Preface｜序
In the tide of the Reformation, the translation and dissemination of the Bible were not only a transmission of faith but also a struggle for authority and culture. The 1568 Bishop's Bible stands as a pivotal chapter in this historical current. As the second authorized Bible of the Church of England, it embodies the religious ideals and artistic achievements of the Elizabethan era, leaving a profound mark on the history of English Bible translation.
The Bishop's Bible emerged in response to the growing popularity of the Geneva Bible, which, with its portable format and extensive annotations, captivated the public and even began to replace the officially authorized Great Bible. To counter this, Archbishop Matthew Parker of Canterbury gathered a group of bishops and scholars to revise the Great Bible, resulting in the publication of the Bishop's Bible in 1568. This Bible not only aimed for dignity and accuracy in translation but also showcased the pinnacle of 16th-century printing technology through its exquisite woodcut illustrations and binding design.
Yet, the fate of the Bishop's Bible was fraught with contradictions. Although it was officially designated as the "pulpit Bible" for church use and replaced the Great Bible after the 1571 Convocation of Canterbury, its influence never surpassed that of the Geneva Bible. The public preferred to read the latter at home, while the Bishop's Bible primarily served as a symbol of ecclesiastical authority. This duality makes the Bishop's Bible a microcosm of the interplay between faith and culture during the English Reformation.
This exhibition focuses on the original leaves of the Bishop's Bible. These precious artifacts not only display its unique artistic style and printing techniques but also offer a glimpse into the complex religious and cultural landscape of 16th-century England. From full-page woodcut illustrations to decorative initials, from verse divisions to the "Bishop's fist" (manicules), each page is a testament to history, and every line of text is a legacy of faith.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Reverend Stephen Morgan for generously lending these invaluable Bible leaves, allowing visitors to experience the charm of this classic up close. Through these leaves, we not only revisit the history of the Bishop's Bible but also reflect on how words, art, and faith intertwine and evolve over time.
May this exhibition guide us through time, allowing us to feel the power of faith and the weight of history.
在宗教改革的浪潮中，聖經的翻譯與傳播不僅是信仰的傳遞，更是權威與文化的角力。1568年出版的《主教聖經》（Bishop's Bible），正是這一歷史洪流中的重要篇章。作為英國國教會的第二部官方聖經，它承載了伊麗莎白一世時代的宗教理想與藝術成就，並在英國聖經翻譯史上留下了深刻的印記。
《主教聖經》的誕生，源於對《日內瓦聖經》日益普及的回應。後者以其便攜的格式與詳盡的註釋，深受民眾喜愛，甚至開始取代官方授權的《大聖經》。為此，坎特伯雷大主教馬修·帕克（Matthew Parker）召集了一批主教與學者，致力於修訂《大聖經》，並於1568年推出了《主教聖經》。這部聖經不僅在翻譯上力求莊嚴與準確，更以其精美的木刻插圖與裝幀設計，展現了16世紀印刷技術的巔峰。
然而，《主教聖經》的命運卻充滿矛盾。儘管它被正式指定為教堂使用的「講壇聖經」，並在1571年的坎特伯雷會議後取代了《大聖經》，但其影響力始終未能超越《日內瓦聖經》。民眾更傾向於在家中閱讀後者，而《主教聖經》則主要作為教會權威的象徵存在。這種雙重性，使得《主教聖經》成為英國宗教改革時期信仰與文化交織的縮影。
本次展覽聚焦於《主教聖經》的初版書葉，這些珍貴的文物不僅展現了其獨特的藝術風格與印刷技術，更讓我們得以一窺16世紀英國宗教與文化的複雜面貌。從全頁木刻插圖到裝飾性的首字母，從分節經文到「主教的手標」（Bishop's fist），每一頁都是歷史的見證，每一行文字都是信仰的傳承。
我們衷心感謝校長麥仕文教授（Reverend Stephen Morgan）慷慨借出這些珍貴的聖經書葉，讓觀眾能夠近距離感受這部經典的魅力。透過這些書葉，我們不僅回顧了《主教聖經》的歷史，更思考了文字、藝術與信仰如何在時間的長河中交織與演變。
願這場展覽，帶領我們穿越時空，感受信仰的力量與歷史的厚重。