Campbellsville University hosting "500 Years of the Bible in English" exhibit and lecture series
Campbellsville, KY (08/13/2025) — Campbellsville University is hosting "500 Years of the Bible in English," an exhibition and lecture series showcasing the evolution and history of the Bible in the English language.
The exhibit will be hosted Monday, Aug. 25 and Tuesday, Aug. 26 at CU's Heilman Welcome Center, 404 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville.
The exhibit will include many rare and original English Biblical artifacts predating the famous King James Version. Notable English Bibles that will be on display in the exhibit include leaves (or portions) of the 1535 Coverdale Bible, the first complete Bible printed in English, and the 1551 Stephanus New Testament, the first to include verse numbers in the Bible.
The Tyndale Bible, the first portions of the Bible printed in English (predating the Coverdale Bible) and an original 1611 King James Bible will also be displayed.
Additionally, a full Jewish Torah scroll, dating to the 1600s, will be displayed.
At a time when both church and state authorities forbade translations into local languages, following the work of Martin Luther, Tyndale's work defied the status quo, empowering ordinary Christians to read Scripture in English. His efforts - alongside those of other reformers - helped ignite a movement that reshaped religious life across Europe and beyond.
"We are very excited to present these amazing, historical Bibles and biblical artifacts to our students and community," Dr. Shane Garrison, interim dean for the School of Theology. "There is no better way to experience the Bible than being able to see how it has been preserved for generations. This collection is extraordinary."
The exhibit will be on display in the Heritage Room of the Heilman Welcome Center. Hours for the exhibit are Monday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All times are Eastern.
In addition to the artifact exhibit, CU's School of Theology will present six lectures in the Heilman Center Theatre on August 26 detailing the 500-year history of the Bible in English.
"Top-notch scholars from a variety of disciplines will be shaping our hearts and minds around the theme of the English Bible and its significance to the English-speaking world," Garrison shared. "Learning about the historical translation process, the sacrifice of the early translators, and the political impact the English Bible has had on the entire world will be eye-opening and fascinating."
The schedule for the lecture exhibits, which will be held in the Theatre Room in the Heilman Welcome Center, is as follows:
9 a.m. | Why the Bible in English? | Dr. Joe Early, Jr., Professor of Theology at CU
10 a.m. | The Martyrs Who Translated the Bible into English | Dr. Matt Egbert, Assistant Professor of History at CU
11 a.m. | The Political Impact of Translating the Bible into English | Dr. Shawn Williams, Professor of Political Science at CU
1 p.m. | The 1611 King James Version | Dr. John Hurtgen, Professor of New Testament and Greek at CU
2 p.m. | Modern and Recent Translations of the English Bible | Dr. Terry Wilder, Professor of New Testament and Greek and Theology at CU
3 p.m. | The Future of the Bible in English | Mr. Ray Hollenbach, Assistant Professor of Theology at CU
The exhibit and all lectures are free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to bring their smartphones and earbuds to experience the audio journey with respect to each exhibited item.
"Whether you're a historian, theologian, student, or simply curious, this exhibit promises to inspire and inform," Garrison said.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.
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