The history of the English Bible is a fascinating tale of dedication, translation, and religious reform. The efforts of early translators such as Miles Coverdale, William Tyndale, and John Rogers played pivotal roles in making the Bible accessible to English-speaking Christians. Among the most significant early English translations are Coverdale’s Bible, Matthew’s Bible, and the Great Bible. Each of these works contributed to the evolution of the English Bible, with lasting impacts on English literature, religion, and culture.
Miles Coverdale and the Coverdale Bible
Miles Coverdale (1488-1569) is a towering figure in the history of the English Bible. On October 4, 1535, Coverdale achieved a historic milestone by printing the first complete English Bible, known as the Coverdale Bible. This monumental work was a significant advancement in the Reformation’s push to provide scripture to the English-speaking laity in their native tongue.
Coverdale and Tyndale: A Collaborative Effort
Coverdale was not working in isolation; he was a close friend and proofreader of William Tyndale, who had previously translated the New Testament into English. Tyndale’s work heavily influenced Coverdale’s translation, particularly in the New Testament. However, Coverdale also drew from other sources, including the Latin Vulgate and Martin Luther’s German Bible, to create his translation.
Notable Contributions of the Coverdale Bible
One of the most significant achievements of the Coverdale Bible was its official acceptance by the English Church. At the behest of Thomas Cromwell, all English clergymen were instructed to place a copy of Coverdale’s Bible in a prominent location within their churches, ensuring that parishioners could read it conveniently. This made the Coverdale Bible the first officially sanctioned English translation circulated by the Church, marking a pivotal moment in the Reformation.
Coverdale was also a master of English prose, often referred to as a “writer’s writer” due to the beauty and elegance of his phrasing. His translation work, particularly in the Psalms, left an enduring legacy. The translation of the Psalms found in the Book of Common Prayer, still used in Anglican liturgy today, is Coverdale’s work.
Coverdale’s Psalms: A Timeless Contribution
Coverdale’s translation of the Psalms is one of his most enduring legacies. Revised by Coverdale himself for the Great Bible of 1539, his translation of the Psalms has been continuously printed in the Book of Common Prayer. The eloquence and spiritual depth of Coverdale’s Psalms have resonated with generations of English-speaking Christians.
For example, Psalm 23 in Coverdale’s translation reads:
The Lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall feed me in a green pasture: and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
This translation, with its serene and comforting tone, has become one of the most cherished passages in the English language.
Innovations in Bible Format
Coverdale was also a pioneer in how the Bible was organized and presented to readers. He was the first to separate the Apocrypha from the Old Testament, relegating these books to an appendix. This practice set a precedent for later Protestant Bibles. Additionally, Coverdale introduced chapter summaries, providing readers with a clear and concise overview of each chapter’s content, a significant improvement over the brief chapter headings found in the Vulgate.
Matthew’s Bible: The Second Complete English Bible
Following the success of the Coverdale Bible, another significant translation emerged in 1537, known as Matthew’s Bible. This Bible was likely produced by John Rogers, a friend of Tyndale, under the pseudonym “Thomas Matthew.” The use of a pseudonym was necessary because Tyndale’s translation was still condemned by the English authorities, and any association with him could be dangerous.
Composition and Influence
Matthew’s Bible was the second complete English Bible to be printed, and it played a crucial role in the dissemination of Tyndale’s work. Rogers relied heavily on Tyndale’s translations, using much of his Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) and New Testament. In addition, Rogers incorporated portions of the Coverdale Bible and contributed his own translation efforts. As a result, Matthew’s Bible is often said to consist of two-thirds Tyndale and one-third Coverdale.
The importance of Matthew’s Bible cannot be overstated. As L.A. Weigle noted, “It is Rogers’ Bible which became the foundation of all later English authorized versions, and it is through Rogers’ republication that Tyndale’s 1535 version of the New Testament had its great influence upon subsequent versions.” Thus, Matthew’s Bible served as a bridge between Tyndale’s pioneering work and the later English Bibles that would shape the course of Protestant Christianity.
The Great Bible: A Monumental Achievement
The culmination of these early translation efforts was the Great Bible, first published in 1539. This Bible was essentially a revision of Matthew’s Bible, with significant input from Coverdale. The Great Bible derived its name from its large size, with pages measuring 9 x 15 inches, making it an imposing and authoritative volume.
A Bible for the People
Commissioned by Thomas Cromwell, the Great Bible was intended to be placed in every parish church in England, ensuring that all English Christians had access to the scriptures. This move was part of a broader effort by Henry VIII to establish the Church of England’s independence from Rome and to promote the use of the English language in religious services.
Coverdale’s role in the production of the Great Bible was crucial. His careful revision of Matthew’s Bible, along with his poetic and accessible translation style, helped to solidify the Great Bible’s place as the standard English Bible for much of the 16th century. The text’s clarity and readability made it widely popular among clergy and laity alike.
Legacy of the Early English Bibles
The impact of these early English Bibles—Coverdale’s Bible, Matthew’s Bible, and the Great Bible—cannot be overstated. They laid the foundation for all subsequent English translations, including the Authorized King James Version of 1611. These Bibles not only provided English-speaking Christians with direct access to the scriptures but also influenced the development of the English language and literature.
Miles Coverdale’s dedication to producing a beautiful and accessible English Bible, John Rogers’ efforts to preserve and disseminate Tyndale’s work, and the monumental achievement of the Great Bible all played crucial roles in shaping the religious and cultural landscape of the English-speaking world. Today, their legacy continues in the countless English translations and revisions that have followed, each one standing on the shoulders of these early giants of Bible translation.