information.

1932. General Association of Regular Baptist Churches formed by fundamentalists leaving the Northern Baptist Convention.

1933. Eighteenth Amendment (prohibiting alcohol) repealed.

1933. Charles Cutler Torrey, The Four Gospels, A New Translation. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1933. Revised 1947. Based on Torrey’s reconstruction of hypothetical Aramaic documents underlying the Greek Gospels. Book of Revelation published in 1958.

1935. Cuthbert Lattey, ed., The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scriptures. London: Longmans and Green, 1935. An unofficial Roman Catholic version. Only the New Testament was completed; revised 1948.

1935. Moffat Bible revised.

1936. Orthodox Presbyterian Church founded by conservatives leaving the PCUSA. • United Church of Canada (uniting Methodists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists) approves ordination of women.

1937. Charles Fuller begins weekly nation-wide radio broadcasts of “Old Fashioned Gospel Hour.”

1937. Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People. Boston: Bruce Humphries, 1937. A “modern speech” version based on the Westcott & Hort text, with a some attempt to represent the nuances of Greek tenses, as Williams understood them. A slightly revised edition was published by Moody Press in 1950. → Further information.

1937. Francis Aloysius Spencer, The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, translated into English from the original Greek by the Very Rev. Francis Aloysius Spencer, O.P.; edited by Charles J. Callan, O.P., and John A. McHugh, O.P. New York: The Macmillan company, 1937. This is one of the first translations of the Greek text done by Roman Catholics. Spencer had published a translation of the four Gospels in 1898, and had completed a translation of the remainder of the New Testament by the time of his death in 1913. The remainder went unpublished until Callan and McHugh revised Spencer’s complete translation for this volume.

1939. Sigmund Freud, Moses and Monotheism. • Britain declares war on Germany.

1940. Lamsa translation of Peshitta New Testament

1941. U.S. declares war on Japan after attack on Pearl Harbor.

1941. Edward P. Arbez, ed., The New Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, translated from the Latin Vulgate; a revision of the Challoner-Rheims version edited by Catholic scholars under the patronage of the Episcopal committee of the Confraternity of Christian doctrine. Paterson, N.J.: St. Anthony guild press, 1941. → Further information.

1942. National Association of Evangelicals formed by anti-fundamentalist “neo-evangelicals” in St. Louis, to promote conservative Christian involvement in public affairs.

1943. Pope Pius XII issues encyclical letter Divino Afflante Spiritu, giving Roman Catholic Bible translators permission to base their translations on the Greek and Hebrew texts instead of the Latin Vulgate.

1944. U.S. Army lands at Normandy. • Youth for Christ founded by neo-evangelicals in Chicago.

1945. U.S. Air Force destroys 2 Japanese cities with atomic bombs. End of 2nd World War.

1945: The Knox Bible NT – a Catholic version of the Bible in three volumes (later published in one volume editions) translated by Monsignor Ronald Knox, the English theologian, priest and crime writer.  

1946. Revised Standard Version New Testament. Luther Weigle, ed., The New Covenant, Commonly Called the New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Revised Standard Version, Translated from the Greek, Being the Version Set Forth A.D. 1611, Revised A.D. 1881 and A.D. 1901, Compared with the Most Ancient Authorities and Revised A.D. 1946. New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1946. Revised 1952, 1959, 1971. Roman Catholic edition, 1965. → Further information.

1946. Revised Standard version of the New Testament published with great fanfare.

1947. Dead Sea Scrolls (dated c. 150 B.C. to A.D. 75) discovered in Qumran. • Conservative Baptist Association founded by conservatives leaving the Northern Baptist Convention. • Fuller Theological Seminary founded by neo-evangelicals in Pasadena.

1947. George Swann, The New Testament … Translated from the Greek text of Westcott and Hort. Louisville: Pentecostal Publishing Co., 1947. A literal translation.

1947: Dead Sea Scrolls discovered 

1948. Thomas F. Ford and Ralph E. Ford, New Testament, Letchworth Version in Modern English. Letchworth: Letchworth Printers, 1948. The King James text with archaic expressions replaced by modern English.

1948. Communist agents discovered in U.S. State Department. “Red Scare” begins. • World Council of Churches constituted in Amsterdam.

1949. Billy Graham’s evangelistic campaign in Los Angeles attracts national attention.

1949. S. H. Hooke, ed., The Basic Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments in Basic English. Cambridge: The University Press, 1949. The New Testament was published in 1941. Limited to C. K. Ogden’s Basic English vocabulary of 850 words proposed as an international auxiliary language, with an additional 150 biblical words. → Further information.

