Percentage of Bibles with "Holy Bible" on spine or front cover

[BobinKy]

A recent discussion involving the terms "sacred" and "Scripture" led me take a look at the Bibles on my shelves. I have 32 Bibles of various translations. Of those 32, 19 Bibles have "Holy Bible" on the spine or front of the Bible cover. That is 59%. Most of my study Bibles do not have "Holy Bible" on the spine or cover. I also noticed that I have "Holy Bible" on the spines or front covers of the following versions: KJV, NIV 1984, TNIV, NRSV, GNT, and NLT. There are several modern translations that I do not have in my Bible collection. Therefore, various editions of those modern translations may include "Holy Bible" on their spine or front cover. I do not have them, so I do not know.

What percent of your Bibles have "Holy Bible" on the spine or front cover?

...Bob

 

[annsni]

I have a few ESVs and they all say Holy Bible on them - except the ESV Study Bible.

 

[franklinmonroe]

... What percent of your Bibles have "Holy Bible" on the spine or front cover?

Unfortunately, due to some members recently flooding the forum with multiple topics in a single day, some other folks' topics have been pushed off the first page, and thus they become neglected.

I have well over 100 English Bibles and/or NT translations (not sure exactly, and adding all the time). Most NTs do not have "Holy" on the spine or cover. I think this is mostly a publisher's decision.

But I have to ask: What is the point? Are they any less holy on the inside because they don't have "Holy" on the outside?

 

[SBCPreacher]

But I have to ask: What is the point? Are they any less holy on the inside because they don't have "Holy" on the outside?

That's a good question.

The Bible I use when preaching does not have "holy Bible" on the spine. The front cover is blank.

 

[Jerome]

When I worked at a bookstore, occasionally Bible purchasers would insist on only looking at ones with "Holy Bible" on the cover.

—So, what kind of Bible are you looking for?

—A Holy Bible!

 

[Jim1999]

They have writing on the cover? Gracious, what have I missed all these years?

Cheers,

Jim

 

[franklinmonroe]

When I worked at a bookstore, occasionally Bible purchasers would insist on only looking at ones with "Holy Bible" on the cover.
...

It makes me wonder, since they were so concerned with what was on the outside, if they ever read beyond the cover.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Just looking on the shelves I would guess about 2/3 of mine, in varying translations, use the words 'Holy Bible' on the spine. I would guess it is just the publisher's choice.

After all, the name 'Holy Bible' is hardly inspired.

 

[preacher4truth]

I don't want mine saying a thing on the front. It does say Holy Bible on the spine, I had to go look.

And it says Allan on the spine. It's pretty nice this Bible my wife got me. :love2:

 

[Jaocb77]

Maybe its a personal thing, But I would not want a bible that doesn't say Holy Bible.

 

[annsni]

Maybe its a personal thing, But I would not want a bible that doesn't say Holy Bible.

Even if it was the absolute identical Bible inside?

 

[John of Japan]

I just took a guess at 51%, since I've got Bibles in boxes stored away. I figure my English Bibles that are complete all have "Holy Bible" on the spine, if not the cover. But here are some interesting facts.

(1) All of my Greek NTs have "Greek New Testament" and not "Holy Bible" in some form. Sometimes they have it in Greek, but usually Engllish. My Nestle's 25 ed. has it in Latin! (Go figure.) My Latin NT has "Nouum Testamentum Latine" on the spine.

(2) English NTs always have "New Testament," not "Holy NT" or the like. I have a 1st ed. of the NASV NT which has "New American Standard Bible New Testament" on the cover.

(3) My Chinese NTs (one Taiwan, one mainland) both have
新約全書, "New Testament All Books" on the spine. My Chinese Bible is packed away, but they usually read "Holy Book" on the spine.

(4) The Japanese Bible is 聖書, Seisho, literally "Holy Book." NTs all have (literally) "New Testament Holy Book." The exception is the Moto Yaku ("Original Translation," the first Japanese Bible) which used the Chinese term.

Where did the term come from? Don't know, but it's a very old term. Googling the 1611 KJV 1st edition, you can see that it was called a "Holy Bible." I looked for a cover photo of a Tyndale Bible but couldn't find one. However, here is a 1543 commentary by Jean de Gagny for sale that has "Holy Bible" in its title: http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/B...url=fe=on&sortby=2&tn=bible&yrh=1610&yrl=1450

 

[Jerome]

Title pages:

KJB1611 "THE HOLY BIBLE"

Coverdale1535 "BIBLIA The Bible, that is, the holy Scripture"

Geneva1560 "THE BIBLE AND HOLY SCRIPTVRES"

Bishops1568 "The.holie.Bible."

Douay1609 "THE HOLIE BIBLE"

 

[Mexdeaf]

Oh, goodness gracious!! :laugh:

 

[BobinKy]

​

The phrase "holy scriptures" (with varied capitalization) appears in the following English translations of the Bible. Does the term "Holy Bible" come to us from this source?

...Bob

English Standard Version
Romans 1:2
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Good News Translation
Romans 1:2
The Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets, as written in the Holy Scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:15
and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Romans 1:2
which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures—

King James Bible
Romans 1:2
(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
2 Timothy 3:15
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

New American Standard Bible
Romans 1:2
which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

New International Version 1984
Romans 1:2
the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:15
and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Today's New International Version
Romans 1:2
the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:15
and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

New International Version 2011
Romans 1:2
the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:15
and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

New King James Version
Romans 1:2
which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
2 Timothy 3:15
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

New Living Translation
Romans 1:2
God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:15
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

New Revised Standard Version
Romans 1.2:
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures​

 

[Mexdeaf]

After a brief and unfruitful internet search for the origins of the term 'Holy Bible' and the reason for the lack of those words appearing on certain copies of what is commonly and generically called the Bible, I have decided that I am going to not let it bother me that I don't know the answer and go to bed.

If you all figure it out, please don't wake me.:sleep:

:laugh:

 

[sag38]

Here on my desk two of the five have Holy Bible on the spline. But, non do on the cover. One does have my name on the bottom right of the cover. My pulpit Bible has nothing on it's cover. It's leather with a stamped cross.

 

[David Lamb]

I voted for the top answer. But I would be equally happy to use a bible that just said "Bible" on its cover, or even better, "The Word of God", or some other name that the bible has for itself.

As others have said or implied, things like the words on the covers of our printed bibles, the "Epistle Dedicatory" in the AV/KJV, and an index telling us which page to turn to to find a particular bible book, are not part of the inspired Word of God.

Of course, if a publisher chose to print something on the cover of a bible that mocked its contents, ("Book of Nonsense" for instance), that would be a different matter entirely.

 

[TC]

All but one of my text only bibles have Holy Bible on the spine - none have it on the front cover that I can recall. My study bibles do not have Holy Bible on them.

 

[sdonahue1]

My preference is to buy Bibles without 'Holy Bible' on the front. I think it makes a beautifully coloured or leather binding look tacky.