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The 1611 King James Bible

Naveen-JDM — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 06:23:41 +0000

The 1611 King James Bible

The English King James Bible is the best selling book in history, by an extremely wide margin. With multiple billions of copies in print, no other book can claim even one billion copies in print. Even more impressive, the King James Bible remains one of the most popular translations of the Bible today, in spite of being in an archaic dialect of English that is well over four centuries old. There is simply no more beloved, influential, or widely read book in the world.

King James Bible, KJV Bible, AV Bible: Many Names

Also known as the King James Version Bible, the KJV Bible, the Authorized Version, The AV Bible, etc; the King James Bible is often associated with the year 1611 in which it was originally published. The original 1611 Version of the King James Bible however, ceased publication in the early 1600’s (with the exception of some modern era facsimiles of the 1611 KJV Bible). All of the billions of mass-produced King James Version Bibles printed in the past two centuries are in fact highly revised editions differing substantially from the four century old 1611 original version, as we will explore further…

The KJV Bible: The Greatest, But Not Among The First

The first English translations of the Bible were the hand-written manuscripts of John Wycliffe and his followers in the late 1300’s, well before Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press in 1455. The lineage of Protestant-produced printed English Bibles begins in the early 1500’s. The first printed English New Testaments were produced by William Tyndale in the 1520’s & 1530’s. The first complete English Bible was published by Myles Coverdale in 1535. The first English Bible translated directly from the original Hebrew & Greek was the Matthew-Tyndale Bible of 1537 and 1549. The most popular of all Protestant translations of the Bible into English was the Geneva Bible of 1560.

The Church of England, also known as The Anglican Church, originally took the same position as the Roman Catholic Church, which was to keep God’s Word trapped in the old ecclesiastical language of Latin, and to kill any Protestants who dared to print the Bible in English. However, that position changed with the advent of King Henry VIII’s “Great Bible” of 1539, as the first officially authorized English Bible of the Anglican Church. This was followed by the 1568 Bishops Bible, under the reign of Queen Elizabeth, as the second officially authorized English Bible of the Anglican Church. And finally, this was followed by the 1611 King James Bible, under the reign of King James, as the third officially authorized English Bible of the Anglican Church. More details are provided on the English Bible History Page.

It may come as a shock to those who assume the King James Bible was either the first English Bible, or at least among the first, to learn that the 1611 KJV Bible in fact came nearly a century after the several English Bible translations of the 1500’s which preceded it. Indeed the King James Bible was not even one of the first translations to be authorized by the Church that ultimately produced it, as it was in fact the third in the lineage of Anglican Church Authorized Bibles of 1539, 1568, and 1611.

The KJV Bible: Not Protestant or Catholic; Actually Anglican

Many are also surprised to learn that the 1611 King James Bible was not a Protestant Bible, but rather, it was an Anglican / Church of England Bible, though the KJV Bible is of course embraced by Protestants everywhere today. Curiously, the greatest Protestant Bible, the 1560 Geneva Bible, is not well known today, and no longer printed except in small quantity by niche market publishers. The Geneva Bible remained the most popular English Bible until the mid-1600’s. King James was so aggravated by the competition, that by 1616, he had effectually made it illegal to print the Geneva Bible in England, (having actually threatened to enforce such a ban since 1611), ensuring that his own King James Version would reign supreme without rival.

King James: Hero or Tyrant?

King James was a highly educated and very intelligent man, but his personal life made him the most controversial person to rule over England since his relative King Henry VIII. King James publicly proclaimed in 1622 that English Kings are “rightly called gods” and as such, Kings could kill whomever they wished, marry whomever they wished, and engage in sexual relations with anyone they wished, male or female. He even declared it a crime to question King’s personal morality. More details are provided in this linked biographical sketch on King James

It was in fact, King James who motivated the founding of what became the United States of America. A group of Protestant Separatists in the early 1600’s rejected the practices of the King’s Anglican Church, and the morality of King James. They tried to establish their own Protestant churches, but King James refused to allow them religious freedom, fining and imprisoning them. Eventually these Protestant Separatists fled England on a ship called The Mayflower, becoming known as Pilgrims. In 1620 they landed on the shore of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and began to establish a community with separation of Church and State in order to avoid the tyranny from which they had fled, under King James. They brought with them their beloved English Protestant Geneva Bible, as they were obviously not fans of King James or his Bible. Curiously, as the years went by, the early American colonists drifted away from their Geneva Bible, and began to embrace the King James Bible almost exclusively.

It should be noted that the personal morality of King James should in no way reflect poorly upon the King James Version of The Bible. Indeed, King James had almost nothing to do with the actual translation of the Bible that bears his name. He merely funded it with taxpayer money, and commanded that it be printed (without illustrations or commentary) and distributed. The translation was done by 50 of the world’s top Biblical scholars and translation experts, from 1607 to 1610, and published in 1611. The resulting 1611 King James Bible translation was extremely accurate and trustworthy, as well as being majestic in its rendering of the English scriptures. No other English Bible has ever come near the popularity and influence of the King James Version.

The King James Bible Today vs The 1611 King James Bible

Think you are using the 1611 King James Bible? Think again.

You may already have one or more “King James Version” Bibles in your home, and they probably all say “1611” in the front… however the shocking truth is, that is not even close to being an accurate claim. In spite of your King James Bible having the Dedication to King James preface, and the To The Christian Reader preface, and the Title Page that grandiosely proclaims it to be “Translated Out Of The Original Tongues: And With The Former Translations Diligently Compared And Revised By His Majesty’s Special Command and Appointed To Be Read In Churches” with the date “1611” boldly displayed; that is not actually what you have. Indeed, all of that prefatory content is unfortunately just a deceptive marketing ploy maintained by modern Bible publishers in what is essentially a conspiracy to maintain their profitable myth that the King James Version they publish today is essentially the same as the King James Bible of 1611… just re-typeset into a modern typeface. That is not even close to being true.

First and foremost, almost 100% of King James Bibles (and all other English Bibles) printed throughout the 1600’s, 1700’s, and most of the 1800’s, up until around 1885, contained 80 Books, not 66 Books. The 14 Books that were removed from English Bibles (including all the King James Bibles) around 1885 are called the Apocrypha, or Deuterocanonical, or Inter-Testamental Books. These Books were written mostly around 400 B.C. to 200 B.C., so they are Old Testament Era Jewish material. The Apocrypha Books are absolutely not “Roman Catholic” as is often believed in error, (because the Roman Catholics did not remove most of these ancient Jewish Books from their Bibles). In fact, King James set forth a decree in 1611, that if anyone printed his Bible without The Apocrypha Books, he would fine them one year of their wages and imprison them for one year. The Apocrypha was, by law and royal decree, part of every King James Version Bible printed from 1611 until close to three centuries after 1611.

The Apocrypha includes important history about what happened during the “Inter-Testamental Period”, after the Old Testament, and before the coming of Christ in the New Testament. We also find uniquely specific prophecy. As an example, in the Apocryphal Book of Second Esdras, Chapter 7, Verses 28+29, we find in the 1611 King James Bible, “For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within 400 years. After these years shall my son Christ die, and all men that have life.” Bear in mind that the names “Jesus” and “Christ” appear nowhere in any Old Testament Book, (though The Messiah is spoken of, with many prophecies concerning His coming, but not providing a time estimate). Also, no prediction of exactly when Jesus Christ would appear are found anywhere in the Old Testament, but this Apocrypha reference states “within 400 years”. That’s impressive, isn’t it? Most of the Great Protestant Reformers and Preachers from the 1500’s through the 1800’s, including the great and beloved Baptist preacher of the late 1800’s, Charles Spurgeon, preached from The Apocrypha.

But the unwarranted and illegal removal of The 14 Apocrypha Books in 1885 was only the most recent change to the 1611 King James Bible. There were also a multitude of changes to the Old Testament and New Testament scriptures. Between the first revision of around 1615 and the last revision of 1769, (notwithstanding the aforementioned 1885 removal of 14 Books), more than 400 wording changes, and close to 40,000 changes in spelling, italics, and punctuation were made to the Old & New Testament scripture of the King James Version. Here are just 3 of the more than 400 examples of wording changes:

Numbers 6: 14

KJV Bibles of 1611 unto the 1770’s: one lamb without blemish

KJV Bibles of the 1770’s unto Today: one ram without blemish

Ezekiel 24: 7

KJV Bibles of 1611 unto the 1770’s: poured it upon the ground

KJV Bibles of the 1770’s unto Today: poured it not upon the ground

John 15: 20

KJV Bibles of 1611 unto the 1770’s: The servant is not greater than the Lord.

