A Visual History of the English Bible by Donald L. Brake

I recently picked up a copy of A Visual History of the English Bible, by Donald L. Brake, from my local public library. Dr. Brake is founder of Multnomah Biblical Seminary, former president of Jerusalem University College, and an expert collector of rare Bibles. Also a former pastor, Dr. Brake manifests in A Visual History not only academic authority but also his personal reverence for the Bible as the inspired word of God.

My interest in Bible history and Bible versions is healthy by laymen's standards, but little cultivated. For such as me, A Visual History is an appropriate and enjoyable treatment of its topic. Woven into Dr. Brake's narrative are helpful elaborations on the nuances of translating scripture—scripture especially, but any text—from ancient to modern languages, even from one era's English to another.

If you happen to be dogmatically devoted to a particular version of the Bible and dismissive of all others, Dr. Brake's insights perhaps will awaken you to a new respect for alternative editions. Even if you regard the Bible as just another work of literature or mythology, you likely will appreciate Dr. Brake's informed perspective. As he moves from historical narrative to analytical commentary and back again, sprinkling in personal anecdotes about his Bible collecting experiences, Dr. Brake evidences sincere Christian belief, indeed a conservative theological bent, but also intellectual honesty.

A Visual History is a handsome volume, and the copious illustrations (of manuscripts, etc.) well complement the text. Subtitled "The Tumultuous Tale of the World's Bestselling Book," A Visual History, while not overtly evangelical, offers English-speaking Christians spiritual edification in the form of much-needed historical perspective. It offers all a quality read.