Reformers & missions IV

Michael Haykin  |  Features  |  history
Date posted:  1 Oct 2018
Share Add       
Reformers & missions IV

Jeanne d’Albret, queen of Navarre, about 1570

In seeking to re-evangelise Europe, the Reformers made powerful use of the latest technology at their disposal, namely, the printing press.

By Calvin’s death in 1564, his interest in Christian publishing meant that there were no less than 34 printing-houses in Geneva, which printed Bibles and Christian literature in a variety of European languages. In the 1550s particularly, Geneva was a hive of biblical editions and translations.

There was, for example: Robert Estienne’s Greek New Testament of 1551 which divided the text into verses for the first time; a new edition of the Vulgate; an Italian translation and Spanish translation in 1555 and 1556 respectively; at least 22 editions of the French Bible. And in 1560 a complete English translation of the Bible was printed sometime between April 10 and May 30 of that year. This was the Geneva Bible, the bedrock of early English Puritanism.

Share
< Previous article| Features| Next article >
Read more articles by Michael Haykin >>
Features
Daniel McPhail: The  reluctant pastor of Osgoode

Daniel McPhail: The reluctant pastor of Osgoode

It was during the Ottawa Valley revival of 1834–1835, which was narrated in last month’s column, that the Scottish-Canadian, Daniel …

Features
Daniel McPhail: A man of continual prayer

Daniel McPhail: A man of continual prayer

It was in the depths of a Canadian winter – on 17 February, 1836 – that various delegates from six …

Give a subscription

Our monthly newspaper is the perfect gift for those who love to think deeply

Give here

About en

Our vision, values and history

Read more