KJV Bibles of the 1770’s unto Today: The servant is not greater than his lord.

It is shocking to realize this, but the “King James Version” Bible you may have been using all your life… if it was printed within the past 250 years… is NOT the 1611 King James Bible. It has in fact been subjected to a multitude of revisions. If you do not own a photographic reproduction of the original 1611 then you have no point of reference to see these changes.

Timeline of 1611 King James Bible Revisions

1611 – The original King James Bible is printed in London.

1615 – The first revisions are seen in London KJV printings.

1629 – Cambridge University begins printing the KJV, with sweeping revisions.

1638 – Cambridge University prints the “Corrected” KJV with widespread changes, and this highly updated version becomes the universally accepted and universally printed KJV Bible for 124 years. There are no noteworthy protests regarding the revisions.

1675 – Oxford University begins printing the KJV Bible: essentially still the 1638 edition.

1762 – Cambridge University, guided by Dr. F.S. Paris, issues a massively changed KJV text with hundreds of wording changes, and tens of thousands of spelling changes to reflect the new modern English word spelling uniformity mandated by the widely accepted 1755 Johnson’s English Dictionary. A group of “1611 Loyalists” burns the Cambridge Warehouse down in protest, destroying all but several copies.

1769 – Oxford University, guided by Dr. Benjamin Blayney, takes a surviving copy of Cambridge’s 1762 revised and modernized KJV text, and adds more changes, resulting now in a total of 400 wording changes, and tens of thousands of changes to spelling, punctuation, and italics. A group of “1611 Loyalists” (Proto-Ruckmanites?) burns the Oxford Warehouse down in protest, destroying all but several copies.

Every King James Version Bible printed from the late 1770’s until today… for the past more than 250 years… is the 1769 revision, of the 1762 revision, of the 1638 revision, of the 1629 revision, of the 1615 revision, of the 1611.

With just one other caveat…

1885 – The 14 Apocrypha Books were removed from all King James Bibles.

So, as you can see, even though your King James Bible may say “1611” in the front, and have lots of prefatory historical references to King James, all of that is for show. The fallacy keeps the masses happy, keeps the major publishers selling lots of so-called “1611” King James Bibles … perhaps it even prevents warehouses from being burned down. But it is not true.

The Complex Printing Of The First Edition 1611 King James Bible

All of the First Edition King James Bibles that were printed in the year 1611 were printed under the license of King James, in London, supervised by Robert Barker. All were huge pulpit folio size (around 17 inches tall), with no smaller size printings done in 1611. All had 59 lines of text to their two-column pages. All had the exact same layout of verse-to-page parameters: for example, in every 1611 printing, the fourth leaf (the fourth two-sided page) of Romans contains precisely Romans 6: 1 through Romans 8: 8.

However, the 1611 King James Bible was printed on an estimated 25 different printing presses in London in 1611. Some were royal presses, but most were independently owned presses used under exercise of royal imminent domain by decree of the King, in order to get the printing done as soon as possible. No one press printed more than just a few Books of the Bible, as assigned by the supervisors (such as Barker and his staff). It is extremely important to also understand that no one press had an exclusive on the Books they were assigned, so multiple print shops were tasking with printing Genesis, for example. You may have had 5 or more different printing shops all assigned to do only Genesis through Deuteronomy, and the next 5 different printing shops may have been assigned to do Matthew through Acts, etc. (Note: these are hypothetical examples of assignment for illustration purposes… we do not know exactly which presses printed which Books of the Bible, because those records were all lost in the Great Fire that nearly destroyed London in 1666).

When all the pieced-out assignments were gathered back at the Royal Print Shop, they were assembled in almost countless variations of provenance… so the different types of printing errors were extremely numerous, and more importantly they were dissimilar. Dr. Francis Fry, the greatest Bible collector of the 1800’s, notes in his 1865 Book on the history of the 1611 KJV Bible printing, “I have personally examined more than 100 copies of the 1611 first printing of the King James Bible, and I have not been able to find any two copies that are exactly identical in their wording.” This is because the estimated two dozen different print shops, doing only assigned portions for subsequent collation, (no one of them having an exclusive on their assigned portions), results mathematically in several hundred different possible variations of textual idiosyncrasies and variations… different combinations and permutations of collations of complete Bible text blocks to bind.

It is perhaps easiest to visualize the complexity this way… let’s assign each of the approximately two dozen London print shops contracted in 1611 to print assigned portions of the King James Bible with a letter of the alphabet to identify their shop: A to Z. Now, let’s imagine all those various portions printed and gathered back at the royal warehouse for collation (ordering and assembling of the pages) and binding in complete 1611 King James Bibles. One of the finished and bound Bibles might be a gathering of page portions in the following order, Genesis to Revelation, from the following print shops responsible for that particular example’s pages: C-M-L-A-R-H-M-Z-P-F-C-T And the next one might be identified as: A-R-Z-A-Q-J-E-O-W-X-G-Y. It is easier to understand now why, when Dr. Fry examined over 100 copies of the 1611 KJV First Edition, all printed in exactly 1611, he could not find any two that were identical.

Each complete Bible had different collections of typographical discrepancies with very minor errors and deviations. Little word alterations like “He” vs. “She” or “of” vs “if” or “heals” vs. “healeth”. None of those errors were substantive wording issues that appreciably changed the meaning of anything theologically. Printing a 750-page Bible in 1611, with dozens of contracted printers, made it practically impossible to produce complete Bibles with zero minor typographical errors.

For reasons that seem to be wrapped up in tradition more than logic or reason, many collectors focus on whether a given copy of the 1611 King James Bible says “he went into the citie”, or “she went into the citie” at Ruth 3: 15, going as far as to label such Bibles “He Variant” or “She Variant”. Ultimately, this is a meaningless distinction, and one among countless distinctions anyway. However, because it has been noted that the so-called “He Variants” tend to have two dated “1611” title pages, and the “She Variants” tend to have one dated 1611 Title Page, (more details about this are below), the “He Variants” are more highly prized among collectors. Some even think, in error, that the “He Variants” were printed earlier, as “He” is an error, and “She” is correct, so they reason that the error must precede the correction. That is of course a fallacy of logic, as both were printed simultaneously in different print shops. In fact, this is not even true 100% of the time, as there are known examples of “She Variants” with two dated “1611” title pages, including one of the 1611 King James Bibles in the Gene Scott Rare Bible Collection in Los Angeles, California.

It should also be noted that the beginning of each chapter of each Book of the Bible had its own decorative “drop-letter” (a larger letter, typically with a floral or otherwise ornate design). These were random, left up to the individual print shop director to select whatever design they wished (mostly within a large set of pre-approved designs). So one copy of the First Edition 1611 King James Bible might have a rose growing out of the first letter of Chapter 24 of Matthew, while another might have a tulip growing out of that letter, and another might have a bird sitting by the letter, and another might just have some fancy scrolling lines accenting the letter. Sometimes a printer even went a bit rouge and selected ornamented drop letters that were not approved. For example, some original 1611 First Edition King James Bibles show on the first page of Ephesians, which starts at Ephesians 1: 1 with a large “P” for Paul… a bare-breasted woman swinging from the top of the large “P”!

Any 1600’s Era printing of the King James Version Bible that is about 17 inches tall, with 59 lines of two-column text, is one that was printed in exactly 1611. Period. Whatever textual distinctions it may have do not effect this in any way. However, not all the copies that were printed in 1611, were bound and issued in 1611, and so not all the copies printed in 1611 bear “1611” dated title pages… much to the chagrin and irritation of rare book dealers and collectors for the past four centuries.

The Confusing Issuance of The 1611 King James Bible

In the end it was realized that all these printers had in fact printed far more copies of the 1611 King James Bible than were needed to fulfill the King’s decree that one be placed on every church pulpit and every college or seminary lectern in England with several extras to present as royal gifts. There were actually thousands of extra copies printed… way more than were needed in 1611. So, they took the number of text blocks (unbound complete Bibles) they needed… which as we have already established were not exactly identical to each other… and bound them and issued them out the door of the Royal Warehouse in 1611.

However, many of the text blocks remained unbound for several years, and were later bound with subsequently dated title pages indicating their actual year of BINDING and ISSUANCE … and NOT their year of printing, which was of course “1611” in all cases. Oh, the confusion this has caused among dealers and collectors over the proceeding centuries! This happened in five recognized stages of issuance, (as additional copies were requested over the coming decades), which we will now list.

