« | Romans 13 | » |
1 Let euery soule be subiect vnto the hyer powers: For there is no power but of god. The powers that be, are ordeyned of God.
2 Whosoeuer therfore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinaunce of God: And they that resist, shall receaue to the selues dampnation.
3 For rulers are not fearefull to good workes, but to the euyll. Wylt thou not feare the power? Do well, and thou shalt haue prayse of the same.
4 For he is the minister of God for thy wealth. But yf thou do euyll, feare: For he beareth not the sworde in vayne, for he is the minister of God, reuenger of wrath on hym that doth euyll.
5 Wherfore, ye must needes be subiect, not only for feare of punishment: but also because of conscience.
6 And for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are Gods ministers, seruyng for the same purpose.
7 Geue to euery man therfore his dutie, tribute to whom tribute, custome to whom custome, feare to whom feare, honour to whom honour [belongeth.]
8 Owe nothyng to no man, but to loue one another: (For he that loueth another, hath fulfylled the lawe.
9 For this: Thou shalt not commit adultrie, thou shalt not kyll, thou shalt not steale, thou shalt not beare false witnesse, thou shalt not lust: and yf there be any other commaundement, it is comprehended in this saying: Namelye, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe.
10 Charitie worketh no yll to his neyghbour, therfore the fulfyllyng of the lawe is charitie.)
11 And chiefely consideryng the season, howe that it is tyme that we shoulde nowe awake out of slepe: For nowe is our saluation nearer, then when we beleued.
12 The nyght is passed, the day is come nye. Let vs therfore caste away the deedes of darknesse, & let vs put on the armour of lyght.
13 Let vs walke honestly as in the day, not in riotyng & dronkennesse, neither in chaumberyng & wantonnesse, neither in strife and enuying.
14 But put ye on ye Lorde Iesus Christe. And make not prouision for the fleshe, to the lustes [therof.]
The Bishop’s Bible (BB)
The Bishop’s Bible (BB) is a significant English translation of the Bible that was first published in 1568 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It was commissioned by the Church of England as a revision of the Great Bible and as a response to the Geneva Bible, which was popular among the Puritans but contained marginal notes that were considered politically and theologically contentious by the Anglican establishment. The primary goal of the Bishop’ s Bible was to create a translation that would be more acceptable to the ecclesiastical authorities and suitable for use in Anglican churches.
One of the distinguishing features of the Bishop’s Bible is its effort to maintain a high level of accuracy and scholarly integrity while also ensuring that the language used was dignified and appropriate for public reading. The translation was undertaken by a team of bishops and other scholars, hence its name. The translators aimed to preserve the poetic and literary qualities of the original texts, drawing on previous translations such as the Tyndale Bible, the Coverdale Bible, and the Great Bible, while also incorporating their scholarly insights and linguistic refinements.
The Bishop’s Bible was notable for its large, folio format, which was designed to be read from the pulpit. It included extensive marginal notes, though these were more restrained and less controversial than those found in the Geneva Bible. The translation also featured elaborate illustrations and maps, as well as a comprehensive introduction and various prefaces that provided context and guidance for readers. Despite its grandeur and scholarly merit, the Bishop’s Bible did not achieve the widespread popularity of the Geneva Bible among the general populace.
Although the Bishop’s Bible played an essential role in the religious and cultural life of Elizabethan England, it was eventually overshadowed by the King James Version (KJV), which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611. The KJV drew heavily on the Bishop’ s Bible, as well as other earlier translations, but ultimately surpassed it in both scholarly rigor and literary quality. Nonetheless, the Bishop’s Bible remains an important milestone in the history of English Bible translations, reflecting the theological and political currents of its time and contributing to the development of subsequent translations.