1949:  The Knox Bible NT and OT 

1950New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures Rendered from the Original Language by the New World Translation Committee. Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1950. Old Tesament published 1953-1960. Revised in 1961, 1970, 1984. → Further Information.

1950. Angelo B. Traina, Sacred Name New Testament. Irvington, New Jersey: Scripture Research Association, 1950. Reprinted as Holy Name Bible, 1963, revised 1974. The King James Version “with Semitic names restored to their Hebrew and Aramaic forms.”

1950. National Council of Churches constituted in Cleveland. • Billy Graham begins television broadcasts.

1951. Olaf Morgan Norlie, The New Testament … in Modern English. Northfield, MN, 1951. In 1961 Norlie’s Simplified New Testament in plain English for Today’s Reader was published by Zondervan; reprinted in 1962 as The Children’s Simplified New Testament.

1952. Revised Standard VersionThe Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version. Containing the Old and New Testaments, translated from the original tongues; being the version set forth A.D. 1611, revised A.D. 1881-1885 and A.D. 1901; compared with the most ancient authorities and revised A.D. 1952. New York: Thomas Nelson, 1952. Roman Catholic Edition, 1966. 2nd edition, 1971. The New Testament appeared in 1946. → Further information.

1952. Charles Kingsley Williams, The New Testament, A New Translation in Plain English. London: S.P.C.K. and Longmans, Green and Co., 1952. Based on the Greek text underlying the English Revised Version; “Plain English” comprises a simplified vocabulary of 1,500 words, and is supplemented by some 170 words explained in a glossary. Reprinted 1963 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans).

1952. Emile Victor Rieu, The Four Gospels. A new translation from the Greek by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books Ltd., 1952.

1952. Revised Standard version of the Old Testament published by National Council of Churches. The version is severely denounced by conservatives. • One third of all American homes have television. • Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking.

1954. Methodist Episcopal Church approves full denominational ordination of women. • U.S. Supreme Court mandates racial integration of public schools. Beginning of “Civil Rights Movement.”

1954. James A. Kleist and Joseph L. Lilly, The New Testament Rendered from the Original Greek with Explanatory Notes: Part One, The Four Gospels, translated by James A. Kleist, S. J.; Part two, The Acts of the Apostles, Epistles, and Apocalypse translated by Joseph L. Lilly, C. M. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Co., 1954. A modern-language translation with introductions and notes, by two Roman Catholic scholars. Based on the Greek text edited by the Jesuit scholar José Bover, in Novi Testamenti Biblia Graeca et Latina (Madrid, 1943).

1955. Ronald A. Knox, The Holy Bible; A Translation from the Latin Vulgate in the Light of the Hebrew and Greek Originals. “The Knox Bible” – London: Burns and Oates, 1955. The New Testament appeared in 1944.

1955. Hugh J. Schonfield, The Authentic New Testament, edited and translated from the Greek for the general reader. Aberdeen: Dennis Dobson, Ltd. Central Press, 1955. Translated by a Jewish scholar to reflect “the atmosphere of the period in which the documents were written.”

1955. United Bible Societies constituted by union of Bible societies of England, Scotland, America, Germany and the Netherlands. Committee appointed to produce a Greek New Testament • Robert Schuller opens drive-in theater church in Orange County, California.

1956. Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. approves ordination of women as ministers. • Christianity Today founded by neo-evangelical writers.

1957. George M. Lamsa, The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts. Containing the Old and New Testaments, translated from the Peshitta, the authorized Bible of the Church of the East. Philadelphia: A. J. Holman Co., 1957. The New Testament was published in 1940. Based on the Syriac Peshitta version.

1957. Bertrand Russel’s Why I am not a Christian. • United Church of Christ formed by association of various Reformed churches.

1958. Phillips New Testament (paraphrase) • Bultmann, Jesus Christ and Mythology.

1958. J. B. Phillips, The New Testament in Modern English. London: G. Bles, 1958. A fresh translation in colloquial English. The Gospels were published in 1952, four Prophets (Isaiah 1-39, Hosea, Amos, Micah) in 1963, and a revised New Testament in 1972. Phillips shares some thoughts on his work as translator in his book, Ring of Truth: A Translator’s Testimony (New York: MacMillan, 1967. Revised 1978). See also the discussion in Edwin H. Robertson, The New Translations of the Bible (London: S. C. M. Press, 1959), pp. 119-132. → Further information.