The First Edition, First Issue, of the 1611 King James Bible

Was printed in 1611
Was bound and issued out the door in 1611
The Old Testament Title Page is dated 1611
The New Testament Title Page is dated 1611

The First Edition, Second Issue, of the 1611 King James Bible

Was printed in 1611
Was bound and issued out the door in 1613
The Old Testament Title Page is dated 1613
The New Testament Title Page is dated 1611

Note: they attempted to confirm the 1611 printing date by dating one Title Page 1611, while acknowledging the 1613 binding date by dating the other Title Page 1613.

Note also: there was a separate unrelated printing of the King James Pulpit Folio Bible done in 1613, but that printing, often called the “True Second Edition Folio”, has 72 lines of text to the page, not 59 lines as all 1611 printings show, so they are easy to tell apart.

The First Edition, Third Issue, of the 1611 King James Bible

Was printed in 1611
Was bound and issued out the door in 1617
The Old Testament Title Page is dated 1617
The New Testament Title Page is dated 1617

Note: from the third issue forward, they just gave up trying to communicate the 1611 printing date on either Title Page. The idea that this would cause confusion among antique Bible collectors centuries latter was surely not among their concerns.

The First Edition, Fourth Issue, of the 1611 King James Bible

Was printed in 1611
Was bound and issued out the door in 1634
The Old Testament Title Page is dated 1634
The New Testament Title Page is dated 1634

The First Edition, Fourth Issue, of the 1611 King James Bible

Was printed in 1611
Was bound and issued out the door in 1639-1640
The Old Testament Title Page is dated 1640
The New Testament Title Page is dated 1639

Note: the odd dating of the later year first, just as the Second Issue of 1613-1611

The Burden of Proof & The Great Fire

The explanation provided here is the one accepted by the vast majority of King James Bible collectors today. It is logical, and despite its complexity, it is far more reasonable than the seemingly absurd counter-theory that the royal printers re-set the printing presses five times from 1611 to 1640, bizarrely holding themselves to the excruciatingly exacting standard of maintaining identical verse-to-page layout parameters, for no apparent reason, (and did so flawlessly every time), and with no historical documentation of such a decree to do such a thing, … again executing all this repeatedly on five separate occasions across three decades of printing.

In 2021, we confirmed this commonly accepted belief that all five issues were printed in 1611, with the more than 3,500 antique Bible collectors and enthusiasts on our email newsletter list. Not one person responded indicating they believed otherwise. Many responded confirming their acceptance of this common sense understanding of the 1611 printing of all five issues.

Ultimately, definitive proof of any ancient printing protocols may be impossible because the detailed records documenting exactly how all books were printed in London were mostly lost in the Great Fire which swept through London in 1666. The fire was so widespread, history records that it destroyed 13,200 homes, (the majority of all residences in London), and 87 churches, including Saint Paul’s Cathedral, which had stood since the Middle Ages. Some historians have observed that the fire may have been a blessing in disguise, as relatively few people actually died despite the fire’s massive devastation, and the fire consumed all of the rat-infested slum areas which were thought to have caused the Great Bubonic Plague of London which killed close to 100,000 people, just a year earlier in 1665. It was, perhaps, a cleansing fire.

Why The Ancient King James Version Remains Popular

There are three primary reasons why the Authorized King James Bible remains so highly favored among Christians, even into the 21st century.

First, is the simple fact that many born in or prior to the 1970’s grew up reading exclusively the KJV Bible. This is because the wave of popular modern English Bibles (such as the NIV & NASB) were not published until the early 1970’s, and so the KJV had few rivals in American culture before that time. For these older individuals, there remains a strong sentimental attachment to the King James Bible’s regal and poetic rendering of the scriptures. This may remind the reader of childhood, simpler times, church, family values, and other associated treasured memories. Admittedly this is not a theological reason, but it nevertheless carries a tremendous amount of emotional weight for those who “grew up KJV”.

Second, is the legacy effect stemming from the fact that a vast number of people have memorized many Bible passages in their younger years using the King James Version, and so all the scripture they committed to memory only “sounds right” when rendered in the King James Version. Take for example, John 3: 16, which in the King James Version tells us that God “gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish”. When that is rendered in modern English such as, “gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish”, it just does not hit the ear as familiarly and comfortably for those who memorized it differently. The majority of those who feel this way will personally prefer the King James Version for their own use, but most do not take offense at all other translations, nor do most of them advocate that other people should also use the KJV exclusively.

Third, is a deeply held belief among many English speaking Christians, (especially those located in the more rural “Bible Belt” areas of the central United States), that all the modern English translations of the Bible are somehow apostate, heretical, inaccurate, and liberal… with many going as far as to believe that all English Bibles produced after the KJV Bible are conspiratorial works of Satan, without exception. These individuals do insist that others should only use the KJV Bible.

The “KJV Only” Movement

Those who hold the surprisingly common position of rejecting all Bible translations except the Authorized King James Version are called “KJV Only” or “KJVO” or “KJV Loyalists”… or in the most extreme cases, they may rise to the level of being “Ruckmanites”. They will not read any translation except the KJV, and they will not attend any church or Bible study or fellowship that quotes scripture from any translation but the KJV. While there are more KJV-Only practitioners in the USA who identify as “Baptist” than any other denomination; the majority of Baptists are not KJV-Only, and the largest Baptists denomination, the Southern Baptist Churches, rejects the stance of hard-core KJV-Only groups.

To help differentiate themselves as KJV-Only and avoid confusion (and often to avoid unwanted confrontation with unwitting church visitors who are not comfortable with a KJV-Only stance); many KJV-Only churches will boldly state on their church’s roadside sign, directly under the name of their church, “KJV ONLY”, and also disclaim this prominently in all their church’s printed literature, social media, and website. This is a stern warning to all “Non-KJV-Only” people to think carefully and be advised of this before visiting. However this practice is also helpful to those who are already KJV-Only, assisting them in finding a congregation of like-minded believers.

The technical reasons typically given for this most extreme position tend to involve arguments about the original source texts of Hebrew and Greek used by translators. The King James Only faction favors the Byzantine tradition’s so-called “textus receptus” (“received text”), and distrusts the Alexandrian texts (on which most 20th & 21st centuries English Bibles rely).

“Ruckmanites” are the most extreme KJV-only faction, but we want to emphasize up front that the vast majority of “KJV-Only” people do NOT go as far as to identify as Ruckmanites, before we take a closer look at this faction’s beliefs and founder.

The Ruckmanites take their KJV-Only stance much further than simply rejecting all English translations except the KJV. They actually believing that the King James Version is superior to the original Greek and Hebrew from which it was primarily originally translated. While that may seem impossible on the surface, it should be understood that they believe the 1611 King James Bible represents a “new revelation” or “advanced revelation” from God, improving and perfectly codifying His Word for eternity in the Divinely chosen superior English language at a finite point in time in 1611 AD. Ironically, the underlying source text argument (Byzantine vs. Alexandrian) is rendered effectually irrelevant for them, because the KJV translation itself is considered to be directly Divinely inspired word-for-word, with God’s Word settled for eternity only in the ancient English of the original KJV.

They even believe that translations of the Bible into other languages for non-English speakers (such as Spanish, French, German, Russian, Chinese, etc) must be made from the King James English as the original source translation text, and not from the original Greek and Hebrew! The founder of this extreme minority faction within the KJVO movement, Peter Ruckman, went as far as to warn that every person who does not speak or read English, is headed to eternal damnation if they do not either learn English and read the KJV Bible, or get a Bible in their own language that was translated directly from the English KJV. This makes it nearly impossible for anyone who is not an English speaker to be saved from eternal damnation, because their are no widely published Bibles in other languages that were oddly translated from the English King James translation as their source text, rather than being translated from the original Biblical languages as common sense would seem to dictate. This merciless stance is less unexpected when one considers that Peter Ruckman also publicly stated in a video interview in 1993 that the only thing keeping him from joining the Ku Klux Klan was their hatred of Jews, commenting that he “agreed with everything else they say” regarding the Divinely ordained supremacy of the White race, etc.

While many Christians, including most KJV-Only Christians, recoil from such beliefs as being racist or illogical or absurd; it should again be emphasized and understood that only a very small fraction of people who exclusively use the King James Version go as far as to adhere to such an extreme stance of elevating the English KJV above the original and far more ancient Biblical languages or Greek and Hebrew from which the KJV was translated. That being said, it is also important to understand that there are millions of American Christians whose membership is in KJV-Only churches of one variety or another, so the broader movement itself is not an obscure or small faction. KJV-Only represents a substantial percentage of Christianity in America. Hard-core Ruckmanism does not.

