[The Geneva Bible is one =
of the most historically significant translations of =
the Bible into =
English. =
Persecuted by Catholic Queen Mary (1553-58), many Protestant scholars in =
England fled for their lives to Geneva, Switzerland, where freedom =
of worship was guaranteed, and protection offered. There they =
collaborated on translating the Greek texts into a unique =
English-language Bible.
(This =
preceded the King James =
Version by =
50+ years; 85% of the KJV was later copied =
word for word from the Geneva translation. It was the primary =
Bible of 16th-century English Protestantism=
and was =
used by William =
Shakespeare, Oliver =
Cromwell, John =
Knox, John =
Donne, =
and John =
Bunyan (author of The Pilgrim’s =
Progress 1678). It was the Bible taken to America on =
the Mayflower.)
It may be =
challenging to readers today (as spelling words are foreign to us today =
and letters like “u” or “i” or =
“v” or “j” or “y” seem to randomly =
replace each other in early Modern English!), but this Christmas I =
encourage you to read aloud the wonderful story of Luke 2, imagining you =
are hiding from persecution in England, exiled far from home, or =
in the hull of a ship with the Pilgrims off Cape Cod.]
“And it came =
to passe in those daies, that there came a decree from Augustus Cesar, =
that all the world should be taxed. (This first taxing was made when =
Cyrenius was gouernour of Syria.) Therefore went all to be taxed, euery =
man to his owne Citie.
And Ioseph also =
went vp from Galile out of a citie called Nazareth, into Iudea, vnto the =
citie of Dauid, which is called Beth-leem (because he was of the house =
and linage of Dauid) to bee taxed with Marie that was giuen him to wife, =
which was with childe.
And so it was, =
that while they were there, the daies were accomplished that shee =
shoulde be deliuered, And she brought foorth her first begotten =
sonne, and wrapped him in swadling clothes, and laide him in a craetch, =
because there was no roome for them in the ynne.
And there were in =
the same countrey shepheards, abiding in the fielde, and keeping watch =
by night ouer their flocke. And loe, the Angel of the Lord came vpon =
them, and the glorie of the Lord shone about them, and they were sore =
afraide. Then the Angel saide vnto them, Be not afraid: for behold, I =
bring you glad tidings of great ioy, that shalbe to all the people, that =
is, that vnto you is borne this day in the citie of Dauid, a Sauiour, =
which is Christ the Lorde. And this shalbe a signe to you, Yee shall =
finde the babe swadled, and laid in a craetch.
And straightway =
there was with the Angel a multitude of heauenly souldiers, praising =
God, and saying, Glory be to God in the high heauens, and peace in =
earth, and towards men good will.
And it came to =
passe when the Angels were gone away from them into heauen, that the =
shepheards sayde one to another, Let vs goe then vnto Beth-leem, and see =
this thing that is come to passe which the Lord hath shewed vnto vs. So =
they came with haste, and founde both Marie and Ioseph, & the babe =
laid in the craetch.
And when they had =
seene it, they published abroade the thing, that was tolde them of that =
childe. And all that heard it, wondred at ye things which were tolde =
them of the shepheards. But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondred =
them in her heart.
And the =
shepheardes returned glorifiyng and praising God, for all that they had =
heard and seene as it was spoken vnto =
them.”
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] www.grif.net =
"Jesus =
Knows Me, This I =
Love!"