Museum of the Bible

04/11/2021

The Civil Rights Act of 1968 was signed into law during the King assassination riots and enacted #OnThisDay in 1968. The Bible played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement—and Martin Luther King was often its spokesperson.

King frequently quoted the Bible in his speeches, especially in his now iconic speech in the nation’s capital in 1963, from Isaiah 40:4–5, “I have a dream that one day every valley should be exalted ... and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it ...”

04/11/2021

It's National Pet Day, so you know we cannot resist posting about some furry (or scaly?) friends! From dogs to (killer) rabbits to dragons and more, these biblical manuscripts might just inspire you to adopt a new pet!

04/11/2021

This papyrus codex originally contained approximately 84 leaves (168 pages) of an ancient Psalter. More than half of the codex survives, preserving most of Psalms 17:45–118:44 in Greek (18:44–119:44 in most English versions). All 49 surviving leaves (98 pages) are in our collection.

The text was written by two different scribes whose handwriting differed noticeably in size, so the amount of text varies from 33 to 44 lines per page. This manuscript takes its name from Martin Bodmer, a Swiss collector who purchased the manuscript in the 1950s.

See this codex on our History Floor or at https://fal.cn/3eCLR.

04/10/2021

Edward Robinson, born #OnThisDay in 1794, was an American biblical scholar who made one of the earliest surveys of Palestine in 1838. He identified over 100 biblical sites, which laid foundations for future exploration and excavation at those sites.

Among his discoveries in Jerusalem were the Siloam tunnel and Robinson’s Arch, an arch described by Josephus that supported a grand staircase on the western side of the Temple Mount. It is now named in Robinson’s honor.

04/10/2021

Edward Robinson, born #OnThisDay in 1794, was an American biblical scholar who made one of the earliest surveys of Palestine in 1838. He identified over 100 biblical sites, which laid foundations for future exploration and excavation at those sites.

Among his discoveries in Jerusalem were the Siloam tunnel and Robinson’s Arch, an arch described by Josephus that supported a grand staircase on the western side of the Temple Mount. It is now named in Robinson’s honor.

04/10/2021

This Sheraton-style writing desk was used by English poet, playwright, religious writer, social reformer, and anti-slavery activist Hannah More. More wrote her first play in 1762 and continued to write poetry, plays, and tracts, which in her later years became more evangelical. In the 1780s, she became involved with the abolitionist movement to end slavery and, in 1788, published the poem “Slavery."

This desk contains a note pasted on the back that states this table was used by Hannah More and contains some provenance information. #ArtifactoftheDay

See it on our Collections page: https://fal.cn/3eBN4.

04/09/2021

Dietrich Bonhoeffer died #OnThisDay in 1945. Bonhoeffer was a German pastor, theologian, and committed pacifist. He also led an underground seminary for biblical training of pastors who refused to support Adolf Hitler’s N**i regime. As a result, he was monitored by the Gestapo and forbidden from writing or preaching in public.

The Bible played a predominant role in persuading Bonhoeffer that he should seek the downfall of his own government.

He had written earlier to a friend: “It is also high time we broke with our theologically based restraint toward the state’s actions—which after all, is only fear. Speaking out for those who cannot speak,” he said, is “the very least that the Bible requires of us.”

04/08/2021

Richard Allen, of St. George’s Church in Philadelphia, was a rising star in Methodist circles. Tired of the continued refusal to provide adequate facilities for African American Methodists, Allen founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816.

Allen passionately campaigned against slavery and addressed slaveholders, referencing the exodus story from the Bible. His tireless opposition to slavery and injustice made him admired by many, especially by later abolitionist leaders.

04/08/2021

“Daughters, Do Not Weep for Me” is the eighth station in our exhibit, “Stations of the Cross.” The piece depicts Jesus looking up in a pleading gaze to the people around him. The artist describes him as saying, “Don't you realize what is happening? Don't you get it?"

Created by renowned artist Gib Singleton, “Stations of the Cross” is a collection of works that reinterprets a tradition within the Catholic Church commemorating 14 events from the last hours of Jesus’s life. See all 14 stations in the exhibit on display through May 2, 2021.

Learn more: http://motb.me/8e4el0.

04/08/2021

Would it surprise you to learn the first Bible published in North America was not written in English—or any European language? Today this Bible is commonly known as the Eliot Indian Bible.

John Eliot was a Puritan missionary who learned the language of a North American tribe and created an alphabet for it. Assisted by a few members of the tribe, Eliot spent 14 years translating the Bible into the Wôpanâak language.

04/07/2021

This Haggadah Shel Pesah is a mass market reprint of the famous Szyk Haggadah, illustrated by Arthur Syzk between 1934 and 1936. It takes the form of an illustrated commentary on the Passover Haggadah and incorporates many elements from contemporary politics. It has been reproduced many times since its original publication in the 1940s. This copy, printed in 1956, has a decorative metal gift cover and a gift inscription dated 1971.