The KJV Bible & Antiquarian Stylized Prayer Language

The ongoing influence of the English King James Version Bible on Christian Culture today in the 21st Century is so deep and profound, even among those who do not exclusively use the KJV, it truly places the KJV Bible in a class by itself, far above all other works in the English language. As undeniable proof of this, we need look no further than the modern day prevalence of Antiquarian Stylized Prayer Language (ASPL). You almost certainly know what that is, even if you do not immediately recognize the term.

Many people have developed a powerful correlation in their minds between the style and sound of the older “Shakespearean” or “Elizabethan” English of the 1600’s, and the sense and feeling this conveys of divinity, authority, originality, holiness, righteousness, and sacredness. This perceived relationship which presumes an archaic form of English is the ideal method of communicating religious matters, is so embedded in many traditionalist churches, and in many older Christians, that it actually transcends the scriptures and overflows into spoken prayer.

It is not uncommon in some churches to hear pastors pray in a very highly stylized manner that imitates 1600’s era English, (often inaccurately and excessively), rather than the normal English they otherwise use. For example: “Lord doth we beseech Thee in Thy mercy. Lookest Thou upon us in our iniquity for Thou knowest our very souls. We implore Thy forgiveness to aswage our guilt, and condemn us not, that we mayest approach thine glorious countenance.” That is not a scripture reference. That is an example of ASPL – Antiquarian Stylized Prayer Language, which is heard in thousands of English speaking churches today… even many who use Bibles other the King James Version. And it is not just pastors and worship leaders who do this. Many American Christians, when they pray over a meal at home, begin with something like, “We thank Thee oh Lord for Thy bountiful blessings…” or something similar to that. Indeed, in our increasingly liberal and apostate world, where it has become common to hear people asked “what are your preferred pronouns?”… for many, the answer may not be “He / His” or “She Hers” or ‘They / Them”… but rather, “Thou / Thine”.

Seriously though… can you name one other book that has so deeply influenced people, that well over 400 years after its publication, its linguistic style inspires people to want to imitate its sound, even when they are not quoting from it, and not talking directly about it? Only the English King James Bible can make this claim. The KJV Bible’s style is so adored and revered that millions of people today aspire to “sound like it” in prayer. It is difficult to overstate how deeply rooted the 1611 King James Bible continues to be in our culture, over 410 years later.

The 1611 King James Version Bible: Summary of 9 Key Points

– 1.) The King James Bible, in its many forms, is the best-selling, most beloved, most influential book ever produced.

– 2.) The King James Version is not among the earliest of English Bible translations, but it is certainly the greatest English Bible of antiquity.

– 3.) Despite being an Anglican Bible, the KJV is widely embraced by Protestants for centuries.

– 4.) While King James was a very immoral man, he was not a translator of the Bible which bears his name. The KJV Bible was translated by the world’s top scholars and remains a highly accurate and beautiful translation of the scriptures, into the English of the early 1600’s.

– 5.) The King James Bible has been through many textual revisions since 1611, including 1615, 1629, 1638, 1762, 1769, and the removal of 14 Books in 1885.

– 6.)The printing of the King James Bible in 1611 was complex, involving many print shops, each assigned to print only a portion of the Bible, and with no shop having an exclusive on printing its assigned portion, resulting in enumerable discrepancies from copy to copy.

-7.) The binding and issuance of the King James Bible was also complex and confusing, with thousands of copies that were printed in 1611 not being released until 1613, 1617, 1634, and 1640, and bearing dated title pages counterintuitively reflecting their year of binding and issuance rather than the original year of 1611 in which the pages were physically printed.

-8.) The King James Version remains enormously popular today because many people grew up reading the KJV exclusively, and many memorized scripture from the KJV, and there remains a large group of “KJV Only” practitioners whose stances range widely from strongly preferring the KJV to vehemently condemning all who use anything other than the KJV.

-9.) The ongoing prevalence of “antiquarian stylized prayer language”, inspired by the King James Version of the Bible, is clear evidence of the profound and lasting cultural impact of the KJV throughout the world today.

Antique Bibles vs. Rare Bibles vs. Valuable Bibles

Naveen-JDM — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 07:53:30 +0000

Antique Bibles vs. Rare Bible vs. Valuable Bibles: What is the difference?

A Bible can be antique, but not rare.
A Bible can be rare, but not antique.
A Bible can be both antique and rare, but not valuable.

However, what most collectors want, and what we almost exclusively deal in, are Bibles that check all three boxes: Bibles that are antique and rare and valuable.

So, how can you determine whether a Bible is antique or rare or valuable? First and foremost, you should only purchase from a reputable dealer. We here at GREATSITE.COM have been the world’s largest dealers of rare and antique Bibles since 1996, and there are no other full-time professional rare book dealers who focus exclusively on ancient Biblical printings, and move a significant volume of such material, making our organization a “near monopoly” in this niche market for three decades.

That being said, we also strive to educate our customers so that they can be independently discerning in their evaluations of ancient Bibles available for purchase anywhere. A basic understanding of the nature of antique Bibles and rare Bibles can provide a sense of empowerment for the buyer, which transcends being dependent upon trusting any dealer. As Sy Syms used to say, “an educated consumer is our best customer”.

Antique Bibles

Antique Bibles are also known as ancient Bibles, or old Bibles, or antiquarian Bibles. Sometimes we also see antique Bibles referred to by the more idiosyncratic term “vintage Bibles”, though that is inappropriate as “vintage” refers exclusively to wine. The age of a Bible is a major factor in determining not only its value, but whether it is legitimately an antique, or merely an out-of-print old edition.

An often asked question is, “How old does a Bible have to be, in order for it to be considered truly antique?” It is not surprising that people are confused by this because the standard of being “antique” varies greatly according to the type of material in question. Consider automobiles: if a car is as little as 25 years old, it is considered an antique. The standard is even lower for consumer electronics, such as computers, cell phones, audio equipment, or televisions, where items as little as 10 to 15 years old are antique, and items that are 25 to 40 years old are considered to be truly ancient.

Different Bibliophile Levels of Antique

Regarding Bibles, there are really different levels of “antique”. Let’s take a closer look at how a Bible’s age effects its defined antiquarian status in the world of dealers and collectors. We will see that while some kinds of rare and collectible books, such as “Modern Firsts” of classic works, may be considered antique even if they are just a few decades old, the standard for a Bible to be antique is much higher than that.

Bibles Up To 100 Years Old

We should clearly establish from the start that any Bible printed within the past 100 years is not an antique by any recognized professional use of the term. It is important to bear in mind that the Bible is the most printed book in the world, and by a very wide margin. For this reason, English language Bibles printed between the 1920’s and today, were generally mass-produced in such enormous quantity that they will never be particularly rare or valuable, and therefore the trade does not consider them to be antique in any meaningful sense.

In fact, within the rare book industry, Bibles that are less than a century old are often referred to as “Junk Bibles”. At first glance, this term can be highly offensive to Christians who mistakenly think the reference is a slanderous derogatory insult aimed at the Bible itself… but this is not at all what is meant. Rather, this is simply a reference to the fact that modern era Bibles of the past century as “as common as road gravel” due to the extremely high volumes at which they were produced.

Dealers are also frequently approached by people wanting to sell their great-grandparents’ Bible of the early to mid 1900’s, and it can be exhausting having to constantly tell these people that their cherished (though apparently not cherished enough if they want to sell it) old Family Bible which they think should be worth thousands of dollars, is in fact worth less than one hundred dollars… and often worth less than twenty dollars.

Bibles Between 100 and 200 Years Old

Bibles of the 1800’s to very early 1900’s are, as difficult as this is for many people to comprehend, still not old enough to be considered truly “antique” by most dealers. While not as common as their ubiquitous less than centenarian counterparts discussed above; they were still generally speaking, produced in fairly high quantities to fill the popular demand for Family Bibles in America throughout the days of Westward Expansion during the 1800’s and into the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.

There are of course some exceptions, such as special editions and first editions of historically important Bibles of the 1800’s… but these are few and far between. Rather than focus upon these rare exceptions to the rule, the general rule itself remains, that Bibles less than 200 years old are in most cases not of interest to dealers or collectors.

Antique Bibles of the 1700’s - Well Over 200 Years Old

We now begin in earnest, our discussion of truly antique Bibles. One distinguishing feature of most Bibles printed in the 1700’s (in contrast to older Bibles of the 1600’s and back) is that they were printed on wood pulp based paper, just as nearly all books today are still printed on wood pulp based paper. The advent of affordable books was due primarily to the ability to make paper cheaply from wood pulp, rather than from expensive cotton. This is why, prior to the 1700’s, it was generally only the wealthy who owned books. Once cheap paper production was possible, the “common man” could afford to have at least a modest library of books at home.

