Geneva Bible in the United States
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:37 pm
Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows about the history of the Geneva Bible in the U.S.? I’ve leaned quite a bit about its history in England. The only two things I’ve read about it in the U.S. are:
-it was the translation brought over by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower because they didn’t trust the KJV translation (they thought there was too much interference from the monarchy in the KJV)
-it may have been the translation present at the signing of the U. S. Declaration of Independence and the U. S. Constitution
My question is when and how did the Geneva Bible fade out of the picture in the U.S.? I’ve been trying to piece it together.
In England, even decades after the KJV was released, the Geneva Bible was the choice of the people. The King ordered that only the KJV was to be printed at his presses. He also ordered that the KJV was the only translation that could be read in the churches. So even though people were still reading the Geneva Bible at home for a long time, it makes sense that it would eventually fade away.
In the U.S. however, I’m not sure how the Geneva translation faded away. I know the translation was slanted towards Reformed Theology and was considered subversive from the monarchy’s point of view. I’ve wondered if that had anything to do with it. I’m just guessing because I haven’t found any concrete info.
I’m not as familiar with U.S. History as many of you likely are (I learned Canadian history growing up...
). Does anyone have any insights or speculative thoughts on this?
Thanks
-it was the translation brought over by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower because they didn’t trust the KJV translation (they thought there was too much interference from the monarchy in the KJV)
-it may have been the translation present at the signing of the U. S. Declaration of Independence and the U. S. Constitution
My question is when and how did the Geneva Bible fade out of the picture in the U.S.? I’ve been trying to piece it together.
In England, even decades after the KJV was released, the Geneva Bible was the choice of the people. The King ordered that only the KJV was to be printed at his presses. He also ordered that the KJV was the only translation that could be read in the churches. So even though people were still reading the Geneva Bible at home for a long time, it makes sense that it would eventually fade away.
In the U.S. however, I’m not sure how the Geneva translation faded away. I know the translation was slanted towards Reformed Theology and was considered subversive from the monarchy’s point of view. I’ve wondered if that had anything to do with it. I’m just guessing because I haven’t found any concrete info.
I’m not as familiar with U.S. History as many of you likely are (I learned Canadian history growing up...
). Does anyone have any insights or speculative thoughts on this?Thanks