06 The Matthews Bible

Museum Description: The Bible in English Illustrated

Room: Sir John Ritblat Gallery

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19

Thomas Matthew, who produced this Bible, was likely an alias of John Roger, a friend of William Tyndale.  It was published in 1537, shortly after the complete Bible in English by Miles Coverdale, who collected together parts from various sources.  The Matthew's Bible, however, could include the previously unpublished books of Joshua to Chronicles, which Tyndale had translated and left with Rogers.  Although Tyndale was burned at the stake for his work, his translation by means of the Matthew's Bible was approved by King Henry VIII, and was even dedicated to him.  Coverdale, the secretary of state Oliver Cromwell, and archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer all supported this version.  It became the basis for the Great Bible, which was put into every church in English to be read by the people.  So this Bible was a vital stepping stone to the later versions in English, and showed a remarkable change from the Bible being burned to it being widely distributed.

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