Another distinguishing characteristic of the antique Bibles of the 1700’s is the technological manner is which they were printed. Prior to the 1700’s, books were made using the tedious and laborious and expensive process of the movable type press, invented by Gutenberg in 1455. Each letter had to be laid into a tray like a jigsaw puzzle. During the 1700’s however, the leap forward to “stereotyping” was made. Whole pages were etched into a single sheet of metal. This was not only quicker and cheaper, but it also allowed printers to keep the etched metal plates and run off more copies of a book later, if desired.

These two advances: cheap paper and more efficient production, made books and Bibles an attainable part of everyday life for literate people living in the 1700’s or later, as opposed to being very costly luxury items and status symbols of the affluent owners of estate homes, as books and Bibles had been in the 1600’s and earlier.

From the standpoint of the rare Bible and antique Bible collector, there are two types of English language Bibles of the 1700’s. The first is Bibles printed in England in the 1700’s. These range from standard “quarto” size editions owned by individuals and families, to larger “folio” size editions, used by churches and seminaries on their pulpits and lecterns. The next, is the far more rare and potentially valuable, Bibles printed in America in the mid to late 1700’s. Put simply, Bibles printed in England in the 1700’s can be somewhat desirable to collectors, but Bibles printed in America in the 1700’s are extremely desirable treasures. This is mostly due to the fact that American Colonists of the 1700’s imported most of their Bibles from England, and the print shops of early America had more modest equipment, and less access to quality paper. As a result, American antique Bible printings of the 1700’s are rare and highly sought after.

Antique Bibles of the 1600’s & 1500’s

We must go all the way back to the 1600’s, and even to the 1500’s, to encounter the “First Editions” and the subsequent but still “Early Editions” of all the ancient Bibles in the English language. Whether it is the 1611 First Edition of the beloved King James Bible, or the 1568 Bishops Bible, or 1560 Geneva Bible, or 1539 Great Bible, or 1537 Matthew-Tyndale Bible, or 1535 Coverdale Bible… the era of the truly ancient Bibles is the 1500’s and 1600’s. This is where most rare and antique Bible collectors focus most of their attention, and resultantly, this is the type of material an antique Bible dealer will want to acquire as well.

The antique Bibles of the 1500’s and 1600’s were printed on expensive cotton paper, and made using the ancient movable type printing press equipment. These printings are therefore works of art. Typically printed in small quantities of not more than a few thousand copies, and with only a tiny percentage of those originals surviving the ravages of time; these Bibles are quite rare, as well as being ancient. An excellent overview of the history of each of these ancient translations of the Bible can be found by reading our brief illustrated English Bible History.

Rare Bibles

Having examined the definition of “antique Bible” in detail, we now turn our attention to what qualifies as being a “rare Bible”. This is a far more simple, straightforward concept. While age alone can eventually make something antique, in order for something to be rare, it needs to truly be scarce. There is often considerable overlap between antiquity and rarity, but the two are not the same. Likewise, age and rarity are components of value, but they do not necessarily equate to value.

Consider for example, a Bible that was a limited press run of just a few hundred copies, published by a ministry or Bible publisher, just a few years ago, or a few decades ago. That would be rare today… but it certainly would not be antique by even the most liberal of definitions. In all likelihood, it would also not be very valuable. Similarly, some secular publishers have produced “limited edition” Bibles within the past few decades. Clearly, a Bible can be rare without necessarily being antique.

This is why most collectors looking for historically important and valuable Bibles focus their search on the far more appropriate and accurate term “antique Bibles” rather than the relevant and related but not nearly as accurate term “rare Bibles”.

Valuable Bibles

Can a Bible be both antique and rare … and yet still not be very valuable? Yes, absolutely. That may seem counter-intuitive at first, but let’s consider this more carefully. Antiquity is attained simply through age. Rarity is attainted simply through scarcity. But for something to also be truly valuable, there has to be market demand for it. That demand generally implies particular historical relevance.

For example, there are antique Bibles of the late 1700’s, printed in England, that are not historically significant editions. They are merely generic King James Version printings of standard quarto size or smaller, with no special features, no illustrations, no commentary notes, typeset in a rather plain manner. They are unquestionably antique, and also fairly rare… but… who cares? They do not represent an important edition, or even a particularly aesthetically desirable edition. If they are in good shape, by virtue of the fact that they are late 1700’s Bibles, they will be worth at least a few hundred dollars… but not thousands of dollars. These type of Bibles are often picked up by the person on tight budget who just wants to own a very old Bible, and that’s great, but it is not really of interest to the serious collector.

Even among Bibles that are ancient and rare and valuable, we still see that market demand, which we might also refer to as general popularity, can dictate price in a way that is unexpected to many. An example of this would be the current market value of a 1611 King James Pulpit Folio First Edition Bible, which is generally $150,000 to $450,000, even though there are close to 200 of these extant today, making them only moderately rare. In contrast, a 1560 Geneva Bible First Edition would have a market value of closer to just $75,000 to $125,000, in spite of the fact that there are not more than a dozen of them extant today! Ironically, the far less rare Bible is worth far more. This is for one simple reason: the market demand for the beloved and immensely popular 1611 KJV Bible far outstrips the market demand for the less well known 1560 Geneva Bible… even though the 1560 Geneva Bible very historically important, and about twenty times as rare, and 51 years older than the 1611 KJV.

Another aspect that could potentially disqualify an antique and rare Bible from being valuable is condition. No matter how old or rare a Bible is, if it is not complete, or not in good condition, its market value will be severely negatively impacted. Given two antique Bibles of the same edition, if one is missing several pages and has cropped headlines and heavy oxidization, that less desirable copy might fetch only one-tenth the price of the one in more pristine condition. More details on this can be found by reading our helpful Antique Bible Buyer’s Guide.

Pastor Anniversary Gifts

Naveen-JDM — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 05:56:31 +0000

Pastor Anniversary Gifts

Selecting an anniversary gift for your pastor or minister at your church can be a challenging task. It is hard enough to pick out an anniversary gift for a spouse, family member, or friend. When it comes to choosing an appropriate present as a gift for a clergy member, to commemorate the anniversary of their service to your congregation, there are a few key things to consider. Let’s consider this further, as we explore gifts you should not give your pastor, and great ideas for what is in many cases the ideal pastor anniversary gift.

Common Mistakes Made In Selecting a Pastor Anniversary Gift

As much as we would like to think “it’s the thought that counts”, and we can be sure our pastor will be gracious and appreciative in accepting any gift; we ideally want to present a pastor with an anniversary gift (or gift marking another occasion, such as a pastor’s retirement) that shows some thought and care went into the process. To that extent, let’s briefly look at the most common mistakes made in selecting a pastor anniversary gift.

Gifts That Are Too Generic, Common, Trite, or Impersonal

These include all the classic “I don’t know what to get Dad for Father’s Day” type of gifts such as: neck ties, belts, wallets, shaving accessories, cologne, toaster ovens, coffee makers, etc.

Gifts That Are Kitschy or Tacky or of No Practical Use

Basically anything from a mall store like “Things Remembered”, or any engraved plaque, engraved clock, etc., is just cliche. Also anything that is essentially a “figurine” or “knick-knack” to be placed upon a mantel and be dusted periodically, should be considered clutter, and not a good choice for a meaningful pastor anniversary gift. Yes, even if you are “Magnolia Baptist Church” and it’s an adorable little ceramic magnolia which seems so appropriate in the moment… really, it’s not… be honest, you can do better than that.

Gifts That Are “Work” Connected

You would not give your spouse a vacuum cleaner, or cleaning supplies for your wedding anniversary, for obvious reasons, right? Why then would you give your pastor a smart phone (a leash), or lapel microphone, as his anniversary gift? You are not trying to send a message of “we love you, as long as you keep working for us”.

The Zero-Thought Gift

Cash and gift cards are the “I Give Up Gift”. We fall back to this as a last resort when we just cannot think of anything else. When given by themselves, cash or gift cards as stand-alone gifts represent no effort or thought on the part of the givers.

However, it should be noted that it is certainly appropriate and appreciated when cash or gift cards are given in addition to a more specifically thoughtful gift that is not necessarily expensive. Such a combination of “inexpensive gift… but also cash” is a great way of showing that some thought was put into the selection of a modest personal gift, and the addition of cash is provided to demonstrate that the intent was not to be cheap, but to provide thoughtfulness together with appreciative generosity.