1958:  Amplified Bible, OT-1962, 1964.  Expanded Edition completed in 1987.  based on the American Standard Version of 1901, Rudolph Kittel’s Biblia Hebraica, and the 23rd edition of the Nestle Greek New Testament.  Zondervan and the Lockman Foundation.  See 1965.

1959. Gerrit Verkuyl et al., The Holy Bible, The Berkeley Version in Modern English. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1959. The New Testament was published in 1945. Revised in 1969 as The Modern Language Bible. → Further information.

1959. Revised Standard version New Testament slightly revised.

1960. Revised Standard Version adopted by most “mainline” congregations. • 80% of American homes have television.

1961. The New English Bible New Testament (British). C. H. Dodd, ed., The New English Bible. New Testament. Oxford and Cambridge: Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press, 1961. A paraphrastic version sponsored by several denominations in Great Britain. → Further Information.

1961The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, rendered from the Original Languages by the New World Bible Translation Committee. Revised A.D. 1961. Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, 1961. The New Testament appeared in 1950. → Further Information.

1961. Fan S. Noli, The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Translated into English from the Approved Greek Text of the Church of Constantinople and the Church of Greece. Boston: Albanian Orthodox Church in America, 1961. Based on the traditional Greek Byzantine text.

1961. Kenneth S. Wuest, The New Testament: An Expanded Translation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1961. Reprinted 1994. ISBN: 0802812295. This is a one-volume edition of a translation which was first published in 3 volumes, 1956-59, under the title, Wuest’s Expanded translation of the Greek New Testament. → Further Information.

1962. Jay P. Green, The Children’s King James Bible. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962. A simplified version “in the spirit of the King James Version”; revised as The King James II Bible, 1971.

1963. Blacks riot in Birmingham, Alabama. • President Kennedy assassinated.

1963. New American Standard New Testament. Reuben A. Olson, ed., New American Standard Bible: New Testament. Pilot ed. La Habra, California: [Foundation Press] Produced and published by the Lockman Foundation, 1963. A conservative literal revision of the American Standard Version (1901). The New Testament text is based on the 23rd edition of Nestle. The entire Bible appeared in 1971. → Further information.

1963. William F. Beck, The New Testament in the Language of Today. Saint Louis, Missouri: Concordia Publishing House, 1963. → Further Information.

1964. Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (southern) approves ordination of women as ministers. • Fuller Thelogical Seminary opens its Graduate School of Psychology. • Civil Rights Act passed by U.S. Congress.

1965. Catholic edition of Revised Standard Version.

1965. Frances E. Siewert, ed., The Amplified Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1965. Revised 1987. The New Testament appeared in 1958, the Old Testament in two parts in 1962 and 1964. Revised for the one-volume edition in 1965, and again in 1987. Produced by the Lockman Foundation. This version expands the text with alternative renderings and explanations added in parentheses, brackets, and other typographical devices. → Further information.

1965. Frederick F. Bruce, The Letters of Paul: An Expanded Paraphrase, Printed in Parallel with the Revised Version with Fuller References by Drs. Scrivener, Moulton & Greenup. Exeter, Devon: Paternoster Press, 1965. → Further Information.

1966. Robert G. Bratcher, Good News for Modern Man: The New Testament in Today’s English Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1966. Revised 1971. The complete Bible appeared in 1976. → Further Information.

1966. Alexander Jones, ed., The Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1966. A heavily annotated version by Roman Catholic scholars, notable for its excellent literary quality. A revision called The New Jerusalem Bible appeared in 1985. → Further information.

1966. United Bible Societies’ first Greek New Testament • Jerusalem Bible (Roman Catholic). • “Good News for Modern Man” New Testament published by the American Bible Society.

1967. New American Standard Bible Old Testament • Living Bible New Testament (paraphrase). • Blacks riot in Detroit.

1968: Biblica (New York Bible Society at the time) agrees to finance the NIV translation 

1968. United Bible Societies’ 2nd Greek New Testament • Blacks and college students riot in several U.S. cities. • Martin Luther King assassinated.

1969. Homosexuals in New York City riot against enforcement of sodomy laws. • American astronauts land on the Moon.

1969. William Barclay, The New Testament, A New Translation. London and New York: Collins, 1969. A free translation with moderate interpretation, verging on paraphrase.

