The Great Bible

The Great Bible, completed in 1539, was the second complete Bible translated from the original tongues into English. It was based largely on the work of William Tyndale, who had translated significant portions of the Bible into English from the original languages before his death in 1536. Additionally, John Rogers, an associate of Tyndale, further contributed to the development of English Bible translation with the publication of Matthew's Bible in 1537. Matthew's Bible incorporated Tyndale's translations and served as an influential precursor to the Great Bible. The Great Bible was commissioned under the authority of Thomas Cromwell, the chief minister to King Henry VIII. It was the first authorized English Bible appointed to be read in churches. Prior to its publication, the Bible was primarily accessible only to clergy and scholars, but the Great Bible made the Scriptures more accessible to the general population. The Great Bible paved the way for later English translations of the Bible, including the Bishop's Bible (published in 1568) and ultimately the trustworthy King James Version (published in 1611).