Development of
English Bibles

Background

Until the time of Jerome (ca 400), the scriptures existed only in the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek.

Saint Jerome undertook the task to translate the material into Latin.

From that point until translation work by Bede, Wycliffe and Tyndale, people were without the Bible in their own tongue.

With the interplay of languages and politics -- both within and outside the Church, men literally gave their lives to get Holy Writ into the hands of the common man

Click on any box below "ancient versions"
in the chart to choose topic.

This chart is an approximation of the important dates and works involved in the evolution of pre-20th century Bibles. Though it leaves out many details, it should serve as an aid in visualizing the several centuries of work before and following the Protestant Reformation of 1517 championed by Luther, Calvin, et. al.

See also here for larger development graphic.

For 20th C. works, see this page.