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[[Image:Geneva_Bible.jpg|thumb|right|1599 Geneva Bible original frontispiece]]

[[Image:Geneva_Bible.jpg|thumb|right|1599 Geneva Bible original frontispiece]]

The '''Geneva Bible'''(GNV) was the first full-length translation of the [[Bible]] to be published in the [[English]] language. It sometimes called the "Bible of the Reformation." It was used heavily for concepts and terms that [[Shakespeare]] included in his works.  The [[Puritans]] also used this translation, including those on the ''[[Mayflower]]''. One hundred forty four editions were printed between 1560 and 1644.

The '''Geneva Bible'''(GNV) was the first full-length translation of the [[Bible]] to be published in the [[English]] language. It is sometimes called the "Bible of the Reformation." It was used heavily for concepts and terms that [[Shakespeare]] included in his works.  The [[Puritans]] also used this translation, including those on the ''[[Mayflower]]'', as did the [[Founding Fathers]]. Between 1560 and 1644, 144 editions were printed, and this was the first English Bible to use verse numbering.

The Geneva Bible was the first to divide chapters into verses. It includes extensive annotations and can be considered the first study bible.  The Geneva Bible was one of the first to use "[[infinite]]", which most modern [[English]] translations still fail to use, as in {{bibleref|Psalms|147|5}} which the Geneva Bible renders as "Great is our Lord, and great is his power: his wisdom is infinite."

The Geneva Bible was the first to divide chapters into verses. It includes extensive annotations and can be considered the first study bible.  The Geneva Bible was one of the first to use "[[infinite]]", which most modern [[English]] translations still fail to use, as in {{bibleref|Psalms|147|5}} which the Geneva Bible renders as "Great is our Lord, and great is his power: his wisdom is infinite."

In 1526, [[William Tyndale]] began his first efforts to translate the Bible into [[English]]. For this defiance of the royal edicts then in force, the authorities pursued him. He fled to [[Germany]], where he met [[Martin Luther]], and from there to [[Belgium]]. There he produced a mechanically printed edition of the [[New Testament]], and his friends smuggled 6,000 copies of it into England. Authorities in Belgium hunted him, arrested him, and imprisoned him in Vilvoorde, and on March 6, 1536, he was executed.<ref name=Foster/>

In 1526, [[William Tyndale]] began his first efforts to translate the Bible into [[English]]. For this defiance of the royal edicts then in force, the authorities pursued him. He fled to [[Germany]], where he met [[Martin Luther]], and from there to [[Belgium]]. There he produced a mechanically printed edition of the [[New Testament]], and his friends smuggled 6,000 copies of it into England. Authorities in Belgium hunted him, arrested him, and imprisoned him in Vilvoorde, and on March 6, 1536, he was executed.<ref name=Foster/>

Tyndale's New Testament did not reach the common man in England. It did, however, influence the English clergy and might have been an impetus behind the Reformation in England.<ref name=Foster/> Significantly, [[Anne Boleyn]] was executed in the same year as was Tyndale—and subsequent to this, King [[Henry VIII]] began his sweeping purge of the monasteries in his realm.

Tyndale's New Testament did not reach the common man in England. It did, however, influence the English clergy and might have been an impetus behind the [[Reformation]] in England.<ref name=Foster/> Significantly, [[Anne Boleyn]] was executed in the same year as was Tyndale—and subsequent to this, King [[Henry VIII]] began his sweeping purge of the monasteries in his realm.

=== Bloody Mary ===

=== Bloody Mary ===

The Geneva Bible was highly popular in England, and indeed the [[Jamestown]] expeditionaries carried it to America in 1607. Likewise, the [[Pilgrims]] carried it with them to the [[Netherlands]], where they had fled, and then to what later became their [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth colony]] (in modern [[Massachusetts]]) in 1620.

The Geneva Bible was highly popular in England, and indeed the [[Jamestown]] expeditionaries carried it to America in 1607. Likewise, the [[Pilgrims]] carried it with them to the [[Netherlands]], where they had fled, and then to what later became their [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth colony]] (in modern [[Massachusetts]]) in 1620.

In 1604, shortly after his own accession to the throne, King [[James I]] commissioned [[King James Bible|his own version]] of the Bible, that would later come to be known as "The Bishop's Bible" or, more commonly, the '''Authorized Version'''. James' motive for promulgating his own version was simple: he did not want the people to have in hand a Bible with all the marginal notes that the Geneva Bible had. The reason was equally simple: those marginal notes might encourage lay readers not to credit James' overriding dogma of "the divine right of kings" that was central to his authority.<ref name=Brown>Brown, Michael H. "[http://www.reformedreader.org/gbn/igb.htm Introduction to the Geneva Bible for the historic Baptist faith.]" ''The Reformed Reader'', 1988. Retrieved November 2, 2007. Brown's essay is a scathing indictment of Kings James and Charles and of the [[Church of England]] that they headed. It is also flawed on account of the almost vitriolic [[argumentum ad hominem]] that Brown employs against James and his successors and allies. At the time of his writing, the Geneva Bible remained out of print, and this might have informed his bitterness. Whether he would have written a more refined essay had he known that the Geneva Bible would one day be published once again, is perhaps impossible to determine.</ref>

In 1604, shortly after his own accession to the throne, King [[James I]] commissioned [[King James Bible|his own version]] of the Bible, which would later come to be known as "The Bishop's Bible" or, more commonly, the '''Authorized Version'''. James' motive for promulgating his own version was simple: he did not want the people to have in hand a Bible with all the marginal notes that the Geneva Bible had. The reason was equally simple: those marginal notes might encourage lay readers not to credit James' overriding dogma of "the divine right of kings" that was central to his authority.<ref name=Brown>Brown, Michael H. "[http://www.reformedreader.org/gbn/igb.htm Introduction to the Geneva Bible for the historic Baptist faith.]" ''The Reformed Reader'', 1988. Retrieved November 2, 2007. Brown's essay is a scathing indictment of Kings James and Charles and of the [[Church of England]] that they headed. It is also flawed on account of the almost vitriolic [[argumentum ad hominem]] that Brown employs against James and his successors and allies. At the time of his writing, the Geneva Bible remained out of print, and this might have informed his bitterness. Whether he would have written a more refined essay had he known that the Geneva Bible would one day be published once again, is perhaps impossible to determine.</ref>

This version was first published in 1611. A later king ([[Charles I]]) would take the first steps toward suppression of the Geneva Bible toward the end of his reign. In 1644, the Geneva Bible went out of print and would remain out of print for more than four hundred fifty years.

