Wide as the Waters: The Story of the English Bible and the Revolution It Inspired

by Benson Bobrick

Book Overview

Bobrick tells the dramatic story of the translation of the Bible into English by John Wyclif, William Tyndale, and the experts assembled under King James, and the enormous ramifications of the English Bible on politics, literature, and law.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684847477
• ISBN13: 9780684847474
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.7" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

WHETHER YOU ACCEPT THE BIBLE OR NOT, A GREAT BOOK

Whether you believe the Bible or not, Wide As the Waters is a fascinating study of the history of a book that changed the world as we know it today. Not an overtly religious book, this study provides a unbiased look at the historical events that swirled in England as the Bible was introduced there in English and shows how the Bible and debates regarding it and its origins helped shape views regarding modern ethics, politics and law. Don't let the subject be a deterrent. Wide as the Waters is well written and a concise, fast and enjoyable read. Regardless of your personal beliefs, this book will provide a better understanding of the modern world and the impact that these times had on it.

Perseverance through Great Difficulties

Wide as the Waters is the fascinating story of the struggle to produce a Bible in the English language during the Reformation era. Short biographies of John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, Miles Coverdale, et.al. are impressive because they show the strength and determination these men had. They were literally taking their lives in their hands when they dared to challenge the official Church's doctrinal line. Parallel translations included in the text demonstrate how profound doctrinal differences between Catholic and Protestant could develop over the translation (or mistranslation) of a word or two. Bobrick provides some fascinating material on the men who worked on the various translations, not only those already well known but also on the hitherto almost anonymous, such as the committee members who created the Authorized or King James Version of 1611.As the struggle for an English Bible continued, the notion of challenging the Official Version of things spread from religious to governmental matters, and the push to reform the English Church led to the push to reform English government. That, in turn, led to the American push to end English control over the colonies. That insight alone makes the book well worth the price.

Excellent History Regardless Of Specific Faith

"Wide As The Waters", could easily be classified as a book about the evolution of The English Bible, and by extension a discussion exclusively of The Christian Faith. This presumption would greatly decrease the potential audience, and do a disservice to a remarkably readable and scholarly dissertation upon the events that produced what many consider the finest version of this book. This is not simply an explanation about The King James Bible and those that did the necessary translation. It is a sweeping view of the history of The Bible, its misuse as a political defense and weapon, and the centuries it took to bring the work to fruition. Contrary to what many believe, The King James Bible was not the first Bible in English, it was not the second, fifth, or even the tenth. Bibles that preceded it were produced in dozens of editions preceding the King James. The story of those who brought this remarkable product of scholarship to its fruition is nothing short of astounding. Whether or not your Faith coincides with The Bible, or whether you enjoy excellent dispassionate History, this book is a brilliant work, penned by the inspired Historian Benson Bobrick.The variety of interests that sought to produce the definitive English translation was a varied group. There were Kings, Queens, Popes, and dozens of others that would eventually contribute to the final product. At one point The Catholic Church was so fragmented that it had no less than 3 Popes claiming St. Peter's Throne simultaneously. These same people in power either encouraged or caused the martyrdom of men like John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, and Miles Coverdale. Henry VIII, Edward IV, Mary Tudor, and Elizabeth I, were just some of the memorable monarchs in the drama.The greatest impact was the knowledge that was taken from the obscurity of languages known only be a few, who often would interpret the writings for their own agenda. No longer would The Bible be the hostage of Church Monopoly; it would finally be in the hands for which it was intended. While this event promoted the massive increase in books and printing, it also gave rise to individual interpretation that eventually leads to The Reformation. It will also bring to an end the Divine Right Of Kings, and other events of major Historical import.Anyone who has looked at comparisons between the varieties of English Bibles can see how easily meaning can be changed, how entire concepts can be altered. The Author does a wonderful job of supplying enough examples of the issues the original translators faced without making the reading obscure. He demonstrates the importance of what text was to be used, Latin, Latin Vulgate, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic. He makes clear that rarely would any two people make identical translations whether due to style or personal agenda. It forces readers to ponder just what would be read if the ancient texts were read as intended. Instead we read a book that has been revised and edited extensively.One p

Incredible Story

Bobrick squarely nails down his subject matter and all in the context of the history of the Hebrew, Greek and Latin texts. From the roots of the canonical texts, through the great changes wrought by Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and any other Era or Character of History since then, he traces the path taken by the English Bible and the people who produced it.The profile of Wycliffe at Oxford is very interesting. This was no sweaty-faced Elmer Gantry. Which is nice to see in our own seemingly post-Christian era, in which we see creeping efforts to replace B.C. and A.D. with B.C.E. and C.E. My guess is the Bible will hold up just fine, no matter what our calendar does. Winston Churchill said the King James Bible was the greatest thing the English had ever done for the rest of the world. This book elaborates on that assertion in convincing detail.One remarkable feature of this book is the author's use of measured, graceful language. Reads the same.

The Translators Brought Us Liberty

There is a famous Italian proverb, "Traduttore, traditore," which means, "The translator is a traitor." It is generally taken to mean that someone who translates a work betrays the work itself, as a translation cannot sufficiently convey the original. But in the case of the Bible, translation has been regarded literally as a betrayal, a betrayal against religious or civic authority that might result in the most severe of punishments. In _Wide as the Waters: The Story of the English Bible and the Revolution It Inspired_ (Simon & Schuster) Benson Bobrick tells about the dangers of this particular betrayal as the Bible was launched by various attempts over the centuries into English. The popes and monarchs were right to be worried about putting the Bible into the vernacular.The right of the individual to make private religious inquiry may be said to have started with John Wycliffe, who was involved in translating the Bible in 1380. His work was suppressed and condemned as heretical. The offended and unforgiving church dug up his bones forty years after he died and burned them. The father of the English Bible as we know it is William Tyndale. He was a child prodigy in languages and "singularly addicted to the study of the scriptures." Influenced by the Humanists and by Luther, and taking advantage of the advent of printing by movable type, he wanted lay-people themselves to see the "process, order, and meaning of the text." He was hounded into Europe, and Henry VIII put watches on English ports to ensure his dangerous book did not sully their shores. Tyndale lived a hunted life in Europe, was betrayed and captured in Antwerp, tried for heresy, and strangled and burned.Bobrick, of course, explains much about the formation of the King James Version by fifty distinguished scholars, and he gives examples of the evolution of the Bible, with the KJV shining admirably in comparison to its predecessors. Although the story of how we came to have an English Bible is a fascinating one, Bobrick's main thesis is that a popular Bible changed the way everyone regarded kings, popes, and governments. Removed from the clutches of the clergy, the Bible became the instruction for any individual who cared to take it up and interpret it in any manner. It was not necessarily that the Bible had instruction in liberty, but being able to read it freely was a token of the importance of liberty; it wasn't especially important whether reading the Bible turned readers into Christians. Those who upheld the individual reading of scripture were those who promoted freedom of the press and who saw the conscience of the individual as the authority in all things. They thereby reduced the authority of clergy and kings. Those who could read the Bible themselves began to cite its many examples of bad kings and religious leaders when making comparisons to contemporaries. The read-it-yourself Bible was a blow for individual conscience, one which brought on a constitutiona