Gifts That Seem Too Cheap or Seem Too Expensive

Having your congregation corporately give your pastor a very cheap anniversary gift such as a coffee mug, or pocket knife, or house plant, (or other generic, or kick-knack gifts, such as those listed above) sends a message that you do not greatly value your pastor’s work… or worse… that your pastor is easily replaceable. That is certainly not your intent, so it is not worth risking the implied insult that a cheap gift coveys. It is truly better to give no gift at all, than to give such a gift.

On the other hand, spending a very large amount on an extremely expensive gift, such as a multi-thousand dollar high-end wristwatch, or a new car, is only appropriate in two situations. One, is if your church has at least a few hundred congregation members going in together and splitting cost of your pastor anniversary gift, such that no one member or family felt obliged to contribute more than perhaps fifty to a hundred dollars at the most toward the congregation’s collectively generous gift. The other, is if there is one, or a few, very affluent members of your congregation, for whom spending a few thousand dollars on a gift for their beloved pastor is not really a sacrifice at all for them, and it brings them joy to do so.

Indeed, the primary budgetary expenses (including pastoral salaries, and building maintenance) of many small to midsize churches are often quietly and discretely funded entirely by one or two or three very affluent members who gratefully tithe from the huge incomes their businesses bring in, making up for the very modest collective balance of donations that come in each week from the remainder of the congregation. Many people would be shocked to learn how very common this is in thousands of churches in the United States, and around the world.

Great Pastor Anniversary Gifts

If a more expensive gift is appropriate for your situation, consider giving your pastor an anniversary gift that will be treasured forever and passed down to the next generation… the gift of a genuine original complete ancient Bible.
These gifts show that you put a great deal of thought into selecting your pastor anniversary gift. These are gifts that will truly make your pastor stop and say, “Wow! I cannot believe you did this for me. Where did you get this? This is amazing!” And after all, isn’t that exactly what you want to do for your pastor?

It is really not a difficult task at all. Just ask yourself, what message you are looking to send with your pastor’s anniversary gift. Then consider the gift you have in mind and think, “What message does this send?” A neck tie? A nick-knack? Or perhaps instead … an ancient printing of God’s Word?

Genuine Leather Bibles

Naveen-JDM — Tue, 31 May 2022 10:40:09 +0000

LEATHER BIBLES

The variety of available bindings for Bibles is greater today than at any point in history. Genuine animal hide bound leather Bibles continue to be the most popular choice among premium priced Bibles. Moderately priced synthetic leather Bibles however, have greatly improved in binding quality over just the past two decades. Economy priced Bibles, generally paperback or otherwise soft bound, remain the choice for mass distribution and missionary work.

THE LEATHER BIBLE vs THE MASS MARKET BIBLE

Mass market Bibles, produced economically for distribution, are generally in paperback bindings, or cheap flexible synthetic bindings, and can be priced under ten dollars for the flexible cover Bibles, and even under five dollars for the cheapest paperback Bibles. The next step up is higher quality synthetic leather Bibles, which offer far greater durability, a better aesthetic look, and a more pleasing tactile feel which very convincingly simulates real leather. The most premium option has long been the genuine leather Bible, bound in a variety of available animal hides, full grain, top grain, split grain, and hardback or limp bound.

Before we consider the many types of genuine leather Bibles, let’s take a closer look at the recent surge in popularity of synthetic leather Bibles.

THE FOUR E’s Of SYNTHETIC LEATHER BIBLES

There are four reasons why people sometimes choose synthetic leather, also known as imitation leather, vegan leather, or “leatherette”, rather than choosing genuine leather, when buying a leather Bible. These reasons are the “Four E’s” promoted by those who advocate or sell synthetic leathers: Ethics, Environment, Economy, Extended Durability.

The ethical reasons pertain to individuals who are not personally comfortable with the use of animal hides to make book or Bible bindings, furniture, clothing, shoes, purses, wallets, belts, or other accessories. Such people are often also vegetarian or vegan in their diets. These convictions can range from simply being a personal preference, to being a committed animal rights activist.

As it pertains specifically to leather Bible bindings, the ethical argument is today a minority view among buyers in the Christian marketplace (those who purchase Bibles). This is because the dominant view among the demographic group of Bible buyers typically favors the Biblical mandate of Mankind having a responsible dominion of stewardship over the animals, and feeling free to use animals for food, for certain types of testing without which human lives would be put at risk, and to use animal derived products to enhance our lives. Of course, this is not a license to tolerate needless animal cruelty in any form, however it often comes down to one’s own conviction regarding what exactly constitutes appropriate and acceptable use of animals. Most Christians do believe that it is possible to have ethically sourced animal derived products, though some disagree, and sensitivity toward how we treat animals and our responsible stewardship of our world’s resources continues to be an increasing source of concern and debate today.

The environment related reasons overlap with the ethical concerns. Some people believe raising animals for their hides, (which is almost always a byproduct of raising animals for food), contributes to environmental harm. This includes the legitimate concerns about chemicals used to treat leathers getting into the water supply, as well as the more controversial modern theories regarding alleged outsized anthropogenic influences on the climate, (though most Christians remain skeptical of the underlying motives behind such theories).

The economy related reasons are obvious, and are the primary factor pushing many people to choose synthetic leather. It simply costs less to buy a synthetic leather Bible than to buy most genuine leather Bibles.

The extended durability of high end synthetic leathers is a more recent argument, because 21st century technological advances have greatly improved the durability of certain high-end synthetic leather products. We also see synthetic leathers that much more accurately imitate the appearance and feel of genuine leather… though none yet that attempt to replicate the distinctive scent of a genuine leather product.

MODERN HIGH END SYNTHETIC LEATHER BIBLES

The current generation of synthetic “leathers” is nothing like the imitation leather products of years gone by. Those who think of synthetic leather as being cheap vinyl, with an obviously fake grain pattern stamped in, and a disappointing plastic feel, are remembering the imitation leather products of long ago. While such low-end and cheap synthetic leather productions still exist today, going by such names as “PU leather” (polyurethane leather); today’s high-end synthetic leathers so accurately mimic the look and feel of genuine leather, that few people are able to tell the difference.

This revolution in high end synthetic leathers has been led by Italian manufacturers who produce smooth grained synthetic leather under such brand names as “Fiscagomma”, and fuzzy nap suede-like reverse calf synthetic leather under such brand names as “Alcantara”. The use of Alcantara synthetic suede leather has become ubiquitous in high end automobile interiors, starting with Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, etc… and in more recent years finding its way into more affordably priced cars. Because these synthetic materials do not crack and degrade as quickly as genuine leather when exposed to heat and sunlight, they are a natural choice (well, technically an un-natural choice) for the punishing environment of car interiors.

Touted by their manufacturers as “better than leather”, (one of which actually sought to trademark that phrase), this new generation of extremely impressive synthetic leathers has taken by storm not only the automotive interior industry, but also the clothing and accessories industries. This is because for all their acclaimed durability, most consumers still cannot tell them apart from genuine leather. And ultimately, if it’s good enough for Ferrari, it’s probably good enough for your Bible’s binding, right?

WHY GENUINE LEATHER BIBLES?

With all this high praise for modern synthetic leather options, the question becomes: why is it that genuine leather remains the most popular choice for premium priced leather Bibles? There are actually valid reasons why most buyers of higher priced Bibles continue to seek genuine leather. We have identified five such reasons.

First is simply tradition and sentiment. Especially among older buyers, the value of tradition carries a strong pull toward genuine leather. They think of their father’s Bible, or their Family Bible, or the Bible they grew up with, and invariably these were genuine leather Bibles. The sentiment of this association strikes a deep emotional chord. As any marketer will tell you, people buy based upon emotion more frequently than they buy based upon logic.

Second, is the perception of quality. We can talk all day about the superior strength and durability of synthetic leathers introduced within the past twenty years, but genuine animal hide leather has a centuries long association with high quality, and that will not be shaken from our collective cultural consciousness any time soon. It should also be noted that genuine leather Bible bindings, if properly cared for by not leaving them in the sun, and treating them with a good leather preservative moisturizing lotion once every few years, can last much longer than a human life span. Indeed, many antique Bibles that are multiple centuries old, and were properly cared for, are still in their original leather bindings. For most people, if they can get more than fifty years out of a genuine leather binding, there is no meaningful advantage to a synthetic binding offering greater longevity than that. It is past the point of diminishing returns.

Third, is the feeling of situational appropriateness of a natural leather binding specifically as it relates to the binding on a Bible, as opposed to a synthetic material binding on a Bible. Let us remember that the Bible is filled with accounts of animals being sacrificed unto The Lord. Beyond that observation however, in a broader sense; the message of the Bible encompasses that which God has made, and how nature itself is glorifying unto God. In contrast, so much of what Man has made and done is referenced within the context of sin and imperfection, and being a mere imitation of that which the Lord has made. This argument is certainly just an analogy, and should not be taken to a literal extreme, or we would end up living in a technologically primitive world. Nevertheless, the general feeling of situational appropriateness of natural genuine leather protecting the pages of God’s Word, rather than using a material attempting to imitate natural leather, is something that carries emotional impact that can transcend reason.

