Inside the International Board of Jewish Missions Gartenhaus Training Center in Hixson, an exhibit titled "The History of the English Bible" will be displayed on tables lining the walls for spectators to view for free Jan. 20-21 starting at 9 a.m. daily.
International Board of Jewish Missions Director of Training and Education John Lawrence holds a copy of the King James Bible in front of a display case with the Book of Esther written on an ancient scroll to the left and an ancient Torah scroll containing the first five books of the Old Testament.IBJM Director of Training and Education John Lawrence said the exhibit comes on the heels of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. He said IBJM will show the film "The Book that Changed the World," that details how the King James Bible came to be translated, Friday at 7 p.m.
"The King James translation of the Bible was completed in 1611," said Lawrence. "It took 10 years to translate the King James Version. King James ordered the translation to be done. A large committee of theologians and scholars translated the Old Testament from Hebrew to English and translated the New Testament from Greek to English [to create the King James version]."
Lawrence said the Hebrew Old Testament and other copies of older editions of Bibles will be displayed during the exhibit, the bulk of which was assembled by the Society for the Distribution of the Hebrew Scriptures in England. Exhibit guest speaker Jacki Powell went to England and brought back components for the local showcase.
Powell will conclude a series of two-day seminars telling the audience why they can trust the Bible as the world of God.
The grand finale of the event will be Jan. 21 with a showing of the film "God's Outlaw: The Story of William Tyndale." The film shows how Tyndale, a theologian in the 1500s, proposed the Bible in English. The Tyndale New Testament was published in 1526.
"The Bible is translated into several hundred languages," said Lawrence, although adding that the Bible is not translated into every language. "We are lucky it is translated into our language."
The International Board of Jewish Missions, at 1928 Hamill Road, can be reached for further details at 876-8150. To learn more about IBJM's museum, open daily to visitors free of charge, visit www.ibjm.org.