Trial by Fire: The Struggle to get the Bible into English

By Harold Rawlings

Book Overview

The Struggle to get the Bible into English- The author provides colorful descriptions of the distinctive contributions of various early Bible translators such as John Wycliffe and William Tyndale. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0975500600
• ISBN13: 9780975500606
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: The Rawlings Foundation
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Trial by Fire: author Harold Rawlings

Does the year 1611AD sound familiar? For most Christians the answer is "Yes." It was the year the King James or Authorized version of the Bible appeared. But other years and their versions are a bit murky in the minds of most of us. Yet the full story of English Bible translation has romance and pathos plus heroes and villains to capture the imagination and to kindle or rekindle our zeal for Christ and His work. Trial by Fire presents this delightful mix accurately and interestingly. More than that, it speaks to present controversies among conservatives about Bible translation. Rawlings addresses the unusual King-James-Version-Only (KJVO) view. In this view, God inspired not only the original text of Scripture, but one English version as well. That version is the King James. Some who hold this idea believe that we can correct our Hebrew and Greek texts by using the KJV. Why is this discussion important? Because it has led to divisions in hundreds of churches. For many the KJVO view is the acid test of orthodoxy. As a pastor I receive phone calls asking about our congregation. So far so good! But some of those callers want to know only one thing, "What version of Scripture do you use?" Nothing about the Trinity, the deity of Christ, or our understanding of salvation comes up! It would be difficult to take this seriously if it were not for the damage it has done to individuals and churches. Where did such an idea originate? What can be said for it, or against it? Trial by Fire enters this discussion as part of a much larger survey of English Bible translation. As with a mystery thriller, I won't give away the ending. Instead I urge you to get the book for yourself. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Review of the book Trial By Fire by Harold Rawlings, Ph.D.

Trial by Fire is a well written and thoroughly documented account of the little known process which eventuated in the Bible being translated into English. The manner in which the author proceeds rivets the reader to the developing story and makes it difficult to lay the book aside. The tapestry of the story is woven with threads of political, social and religious facts which played significant parts in this history. One is reminded of the lasting positive effects on both England and the English speaking world because of the translation of the Bible into English. It is a must read!! Don Walker, Ph. D.