Fourth, is the ability to stamp and tool genuine leather. Many people like to have their name stamped in gold onto the cover of their Bible. This is easily done with most types of genuine leather. However imitation leather products must be stamped at the factory during the manufacturing process with any desired impressions or customizations, because the finished product is too durable to accept any after-market stamping.

Fifth, is the scent of genuine leather. The smell of animal hide is not something than any artificially manufactured material can accurately replicate… at least, not yet. It is curious to note that the musky scent produced by real leather is actually due to the extremely slow decomposition of the hide, releasing that scent into the air. That means the scent is an indication of the natural break down of leather, which is why synthetic products cannot replicate it well. It may seem somewhat counterintuitive that decomposition of animal hide would be perceived as a desirable smell. However, in much the same way that the scent of cooking meat produces a positive reaction for most people, the scent of animal hide likewise has positive associations.

WHAT IS BONDED LEATHER?

Bonded leather, (also called “leather match” on furniture), is a lower quality product consisting of a thin layer of real leather, glued or otherwise bonded to a synthetic material underlayment. When used for rarely touched applications which receive very little wear or handling, which require only the look of genuine leather but do not require much durability, (like the back side of a couch, or a picture frame), and especially when used on products for which the expected useful life span is not more than several years, bonded leather can often work quite well as an affordable alternative. However, when used in areas that experience significant handling and wear, such as seat cushions or regularly used books or Bibles, bonded leather can begin to wear thin in a short period of time. For leather Bibles, or any often handled product, the use of either 100% genuine leather, or a high quality 100% synthetic leather, is a better choice than combining the two to produce a hybrid layered genuine-and-synthetic bonded leather product.

TYPES OF GENUINE LEATHER BIBLE BINDINGS

The world of genuine leather products is filled with many industry specific terms, and most people outside of that industry do not have an accurate understanding of them. First let us establish that our own use of the term “genuine leather” is meant generically to communicate simply “real leather” or “natural leather” as opposed to synthetic or bonded leather products. Genuine means real. We are not using the term “genuine leather” as it is sometimes confusingly used, to reference the middle section of an animal hide with the outer layers stripped away (and we would like to see such confusing use of that term discontinued).

Full Grain Leather is the full thickness of the animal’s hide. While that may sound like the ideal choice; full grain leather is almost never used in binding books or Bibles, because it is too thick, it shows every imperfection in the hide, and it is typically produced in such a way that the surface scratches easily.

Top Grain Leather is only slightly thinner than full grain leather because the outer surface is sanded off to remove imperfections, resulting in a flawless texture. It can then be stamped or imprinted with any design, or with a natural leather grain pattern. It is easier to work with, and also receptive to protective finishes and colored dyes, unlike full grain leather. Most of the high quality leather products you have seen are typically made of top grain leather. Most fine bindings on books and Bibles are made from top grain leather.

Suede, also known as reverse calf, is the fuzzy underside of leather. It cannot easily be stamped with a pattern, and does not hold up well to moisture. Rarely used in book binding, suede is used where a fuzzy nap texture is desired, rather than a smooth texture.

There are many other industry terms, such as aniline leather and semi-aniline leather, which refer partly to how a leather has been treated. These terms can be confusing and counter intuitive, for example semi-aniline sounds like a step down from aniline, but in fact it is more durable than aniline. A detailed explanation of all the industry terms related to the production and treatment of leather products is well beyond the limited scope of this article on Bible bindings.

ANIMAL LEATHER VARIETIES

The vast majority of real leather Bibles, and indeed the vast majority of all leather goods, are cow hide, often in the specific form of calf leather or calfskin. This type of leather is easily worked, dyed, stamped, finished, and is quite durable.

Goatskin, often presented as Morocco leather, is a durable fine grained hide. Sheepskin or lambskin is among the softest of leathers in the animal kingdom. Leathers derived from buffalo, deer, pig, camel, or other more exotic mammals can also be found. Ostrich skin is the most popular of bird leathers. Alligator and crocodile are the most popular of lizard leathers. Eel and shark are the most popular of sea creature leathers. Obtaining leathers from endangered species and/or transporting such materials across international lines can be illegal in many jurisdictions.

One rarely seen variety of leather is called vellum. It is a smooth, hard, grainless, milky white material derived from animal skins, usually calf. Vellum goes through a labor intensive multi-step process to achieve its flawlessly smooth white look. Seen primarily in books bound in the 1500’s or earlier, (though still occasionally used in specialty projects today), vellum is perhaps the most durable of leathers, able to last for several centuries, but it is more sensitive to humidity and can warp more easily than other types of leather. Vellum is also used as paper in some ancient books and manuscripts.

ANCIENT BIBLES WERE ALWAYS LEATHER BIBLES

When it comes to ancient books and Bibles, printed and bound more than two centuries ago, these were almost always originally bound in a genuine leather of some variety. Obviously synthetic leathers were not technologically possible back then, and cloth bound books did not become popular until the 1800’s. Paperback bindings were usually limited to very short pamphlets or tracts or magazines, unlike today where paperback books are quite common.

One nearly universal difference we see between ancient genuine leather Bibles, when compared to genuine leather Bibles of the past century, is the advent of the modern limp leather binding. Many leather Bibles today feature flexible covers made of real leather, but not wrapped around stiff hardback boards. This is what we call limp bound Bibles. They are almost always printed on ultra thin onion skin paper or India rice paper, which is another modern convention, used to make it possible to have a 750 page Bible that is amazingly only an inch thick.

In contrast, ancient Bibles were never limp bound. Their leather binding was wrapped around stiff wooden hardcover boards. The pages were also thick, being made of cotton prior to the 1700’s, and made of wood pulp from the 1700’s unto today. This is why ancient Bibles are usually at least around 3 inches thick, and often up to 5 inches thick.

RESTORED LEATHER BIBLE BINDINGS

Because genuine leather is a natural animal product, it starts the extremely slow and typically centuries-long process of decomposing from the moment it is put into use. Bibles that were loved and used regularly by families would typically need to be rebound after two or three generations. Because rebinding an ancient Bible is expected and necessary in nearly all cases; the act of rebinding an ancient Bible does not devalue it, but rather, can increase its value by making it useable again, and helping to further preserve it for generations to come.

Sometimes the original ancient covers, if they are ornate and worth preserving, can be salvaged and reused in a process called rebacking or respining. More frequently though, the old binding must be completely discarded, and a fresh, strong, new leather Bible, fully restored, is the result.

If a Bible is completely covered in leather, it will typically be described as full leather, and usually more specifically as full calf. Bibles with just the spine covered in leather, and cloth or marbleized cover boards are called half-calf. If the corners of the cover boards are also covered in leather, the result is called three-quarter calf. These leather-plus-cloth hybrid bindings of half-calf and three-quarter calf were at one time produced in an effort to keep the cost of the binding down by minimizing the use of the prized leather. Today, because the highly in demand labor to skillfully rebind a book is a primary factor in its cost, such partial leather bindings are usually the result of personal preference rather than significant cost savings.

Learn More About Leather Bibles & Purchase High Quality Leather Bibles

Additional information about rare and antique leather Bibles can be found on the Antique Bible Buyer’s Guide page.
An impressive inventory of original ancient leather Bibles available for sale is offered in the Ancient Rare Bibles & Books section, which is also searchable by Version, Age, Size, & Price.

Family Bibles

Naveen-JDM — Thu, 26 May 2022 09:36:14 +0000

Family Bibles - A Treasured Tradition

For at least a century, from the late 1880’s until the 1980’s, the time-honored American tradition of having a large “Family Bible” on prominent display in most Christian households was part of our culture as Americans and our heritage as Christians. That big “Family Bible” stood as a silent witness to all that home’s visitors, demonstrating without speaking a word that this home was a Christian Home. Often family records of births, deaths, and marriages were penned into the blank pages at the front or back.

Decline of The Family Bible

Then, in the 1980’s… the economically booming “Reagan Years”, the “Me Decade”… something happened. That rich tradition of proudly displaying a very large Bible in the Christian Home just fell out of favor. Sure, we still had the hand-sized Bible that we take to church and back home, which we kept on the nightstand, or on a shelf. But the unapologetically huge display Bible… the beloved Family Bible… the one that was the centerpiece of the living room or den… disappeared from the American Home. Why did Family Bibles disappear?

