Date: 20 July 2010 04:26:56
If you can get to Parramatta in the coming week and have an interest in old and new Bibles, there is the perfect exhibit for you.
A friend from a church long ago called me yesterday to tell me that St John's Cathedral, Parramatta, was hosting an exhibit of Heritage Bibles by the Bible Society. There are also two scheduled talks [the second is on Friday and though the RSVP said earlier I booked into both yesterday]: last night's talk was an historical overview of the Bibles on display; Friday's is on archaeology and the Bible.
The talk was very interesting, as were the Bibles. Ranging from a 1495 Latin Vulgate through to a 15th century Tyndale Bible, from Geneva and King James' Bibles from the 17th century through to a lavishy illustrated Macklin Bible of 1800, from a Welsh Bible of the 19th century to 19th and 20th Century Chinese Bibles, right through to Australian Aboriginal language Bibles of the 20th Century, the display, though modest, was a delight to behold and read about -- and with two of the Bibles you may touch them after donning gloves. And there were more, including miniature Bibles, a Saxon language Bible, a Polygot Bible, a Dutch Bible given by a dying Boer to an Australian soldier, a Russian Bible and the Bible most Australian Governors-General have sworn on when taking office [it was owned by Australia's first Governor-General].
Fascinating to see these, and to hear the stories of these Bibles: as well as learning a bit of history as well in terms of why things were done and who owned these Bibles. Many, in line with the Bible Society's ideal, were made to allow the Scriptures to be read by as many as possible. May God bless the efforts of all involved in such ministries.