This version was first published in 1611. A later king ([[Charles I]]) would take the first steps toward suppression of the Geneva Bible toward the end of his reign. In 1644, the Geneva Bible went out of print and would remain out of print for more than 450 years.

=== Modern Editions ===

=== Modern Editions ===

In 2003, L. L. Brown and Company published an edition of the 1599 Geneva Bible.<ref name=LLBrown>''The 1599 Geneva Bible''. Ozark, [[Missouri|MO]]: L. L. Brown Publishing, 2003. Cited in Preface, ''1599 Geneva Bible'', Tolle Lege Press, ''op. cit.'', pp. xix-xx.</ref> This edition included the [[Apocrypha]] and a metrical rendition of the Book of Psalms originally intended to encourage their recitation in church.

In 2003, L. L. Brown and Company published an edition of the 1599 Geneva Bible.<ref name=LLBrown>''The 1599 Geneva Bible''. Ozark, [[Missouri|MO]]: L. L. Brown Publishing, 2003. Cited in Preface, ''1599 Geneva Bible'', Tolle Lege Press, ''op. cit.'', pp. xix-xx.</ref> This edition included the [[Apocrypha]] and a metrical rendition of the Book of Psalms originally intended to encourage their recitation in church.

In January 2004 a group of concerned American individuals and organizations formed the 1599 Geneva Bible Restoration Project to restore and republish the richly annotated 1599 edition. Seventeen organizations and 270 individuals and families contributed funds for the project.<ref name=partners>"1599 Geneva Bible Restoration Project," ''1599 Geneva Bible'', ''op. cit.'', pp. v to xvii.</ref> The Project acquired the rights to the L. L. Brown copy, but omitted the Apocrypha and metrical Psalms and sought as much as possible to authenticate the original text as printed in 1599. The Tolle Lege edition makes no attempt to "modernize" the text, other than to update some of the spelling. Instead of "translating" the many out-dated words, it includes a glossary intended more as a guide than as a hard-and-fast body of rules. The editors state in their front matter that they wished to deliver an edition as close in meaning to the original as practicable.

In January 2004 a group of concerned American individuals and organizations formed the 1599 Geneva Bible Restoration Project to restore and republish the richly annotated 1599 edition. Seventeen organizations and 270 individuals and families contributed funds for the project.<ref name=partners>"1599 Geneva Bible Restoration Project," ''1599 Geneva Bible'', ''op. cit.'', pp. v to xvii.</ref> The Project acquired the rights to the L. L. Brown version, but omitted the Apocrypha and metrical Psalms and sought as much as possible to authenticate the original text as printed in 1599. The Tolle Lege edition makes no attempt to "modernize" the text, other than to update some of the spelling. Instead of "translating" the many outdated words, it includes a glossary intended more as a guide than as a hard-and-fast body of rules. The editors state in their preface that they wished to deliver an edition as close in meaning to the original as practicable.

== Review ==

== Review ==

The copious marginal notes are the key feature of the Geneva Bible, and its key difference from the Authorized Version, which has no such notes. As Foster<ref name=Foster/> stated, the Geneva Bible is the first true ''study Bible''. Its translators sought to explain to the common man not only what the Bible said but also what it meant.

The copious marginal notes are the key feature of the Geneva Bible, and its key difference from the Authorized Version, which has no such notes. As Foster<ref name=Foster/> stated, the Geneva Bible is the first true ''study Bible''. Its translators sought to explain to the common man not only what the Bible said but also what it meant.

These notes are highly revealing of the mind-set of the Geneva editors. For that reason they are at least as valuable as a source of insight into Reformation thinking as they are as explanatory text of the Bible itself.

These notes are highly revealing of the mindset of the Geneva editors. For that reason they are at least as valuable as a source of insight into Reformation thinking as they are as explanatory text of the Bible itself.

==== Literalism ====

==== Literalism ====

The Geneva editors regarded their Bible as literal history. This included the history of [[creation]], the genealogy of the pre-[[Great Flood|Flood]] Patriarchs,<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=5}}</ref> and the full history and exact time-line of the ancient [[Judaism|Jews]]. Some of their notes beg explanation—for example, their counting of the "four hundred years" of oppression of the Israelites<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=15|verses=13}}</ref> as beginning with the birth of [[Isaac]] and not with the entry of [[Jacob]] into [[Egypt]]. This, however, is a minor quibble.

The Geneva editors regarded their Bible as literal history. This included the history of [[creation]], the genealogy of the pre-[[Great Flood|Flood]] Patriarchs,<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=5}}</ref> and the full history and exact timeline of the ancient [[Judaism|Jews]]. Some of their notes beg explanation—for example, their counting of the "four hundred years" of oppression of the Israelites<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=15|verses=13}}</ref> as beginning with the birth of [[Isaac]] and not with the entry of [[Jacob]] into [[Egypt]]. This, however, is a minor quibble.

==== Eschatology ====

==== Eschatology ====