Learn more: http://motb.me/lr7b8i. #ArtifactoftheDay

04/07/2021

#OnThisDay in 1917, the United States officially entered World War I. #DidYouKnow the World War I Chaplains Memorial dedicated in 1926 includes a passage from John 15? It reads: “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

04/06/2021

Anne Bradstreet is regarded today as America’s first poet. Bradstreet was born in England and came to Massachusetts in 1630, when she was 18.

Her poetry consequently drew from her knowledge of a broad range of subjects, from the Bible and theology to anatomy and astronomy. In 1650, her brother-in-law published a collection of her poems, supposedly without her knowledge, as “The Tenth Muse.” This is a first edition.

Learn more: http://motb.me/il3hjn. #ArtifactoftheDay

04/06/2021

If you could have dinner with one Bible character, who would it be and why?

04/05/2021

The English mystic Richard Rolle translated the Psalms and canticles into Middle English. This copy of his work was probably made at a convent in Yorkshire, England, about 50 years after his death. Rolle broke up each psalm into short Latin passages that are not the same as modern verses. Next, he translated each passage.

Rolle added commentary in Middle English, perhaps to guide the hermit Margaret Kirkby. This manuscript begins with the end of his commentary on Psalm 7 and is almost complete; one quire is missing. The manuscript once belonged to the family of the Earl of Rosebery.

Learn more on our History Floor or http://motb.me/98stkz. #ArtifactoftheDay

04/05/2021

Ken Howard, who dedicated nearly 40 years to providing Bibles to people in Russia, determined the best way to get Bibles to the USSR would be to screen print them there. Screen printing was economical, simple, and easily destroyed if necessary.

To screen print, the fabric screen was placed on top of paper, then ink was pressed through the fabric, printing only the text on the paper. This system became efficient enough to produce 45 pages a minute, becoming the primary method by which the Bible was created and distributed in the USSR for a decade.

Learn more about Ken Howard and “Serving the Soviets” on our Impact Floor or at https://fal.cn/3eucK.

04/04/2021

The central panel of “Easter Morning” depicts Jesus in a white robe standing outside amongst flowers and trees, his head illuminated by a halo. The left panel depicts a woman looking toward Jesus, and the right panel depicts three crosses set atop a hill.

The techniques demonstrated in this design are characteristic of its creator, Louis Comfort Tiffany, founder of Tiffany Studios, who was commissioned by Grace Episcopal Church (later Church of the Epiphany) in Orange, New Jersey, to create a commemorative window for Frank and Lois Barstow upon his passing in 1909.

See it on display in the Atrium of the Impact of the Bible Floor or https://fal.cn/3etQN.

04/04/2021

In 1999, the Benedictines who run Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, announced the production of a complete manuscript copy of the Bible for the first time in over 500 years. Over the next 12 years, master calligrapher Donald Jackson, with a team of scribes and artists, produced a manuscript Bible in seven volumes. In this scene, Jackson depicted how Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene after the resurrection. The quotation comes from John 20:17.

The Heritage Edition is a full-size, limited, signed, and numbered fine art reproduction of the original. Museum of the Bible’s Heritage Edition of “The St. John’s Bible” is now on display.

“Resurrection,” Donald Jackson, Copyright 2002, “The Saint John’s Bible,” Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

04/03/2021

#DidYouKnow the Hebrew Bible and encyclopedias have something in common? Both were first published in America by the same person.

In 1814, the first Bible in Hebrew printed in America was published by Thomas Dobson. It sold for $15, which is around $200 in today’s money. Dobson also published America’s first encyclopedia from 1789 to 1798.

04/03/2021

This processional cross is made from a single flat sheet of silver, with gilding around the edges. A tang at the base of the cross would originally have been inserted into a wooden staff and carried as part of a procession. Crosses like this were designed to be seen from a distance and were used as part of the liturgy and ceremony of the Byzantine Church. There are many artistic depictions of prominent Christians holding such staffs mounted with crosses.

See it on our History of the Bible Floor or at https://fal.cn/3et1m.

04/02/2021

In 1999, the Benedictines who run Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, announced the production of a complete manuscript copy of the Bible for the first time in over 500 years. Over the next 12 years, master calligrapher Donald Jackson, with a team of scribes and artists, produced a manuscript Bible in seven volumes. Here, Jackson portrayed the crucifixion of Jesus as a glorious event that brought light to the cosmos.

The Heritage Edition is a full-size, limited, signed, and numbered fine art reproduction of the original. Museum of the Bible’s Heritage Edition of “The St. John’s Bible” is now on display.

“Crucifixion,” Donald Jackson, Copyright 2002, “The Saint John’s Bible,” Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

04/01/2021

The History of Easter | April 1, 2021

When did Christians start celebrating Easter? How did they first celebrate it? When did the rabbits come into play? And the chocolate bunnies and eggs? Find out the answers to all these questions and more on "The History of Easter" with host Matthew West. Presented by Museum of the Bible and TBN.

04/01/2021

The story of Jesus is one of the Bible’s most famous stories. Beginning tomorrow, Sight & Sound Theatres is bringing their groundbreaking original stage production to screens worldwide in a special live broadcast event! For one night only, join viewers from around the world as the greatest rescue story of all time comes to life — available exclusively on Sight & Sound TV.

