Granddad

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The Bible in English
The Bible in English From Hebrew and Greek to the
Great Bible
Route B History Age 7-11
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The Bible in English
They had to translate the Bible from Hebrew and
Greek.
Route B History Age 7-11
Hebrew writing looks like this Greek
writing looks like this
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The Bible in English
In the 5th century, the Bible was translated
into Latin, which was a language many people
spoke. The beginning of the gospel of John
in Latin After a while, people stopped
speaking Latin but the Bible was still in Latin
and people could not read it any more.
Route B History Age 7-11
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The Bible in English
In the 10th century, parts of the Bible were
translated into Old English. Can you work out
what this says? Roll over the text to hear
it. John 316
Route B History Age 7-11
God lufode middaneard swa þæt he sealde his
ancennedan Sunu, þæt nan ne forwurðe þe on hine
gelyfð, ac hæbbe þæt ece lif.
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The Bible in English
Before printing, books were expensive as they
had to be written by hand. Not many
people could read. There were few schools as most
children had to work.
Route B History Age 7-11
Illuminated manuscript 15th century
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The Bible in English
John Wycliffe and his friends translated the
Bible into English between 1382-1395. The Bibles
had to be written by hand so there were very few
of them. It was against the law to translate
the Bible into English.
Route B History Age 7-11
Wycliffe giving The poor priests a copy of his
translation. FW Yeames
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The Bible in English
Printing came to Britain in 1476 and books
became cheaper. There was no
printed Bible in English. It was still against
the law.
Caxton showing the First Specimen of His Printing
to King Edward IV at the Almonry, Westminster. By
Daniel Maclise
Route B History Age 7-11
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The Bible in English
William Tyndale (1494-1536) was a Christian
scholar who spoke seven languages, including
Greek and Hebrew. As a Christian, he believed the
Bible was inspired by God and it was important
that ordinary Christians should be able to read
it.
Route B History Age 7-11
Statue by Laurence Holofcerner. Photograph by
David Cooling
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The Bible in English
Tyndale went into hiding in Germany. He
translated the New Testament into English by 1525
and some of the Old Testament by 1535. The
Bibles had to be smuggled into England.
Route B History Age 7-11
Image of Tyndale from Foxes Book of Martyrs
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The Bible in English
Tyndale was caught and put in prison. When he
died he prayed that King Henry would change his
mind and let people have the Bible in English.
Route B History Age 7-11
Image from Foxes Book of Martyrs
Lord open the King of Englands eyes
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The Bible in English
The King, Henry VIII, did change his mind. In
1539 Henry had a Great Bible published in
English. It was placed in every church. Those who
could read, read out loud to others. This Great
Bible used Tyndales work.
Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger
Route B History Age 7-11
Great Bibles were often chained. This is a
picture of a chained Bible from Cumnor Church
Oxfordshire