The Geneva Bible (1560)
The Geneva Bible (1560), produced by Protestant reformers in Geneva, was the first English Bible with numbered verses and the primary Bible of the Puritans, Pilgrims, and Shakespeare. It preceded the KJV by 51 years and was the most widely read English Bible of the Reformation era, famous for its extensive study notes.
History & Background
These ancient manuscripts and early printed editions represent the foundational textual tradition of the Bible. From the great Greek codices — Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus — to the Hebrew Masoretic text, the Latin Vulgate, and the Septuagint, these documents form the bedrock upon which all modern Bible translations rest. They are the raw materials of biblical scholarship, preserved across centuries through the dedication of scribes, monks, and scholars who understood their eternal value.
Canon Proximity Rating
These ancient manuscripts represent the earliest surviving witnesses to the biblical text and are the primary sources for all modern critical editions of the Old and New Testaments.