The Forbidden Book: History of the Bible (Part 3 of 7)

The Forbidden Book: History of the Bible (1986)

The Forbidden Book is now a DVD presentation examining the history of the Word of God in English. It is hosted by Dr. Craig Lampe, a Bible historian and International Director of the World Bible Society. Dr. Lampe owns the Rare Bible Showroom in Arizona and holds a virtual monopoly over rare and antique Bibles. His collection even includes a 1410 Wycliffe Manuscript valued at just under $3 million. It is one of the rarest Bibles in the world. He has a Coverdale Bible, Great Bibles, sells leaves of the Geneva Bible, and, amazingly enough, leaves from the Gutenberg Bible - the first book ever published. If you happen to have one of these complete Bibles sitting in your attic, you should have it insured for about $100 million.

This DVD is an hour-long presentation on the history of the English Bible. The viewer will meet most of the historical figures responsible for bringing us the Bible as we know and love it today: Wycliffe, Hus, Gutenberg, Colet, Erasmus, Tyndale, Luther and so on. He will see some of the locations important to the history of the Bible, such as the Wittenberg door and Martin Luther's study. He will learn about the earliest English translations, in the Old World and in the New.

There are many amazing facts worked into the presentation. Lampe shows a scroll that is 1000 years old, and tells the viewer that it is word-for-word the same as the text of the Dead Sea Scrolls that were written a full millennium before. He describes how the Bible went from being available in 500 languages in 400 AD to being available in only 1 only 100 years later. He talks about a 110 year period in America during which 5000 editions of the Bible were produced.

In short, it is quite an informative and enjoyable video. The production quality is a little bit uneven (the host can be a bit awkward at times (what do you do with your hands when you're on camera?) and there are places where the camera shakes a little bit during panning shots. But on the whole the quality is quite good. It is a bit strange that the only information given about who produced this video are the name of the host and, at the very end, his web site (C.P.M.). There are no further credits. I know from the information given on various e-commerce sites that it is produced by New Liberty Videos, a company that does not seem to have an Internet presence.

Being reminded of the blood that was shed to bring the Bible to common folk like myself, makes me consider just how flippantly I treat the Scriptures. Do I really have a sense of how privileged I am to have not just one Bible but an entire stack of them in many outstanding translations? And do I thank Yahweh for the faithful men and women who gave their lives that I can have unlimited access to His Word? Do I really understand how unique my situation is? I suspect I do not often enough consider these things.

Before I close, I will warn that the host is quite harsh towards the Roman Catholic Church and their role in the history of the English Bible. And well he should be, as the papacy worked tirelessly to eradicate any person who dared to present the Scriptures to the common man. Of course the fears of the Church were founded, for when Scripture became accessible, the light quickly broke forth and spread throughout the world.

At covenantpeoplesministry.com the advertisement for this video says, "Hundreds of Church Sunday School classes and Christian home-schoolers use it as part of their curriculum." I would agree that this presentation would be useful for those purposes. It would make a valuable addition to a church, school or even public library. It would also make a great gift. And of course it is also a valuable addition to a person library. I very much enjoyed this video and am sure to watch it again. I recommend it.

More information @ http://cpm.noonhost.com/the-forbidden-book-history-of-the-bible-vt444.html

Covenant People's Video is proud to reissue this rare, out-of-print film to YouTube (3-09)!

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Gutenberg
• Bible
• Geneva
• Wycliffe
• Hus
• Colet
• Erasmus
• Tyndale
• Luther
• Lampe
• Visser

[kevinjjfr]

@lizazoon But he did not, the Church (who created it) would be tasked with its protection.

[lizazoon]

The history of the bible shows that it cannot be from god. What god , with an ounce of gray matter, would leave it to his subjects, to interpret his instruction book to reach eternal life. That`s like granting the interpretation of the" penal code" to the accused.

[81blackboy]

Christmas is not the Messiah Birthday,in Leviticus 23:1-44 is the Feast days and Holy Days Christmas,Easter,Thanksgiving,­Halloween,and Ect is NOT in the Bible!! The real Hebrews are Black people!!!

[deanna777777777777]

always seek for the truth always God said so!!!!!! There must be something someone did not us to see.

[supremebuddy]

This is true, but this is the way the Bible was constructed. The powers that be want you to be "asleep" for then you are not a threat to the established powers. Those who "awaken" are a severe threat to the established form of governance. Even in this age, those who are "awakened" are threatened, taunted, and imprisoned. Yes, even in the 21st century. There is no death, that does not exist. Energy lives forever constantly changing.

[repentnowpeople]

I just want the truth in the Bible. It matters if they changed the text. Its a matter of life and death. I pray for everyone

Peace be with you all.

[asachildtobecome]

With sadness, disbelief and maybe a spark of understanding, I have listened to these lectures about the history of the bible. Facts are tossed around with a juggler's ability to throw information up into the air to then forget which pin went up first. Time-lines are completly jumbled. The sadness comes from knowing the richness in the Book: How it came about. The results liken the analogy of a magnificent symphony waiting for the audience. DESIRE to know. To discover what there always.

[7rightnow]

great video