To purchase a ticket, visit https://fal.cn/3erlC. Please contact Sight & Sound Theatres - Lancaster, PA for all questions and concerns.

04/01/2021

The History of Easter | April 1, 2021

When did Christians start celebrating Easter? How did they first celebrate it? When did the rabbits come into play? And the chocolate bunnies and eggs? Find out the answers to all these questions and more on "The History of Easter" with host Matthew West. Presented by Museum of the Bible and TBN.

04/01/2021

Julia E. Smith

“And God will say there shall be light, and there shall be light.” This may sound a bit strange to anyone used to a more common translation such as: “And God said, let there be light, and there was light.”

The first phrase comes from Julia E. Smith’s translation of the Bible. Produced in the mid-1800s, it was the first complete Bible translated by a woman.

04/01/2021

The Bible includes roughly 2,600 proper names, many with a specific meaning. Asher, a popular boys’ name today, means “happy and content.” Ava, a common girls’ name, is derived from Eve, sometimes taken to mean “life.” If you visit an 18th- or 19th-century American cemetery, you’ll find boys’ names like Zebediah, Obadiah, and Jedidiah.

In Sweden, Elsa, a variation of Elizabeth, is the No. 1 girls’ name. In the Czech Republic, the top five boys’ names all come from the Bible, while in the Philippines, Ezekiel and Joshua have been popular over the last decade. All this to say, names from the Bible continue to be common throughout the world today.

📷 by @mommajo1219 on Instagram

03/31/2021

#DidYouKnow different parts of the world have different ways of celebrating #Easter? If you celebrate, tell us one of your traditions!

It’s estimated that Easter is celebrated by over two billion Christians around the world. Most Easter traditions are tied to themes of new life, new beginnings, or light: Brightly colored lanterns are exchanged in Goa, India; A Brazilian town’s streets are covered with carpets made of flowers; In Bermuda, cross-shaped kites are flown.

Want to learn more about Easter? Don’t miss our documentary, “The History of Easter,” broadcast on TBN on April 1 at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. EDT and April 3 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. Learn more: https://fal.cn/3epk4.

03/31/2021

Created by renowned artist Gilbert Jerome “Gib” Singleton, this piece is the seventh station in his “Stations of the Cross,” a collection of works that reinterpret a tradition within the Catholic Church commemorating 14 events from the last hours of Jesus’s life.

This piece, “Fallen Lamb,” shows Jesus on the ground after falling once again along the way to his crucifixion. The artist describes the man standing next to him as saying, “Get up and keep going to your death.”

See all 14 sculptures on display in our exhibit, “Stations of the Cross,” or at https://fal.cn/3eood.

03/30/2021

This set of woodblocks was used to illustrate the 1590/1591 Gospels in Arabic printed on the Medici Oriental Press in Rome, Italy. Designed by renowned artist Antonio Tempesta and cut by engraver Leonardo Parasole, these woodblocks demonstrate Tempesta’s innovations in converting his personal drawing style into printable form.

Learn more on our Collections page: https://fal.cn/3enIR.

03/30/2021

#DidYouKnow there is a connection between Passover in America and Maxwell House Coffee? In 1923, Maxwell House advertised their coffee was certified by rabbis as kosher for Passover.

Passover, which began Saturday evening, is a Jewish festival that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and lasts seven or eight days. You can also see a Maxwell House Haggadah on our Impact of the Bible Floor.

03/30/2021

Calling all National Guardsmen! Don’t miss the last weekend for free admission. Just show your military ID.

Begin exploring our exhibits and collections at https://fal.cn/3em0G.

03/29/2021

While the origin behind Easter Sunday is known to all — the resurrection of Jesus — the origins of the traditions that accompany the holiday are less familiar to many. When did Christians start celebrating Easter? How did they first celebrate it? When did the rabbits come into play? And the chocolate bunnies and eggs?

To find out the answers to all these questions and more, tune in to our new documentary, "The History of Easter." Hosted by Matthew West, this presentation will take you from the Easter traditions enjoyed today back to the event that started it all.

The History of Easter will air Thursday, April 1, at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. EDT and Saturday, April 3, at 2:00 p.m. EDT on TBN. Learn more: https://fal.cn/3elSP.

03/29/2021

#DidYouKnow the Cadbury egg, a favorite Easter candy, has a Quaker history? John Cadbury was a Quaker in England and started his career with a small grocery store in 1824. He then moved on to selling tea and creating different chocolates.

The Cadburys were known to read the Bible in the morning with their factory employees. They also provided continuing education classes in the evenings and had a strong sense of social justice.

03/28/2021

Suffragist ranks included religious leaders who often based their appeals on biblical passages. Female ministers, especially, were adept at referencing the Bible in support of women's rights and equality. Ministers Antoinette Brown Blackwell, Olympia Brown, and Anna Howard Shaw all played major roles in the fight for universal suffrage. #WomensHistoryMonth