1970. Louis F. Hartman and Myles M. Bourke, eds., The New American Bible, Translated from the Original Languages, with Critical Use of All the Ancient Sources, by Members of the Catholic Biblical Association of America. Sponsored by the Bishops’ Committee of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Paterson, N.J.: St. Anthony Guild Press. 1970. Updates: 1986, 1991, 2010→ Further information.

1970. The New English Bible. C. H. Dodd, ed., The New English Bible with the Apocrypha. Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press, 1970. The New Testament appeared in 1961. → Further Information.

1970The Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible. Buena Park, California: Missionary Dispensary Bible Research, 1970. Based on the Rotherham version.

1970. New American Bible (Roman Catholic). • New English Bible Old Testament (British) • Lutheran Church in America approves ordination of women. • Robert Schuller begins weekly “Hour of Power” television broadcast.

1971. 2nd ed. of Revised Standard Version.

1971. New American Standard Bible. Reuben Olson, ed., New American Standard Bible. La Habra, California: Foundation Press Publications, publisher for the Lockman Foundation, 1971. the New Testament first appeared in 1963. A conservative literal revision of the American Standard Version (1901). → Further information.

1971. Kenneth N. Taylor et al., The Living Bible, Paraphrased. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1971. The New Testament was published in 1967. An interpretive paraphrase of the American Standard Version (1901). → Further information.

1972. Steven T. Byington, The Bible in Living English. New York: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1972.

1972. Don J. Klingensmith, Today’s English New Testament. New York: Vantage Press, 1972. A translation in simple English.

1972. Neo-evangelical Fuller Theological Seminary officially renounces doctrine of Biblical inerrancy. • U.S. Supreme Court rules that all existing death penalty statutes are unconstitutional.

1973. Neo-evangelical scholars publish the New International Version New Testament • Chicago Declaration of Social Concern expresses neo-evangelical support for liberal political agenda. • U.S. Supreme Court legalizes abortion nationwide. • Presbyterian Church in America founded by conservatives leaving the PCUS. • Executive Council of the United Church of Christ recommends ordination of homosexuals.

1973. New International Version New Testament. Edwin H. Palmer, ed., The Holy Bible: New International Version. The New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973. Revised 1978, 1984, and 2011. → Further information.

1975. United Bible Societies’ 3rd Greek New Testament • Bill Hybels organizes Willow Creek Community Church in a suburban movie theater near Chicago.

1976. Good News Bible (Today’s English Version) published by the American Bible Society. • Episcopal Church approves ordination of women as priests. • Harold Lindsell’s The Battle for the Bible exposes widespead liberalism among neo-evangelicals. • Jimmy Carter elected U.S. President.

1976. Robert G. Bratcher, Good News Bible: The Bible in Today’s English Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1976. Revised with inclusive language in 1992. The New Testament (Good News for Modern Man) appeared in 1966. A paraphrastic version, designed to be easily understood by all. → Further Information.

1976. William F. Beck, The Holy Bible in the Language of Today, An American Translation. New Haven, Missouri: Leader Publishing Co., 1976. The New Testament was published in 1963. → Further Information.

1977. Jay E. Adams, The Christian Counselor’s New Testament. A New Translation in Everyday English with Notations … Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1977.

1978. New International Version. Edwin H. Palmer et al., The Holy Bible, New International Version: Containing the Old Testament and the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978. Revised in 1984 and 2011. The New Testament first appeared in 1973. → Further information.

1978: Ryrie Study Bible

1978. Neo-evangelical scholars publish the New International Version Old Testament. • Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.

1979. New King James Version New Testament • American Lutheran Church approves ordination of women. • Jerry Falwell founds “Moral Majority” political lobby to promote Reagan election campaign.

1979. New King James Version New Testament. Arthur Farstad, ed., The New King James Bible, New Testament. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1979. → Further information.

1980. Ronald Reagan elected U.S. President.

1982. Hodges and Farstad “Majority Text” Greek New Testament • New King James Version Old Testament • Robert Schuller’s Self-Esteem: The New Reformation.

1982. New King James Version. Arthur Farstad, ed., Holy Bible: The New King James Version: Containing the Old and New Testaments. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. The New Testament appeared in 1979. A considerable revision of the language of the KJV, but based upon the same Greek and Hebrew texts that were the basis of the KJV. → Further information.

1982. David Bronstein, Messianic Edition of the Living Bible. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1982. An adaptation of the Living Bible for Jewish Christian readers.

1983An Inclusive Language Lectionary. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1983, 1984, 1985. Three volumes giving the scripture portions of years A, B and C of the Revised Common Lectionary in an inclusive language version. This lectionary was produced by the Inclusive-Language Lectionary Committee of the National Council of the Churches of Christ, U.S.A., Division of Christian Education and Ministry. → Further information.

