Geneva Bible

"Geneva Bible" is not a term found in the biblical text. It is the name of an English Bible translation produced during the Reformation.

Background

When Mary I of England (reigned 1553–1558) persecuted Protestants, many fled to the Continent. Some of them gathered in Geneva, where John Calvin was active. Scholars associated with the congregation of English refugees pastored by John Knox undertook the translation, with William Whittingham generally regarded as its leading figure. The New Testament appeared first, in 1557, and a complete Bible containing both the Old and New Testaments was published in 1560. The translators worked from the Hebrew and Greek originals, but they are regarded as having drawn heavily on the earlier English translation of William Tyndale.

Characteristics

• Verse numbering: It is known as the first complete English Bible to number verses as well as chapters. This practice became a model for later English Bibles (see Chapters and verses of the Bible).
• Marginal notes: Extensive commentary and cross-references were printed alongside the text. These notes strongly reflect the perspective of Reformed theology, that is, Calvinism.
• Accessible format: Instead of the Gothic (blackletter) type common at the time, it used roman type and a smaller format, making it easier for individuals and households to own. It also included maps and illustrations.
• The nickname "Breeches Bible": The nickname arose because, in Genesis 3:7, it rendered the coverings Adam and Eve made from fig leaves as "breeches."

Relationship to the King James Version

The Geneva Bible was widely read in England and Scotland during the Elizabethan era and afterward. Its influence is said to be traceable in the works of Shakespeare, John Milton, and others. King James I, however, disliked it, believing that some of its marginal notes challenged royal authority. A frequently cited example is the note on Exodus 1 that approved of the Hebrew midwives' disobedience to Pharaoh's command. The Hampton Court Conference of 1604 led to a new translation, and the King James Version appeared in 1611. That Bible did not include marginal notes offering doctrinal commentary. Even after the King James Version became established, the Geneva Bible continued to be printed for some time.

Assessment and Debate

The Reformed and Puritan traditions hold the Geneva Bible in high regard as a translation that helped laypeople read and study Scripture for themselves. The Church of England, by contrast, was wary of the theological slant and political implications of its marginal notes, and for this reason it produced other translations, such as the Bishops' Bible (1568). It is widely said that early Puritans who crossed to the New World brought this Bible with them.

In the Korean Church

The Geneva Bible is not used in worship in Korean churches. It is mainly introduced in discussions of the history of English Bible translation, the background of the King James Version, or Calvin and the Genevan Reformation.