Do You Remember Family Bibles?

Do you remember it? It was a very large format Bible with big print and beautiful typeface. The family gathered around to read it, if not daily, then at least on special occasions, like Easter and Christmas. Family Bibles held a place of honor in the Christian Home, and they were displayed with pride. All who entered the home saw this family heirloom, this treasured Family Bible, and knew instantly that this was a home with Christian values.

Do you have such a Family Bible displayed visibly in your home, signifying the Christ-centered focus of your home, and functioning as a silent witness that “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”? Or do you just have the conveniently hand-sized Bible that you take the church and rest on the shelf through the week?

Bringing Back The Family Bible

We believe that we should recapture that tradition, but it needs to be a special Bible that holds such a place of honor. It needs to be a statement piece: huge in format, elegant in typeface, and with a sense of history, heritage, and birthright about it… not just some mass-produced modern-looking printing.

Choosing The Best Family Bible

For the person seeking an affordable large format Family Bible in the King James Version, we advise doing some research first. Few realize it, but the First Edition King James Bible of 1611 has not been in print since the early 1600’s. That original KJV of 1611 contained several typographical errors, and spellings that are extremely antiquated by modern standards. Its punctuation likewise does not follow modern use. The 1611 KJV Bible was revised in 1615, and again in 1629, and again in 1638, and again in 1762, and again in 1769. The King James Bible you have known all your life is actually the 1769 Oxford Standardized Version… even though it may not actually say that anywhere in your Bible

Family Bibles as Family Heirlooms

For the person seeking an investment-grade original ancient Bible as a display piece for their home, the inventory of GREATSITE.COM provides many options from which to choose, all of which can be seen by searching the current online inventory of ancient Bibles.

History’s First Family Bible

The first “Family Bible” in the English language actually dates back to half a century before the 1611 King James Bible. It was the 1560 Geneva Bible While the Geneva Bible was not the very first English language Bible ever printed (that would be the 1535 Coverdale Bible), the 1560 Geneva Bible was nevertheless the first English Bible to be produced specifically for the primary purpose of personal home use. English Bibles before the Geneva Bible were either illegal productions made covertly by brave reformers, or they were officially sanctioned Anglican Church productions intended for public use on the church pulpit.

The Geneva Bible was produced by English Protestant refugees, fleeing the rule of Catholic Queen “Bloody Mary”, and living in Geneva (Switzerland). They produced a special English language Bible translation which was the first to use numbered verses, and the first to use plain Roman typeface, and the first to add commentary notes to the scriptures. It was intended to be a “Home Schooler’s Bible”, making it the quintessential Family Bible that was the progenitor of all Family Bibles in the English language which came after it.

Illustrated Family Bibles

One feature that many people seek in their Family Bibles is illustrations. The greatest of all illustrated Bibles of antiquity is undoubtedly the spectacularly beautiful 1568 Bishops Bible. However, the Bishops Bible is not really a Family Bible. It was more of an official church Bible.

A better example of an illustrated Family Bible of centuries gone by would be the 1846 Illuminated Bible. Featuring more than 1,600 woodcut illustrations, it was the most elaborately illustrated Bible ever printed up until that time. Like nearly all the Family Bibles of its day, the Illuminated Bible was a King James Version. The illustrations helped to keep the interest of children who were learning to read the Bible, and adults also appreciated the finely detailed images which complimented the scriptural readings on each page.

The Family Bible As An Archive

Another function of Family Bibles for centuries has been as a place to document family records of birth, marriage, and death. These records were typically written on the inside blank leaves in the front or back of Family Bibles. In fact, unto this day, when personal identification records are lost or stolen, bringing family genealogical records written inside a Family Bible to the courthouse is often acceptable as proof to reissue birth certificates and similar records. Those researching their genealogy find these records kept in Family Bibles to be of paramount importance in confirming their family lineage.

The Family Bible As a Gathering Point

For many families, the Family Bible is an iconic heirloom which serves as a focal point for holiday gatherings. Reading the scriptural passages about the birth of Christ at Christmas, or the resurrection of Christ at Easter, can be meaningful and memorable traditions to maintain. Some families take this even further, and practice daily devotional readings together, as they gather around their Family Bibles.

Bible Verses

Naveen-JDM — Tue, 17 May 2022 06:49:06 +0000

BIBLE VERSES: THEIR ORIGIN & POPULAR FAVORITES

The Bible is separated into Old and New Testaments. The Bible is further separated into “Books” which in some cases are actually personal letters called “Epistles”. That level of division is the extent of what most Christians consider to be divinely inspired. However, we are all familiar with two further levels of division within the Bible: individual numbered chapters and individual numbered verses.

The Bible - Chapter & Verse

The person who is generally credited with provided numbered chapter divisions in the Bible is Stephen Langton, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1207 to 1228 AD. Langton also played a major role in the acceptance of the Magna Carta in 1215. The advent of numbered Bible verses occurred for the first time in the Greek / Latin parallel New Testament of Robert “Estienne” Stephanus published in 1551, which featured translation work from Erasmus.

Bible Verses - The First English Verse Enumeration

The first English language Bible to divide the scripture into numbered Bible verses, was the 1560 Geneva Bible. This was the most popular English Bible in the world prior to the the King James Version taking the lead in the 1600’s. You can view a wide variety of antique Bibles, including the Geneva Bible, here at GREATSITE.COM

Bible Verses - Comparison

Enumeration and division of Bible verses was instituted primarily as a method of conveniently referencing particular passages of scripture. Consider for example how we can accurately reference a familiar passage when we say “John 3: 16”, as opposed to saying, “John, Chapter 3, right down here in the middle in this area.” In a sense, numbered Bible verses are needed for the same reason we need street addresses.

Another useful purpose of numbered Bible verses is to assist in doing textual comparison of different translations of the Bible.

Bible Verses - The Most Popular Favorite Verses of Scripture

Several years ago, Bible Gateway published a list of the top 100 Bible Verses, as measured by the total number of times each Bible verse was looked up and read on their website. This is perhaps the most authoritative ranking of Bible verse popularity that has ever been done, because it is not based upon the opinion of a few people, but on the actual searching of many thousands of people.

Apologies to our loyal fans of ancient Bible translations, such as the King James Version and the Geneva Bible, but Bible Gateway chose to list their research using the most popular modern English version, as shown below. Perhaps that is fitting, as this is after all, a measure of popularity, (not to be confused with a measure of discernment or wisdom). Nevertheless, the list still provides insight into which Bible verses are the most popular, most requested, favorites among the general public. Some of the results are obvious, but others are surprising. Below is the result of that research.

Bible Verses - The Top 100

John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Jer 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Rom 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Phil 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Gen 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Prov 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Prov 3:6: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Rom 12:2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Phil 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Matt 28:19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Eph 2:8: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Gal 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Rom 12:1: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Acts 18:10: For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Acts 18:9: One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
Acts 18:11: So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
Gal 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Rom 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
John 14:6: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Matt 28:20: and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Rom 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Phil 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Phil 4:7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Josh 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Isa 40:31: but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Eph 2:9: not by works, so that no one can boast.
Rom 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gal 5:23: gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Isa 53:5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
1 Pet 3:15: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
2 Tim 3:16: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
Matt 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Heb 12:2: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Pet 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Eph 2:10: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1 Cor 10:13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Matt 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Heb 11:1: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
2 Cor 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Heb 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
2 Cor 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me
Rom 10:9: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Isa 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Gen 1:26: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Matt 11:29: Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
2 Tim 1:7: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline
Isa 53:4: Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
2 Cor 5:21: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Rom 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
John 11:25: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
Heb 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
John 5:24: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
Jas 1:2: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
Isa 53:6: We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Acts 2:38: Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Eph 3:20: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Matt 11:30: For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Gen 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Col 3:12: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Heb 12:1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Jas 5:16: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Acts 17:11: Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Phil 4:19: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1 Cor 6:19: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
1 John 3:16: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
Ps 133:1: How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Heb 4:12: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Mic 6:8: He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Rom 10:17: Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
John 1:12: Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
Jas 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Jas 1:3: because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Rom 8:38: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
Rom 8:39: neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Heb 10:25: Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
2 Pet 1:4: Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Phil 1:6: being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Ps 133:3: It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Heb 4:16: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Ps 37:4: Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
John 3:17: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Isa 26:3: You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
1 Pet 2:24: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
Josh 1:8: Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Matt 28:18: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Col 3:23: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
Matt 22:37: Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Ps 133:2: It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
Matt 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Isa 55:8: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
Heb 4:15: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
John 13:35: By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”