1983. General Synod of the United Church of Christ recommends ordination of homosexuals. • AIDS epidemic begins.

1985. Henry Wansbrough, ed., The New Jerusalem Bible. New York: Doubleday, 1985. A revision of the Jerusalem Bible published in 1966, by Roman Catholic scholars. → Further information.

1985Tanakh: A New Translation of The Holy Scriptures According to the Traditional Hebrew Text. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1985. The Pentateuch was first published in 1962 and revised in 1967, the Prophets in 1978, and the Writings in 1982. → Further information.

1985The New Testament: Recovery Version. Text translated by John C. Ingalls, Bill Duane, Albert Knoch, Witness Lee; outline, footnotes and references, by Witness Lee. Anaheim, California: Living Stream Ministry, 1985. Second edition, 1991. → Further information.

1985:  NIV Study Bible – Revisions include one in 1995, a full revision in 2002, an update in October 2008 for the 30th anniversary of the NIV, another update in 2011 (with the text updated to the 2011 edition of the NIV), and a fully revised update in 2020 named “Fully Revised Edition”.

1987. Ervin Bishop et al., The Holy Bible – New Century Version. Ft. Worth, Texas: Worthy Publishing, 1987. A very simple ‘dynamic equivalence’ version, also published as the International Children’s Bible. → Further information.

1987. Pentecostal television preacher Oral Roberts says that God had threatened to kill him if supporters did not send him 8 million dollars immediately. • Pentecostal television preacher Jim Bakker disgraced in revelations of vice and fraud. • Pentecostal television preacher Pat Robertson enters race for U.S. Presidency.

1988. Pentecostal television preacher Jimmy Swaggart disgraced in revelations of vice.

1988. Hugo McCord, McCord’s New Testament Translation of the Everlasting Gospel. Henderson, Tennessee: Freed-Hardeman College, 1988. “An accurate translation of the inspired Word of God in an easily understood modern day English.”

1988. Phillip B. Giessler, ed., God’s Word to the Nations: New Testament. Fairview Park, Ohio: Biblion Publishing, 1988. → Further information.

1988. Bernardo Hurault, Christian Community Bible: Translated, Presented and Commented for the Christian Communities of the Philippines and the Third World; and for Those Who Seek God. Complete Text Translated from Hebrew and Greek. Pastoral Edition. Quezon City, Philippines: Claretian Publications, 1988. → Further Information.

1988:  KJV Study Bible, Liberty University – Jerry Falwell, updates 2013, (2017 – Full Color ed.)

1988: Life Application Bible, The Living Bible – Tydale House, Updated: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, (3rd ed 2019)

1989. W. D. McHardy, ed., The Revised English Bible with the Apocrypha. (British) Oxford and Cambridge: Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press, 1989. A revision of the New English Bible (1970). → Further information.

1989. Heinz W. Cassirer, God’s New Covenant: A New Testament Translation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989. Translated by a Jewish Christian who is a classics scholar and philosopher.

1989. David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament: a translation of the New Testament that expresses its Jewishness. Jerusalem: Jewish New Testament Publications, 1989. Jewish aspects of the New Testament are emphasized, with explanatory footnotes for gentile readers. Based on the United Bible Societies Greek New Testament (3rd edition).

1990. New Revised Standard Version. Bruce M. Metzger, ed., The New Revised Standard Version. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. → Further information.

1991:  NRSV, Catholic Edition CE approved

1992. Bill Clinton elected U.S. President.

1993. Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The New Testament in Contemporary English. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1993. An informal paraphrase of the New Testament. One example: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” is changed to “Enjoy the best of Jesus!” → Further Information.

1993. Robert W. Funk et al., The Five Gospels: The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus. New Translation and Commentary by Robert W. Funk, Roy W. Hoover, and the Jesus Seminar. New York: Macmillan, 1993. A new translation of the four Gospels together with the “Gospel of Thomas,” in which the “authentic words of Jesus” are printed in red. → Further information.

1993:  Thompson Chain Reference Bible, Zondervan

1993. “Re-Imagining” conference of female mainline ministers in Minneapolis features worship of pagan fertility goddess. • Federal agents attack Adventist sect in Waco.

