How Many Books Are in the Geneva Bible?
The Geneva Bible, first published in 1560, is one of the most significant translations of the Bible into English. It played a crucial role in the Reformation and has had a lasting impact on the English-speaking world. One of the questions that often arises when discussing the Geneva Bible is, “How many books are in the Geneva Bible?” This article aims to explore this question and provide an overview of the books included in this influential translation.
The Geneva Bible, like the King James Version that followed it, is based on the Textus Receptus, a Greek manuscript tradition. It includes the traditional 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, which are divided into the following categories:
1. Old Testament
– 39 books of the Old Testament are included in the Geneva Bible. These books are divided into the following categories:
– Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
– Historical Books (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon)
– Wisdom Literature (Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Proverbs, Job, Sirach, Tobit, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus)
– Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel)
– Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)
2. New Testament
– The New Testament in the Geneva Bible consists of 27 books, which are divided into the following categories:
– Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
– Acts of the Apostles
– Epistles (Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews)
– Catholic Epistles (James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude)
– Revelation (Apocalypse)
In summary, the Geneva Bible contains 66 books, just like the King James Version and other modern English translations. However, it is important to note that the Geneva Bible includes the Apocrypha, which are additional books found in the Vulgate, a Latin version of the Bible. These books are not included in the Protestant version of the Bible, which is based on the Textus Receptus.
The Geneva Bible’s inclusion of the Apocrypha is one of the reasons it is considered a “catholic” Bible, as opposed to a “protestant” Bible. Despite this, the Geneva Bible remains a significant translation due to its influence on the English language and its contribution to the Reformation.