1994. William D. Prindle, ed., The Holy Bible: 21st Century King James Version. Gary, South Dakota: KJ21 Bible Publishers (division of Deuel Enterprises), 1994. A limited revision of the King James Version, in which only the most archaic words and usages are replaced. Lectionary readings from the Revised Common Lectionary are marked with double diamonds. A revised edition with the Apocrypha (but without lectionary markings) appeared in 1998 as the Third Millennium Bible. William D. Prindle was the chief editor for both editions, assisted by Barbara P. Graff, B.A., Florence P. Ronning, B.A., and Mary E. Burkman, B.S. Further information may be found at the publisher’s websites, www.kj21.com & www.tmbible.com.

1994. Craig R. Smith, ed., The Inclusive New Testament. Brentwood, Maryland: Priests for Equality, 1994. A revamping of Scripture according to the latest rules of political correctness. Produced by dissident Roman Catholics. → Further information.

1995. Victor R. Gold, ed., New Testament and Psalms: An Inclusive Version. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995. A politically correct adaptation of the NRSV which eliminates all “oppressive” features of the Bible. → Further information.

1995. Eugene W. Bunkowske, ed., God’s Word. Iowa Falls, Iowa: World Bible Publishers, 1995. An earlier form of the New Testament appeared in 1992 as Holy Bible: New Testament. New Evangelical Translation (Cleveland: NET Publishing, 1992). → Further information.

1995. William E. Paul, The New Testament: An Understandable Version. Seattle, Washington: Impact Publications, 1995. A literal translation of the Nestle text, supplemented with parenthetical comments to clarify the meaning of the words.

1995. Barclay M. Newman, ed., Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1995. A paraphrastic version, at a fourth grade reading level. → Further information.

1995. Everett Fox, The Five Books of Moses: A New Translation with Introductions, Commentary, and Notes. New York: Schocken, 1995. → Further information.

1995. Holy laughter breaks out at Pentecostal Vineyard Christian Fellowship church in Toronto. • Contemporary English Version.

1996. NIV Inclusive Language Edition published in Great Britain. • New Living Translation.

1996. NIV Inclusive Language Edition. The Holy Bible: New International Version. Inclusive Language Edition. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1996. → Further information.

1996. Richmond A. Lattimore, The New Testament. New York: Farrar Strauss Giroux, 1996. A translation by a classical scholar. The parts first appeared separately in 1979 and 1982. → Further information.

1996Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House, 1996. A paraphrastic version that features inclusive language. → Further information.

1997:  NKJV Study Bible 2007, 2014, 2018 – Thomas Nelson

1997:  MacArthur Study Bible, updates 2006, (2nd ed 2019)

2000. George W. Bush elected U.S. President.

2001. Holman Christian Standard Bible New Testament. • English Standard Version • World Trade Center towers in New York destroyed by fanatical Mohammedans.

2001. W. Hall Harris, ed., The Holy Bible: The Net Bible (New English Translation). Dallas, Texas: Biblical Studies Press, 2001. → Further Information.

2001. J. I. Packer, ed., The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Containing the Old and New Testaments. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Bibles (a division of Good News Publishers), 2001. An evangelical revision of the Revised Standard Version. → Further information.

2002. Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2002. → Further information

2002. John H. Stek, et al, The New Testament: Today’s New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002. → Further information

2004. Edwin Blum, ed., Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Bible. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2004. → Further Information.

2004. John Henson, Good As New: A Radical Retelling of the Scriptures. New Alresford, Hampshire (U.K.): O Books (Imprint of John Hunt Publishing), 2004. ISBN: 1903816734. → Further information

2004. Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2004. ISBN: 0393019551.

2004. Mark R. Norton, ed., Holy Bible, New Living Translation, second edition. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House, 2004. → Further information

2005. John H. Stek, et al., Today’s New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. → Further information

2008:  ESV Study Bible

2009: HCSB Updated

2009: Ruckman Study Bible

2011: NIV Update, replaces 1984 and TNIV

2011:  The Evidence Study Bible, Ray Comfort

2012: Novum Testamentum Graece, Standard 28th edition

2013: NKJV Dake Study Bible, Regular Ed

2014: NIV Chronological Study Bible, Thomas Nelson

2015: Zondervan publishes NIV Study Bible

2015: NLT Update

2016: B&H Publishing announced a revision of the translation called the Christian Standard Bible (CSB).

2017: CSB Published

2017: CSB Study Bible, updated 2020

2020: NASB Update; NIV Study Bible – fully revised

2020: CSB Update

2021: LSB – Legacy Standard Bible, Lockman Foundation

2021:  NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible, Zondervan

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *