“Yes, it is a press, certainly, but a press from which shall flow in inexhaustible streams. Through it, God will spread His Word. A spring of truth shall flow from it. Like a new star, it shall scatter the darkness of ignorance and cause a light heretofore unknown to shine amongst men.” Johannes Gutenberg, a German inventor, goldsmith, and businessman, penned these words. Gutenberg is credited for developing the mechanical movable type printing press. Human history was reshaped as knowledge and information became increasingly accessible. Gutenberg and his team revolutionized communication using individual pieces of metal type to mass-produce books. He claimed, “Give me twenty-six soldiers of lead, and I will conquer the world.” His most celebrated work was the Gutenberg Bible.
The Gutenberg Bible, also known as the “42-line Bible” due to its 42 lines of type per page with color illustrations, was a testament to the power of the printing press. Martin Davies, author of The Gutenberg Bible, lauds its “high aesthetic and artistic qualities.” As printing technology advanced and the art of typography was honed, the ability to disseminate information expanded rapidly. The transition from handwritten manuscripts to woodblock printing and then to metal-type printing paved the way for the mass communication of truth.
Orality is a very effective and relational way to communicate truth in collective or tribal cultures. But the capacity to read has its own unique and impacting features. God desires His Word to be known globally. Gutenberg said, “God suffers in the multitude of souls whom His Word cannot reach. Religious truth is imprisoned in a few manuscripts, which guard the common treasures instead of expanding them. Let us break the seal which binds these holy things and give wings to truth.” He saw the printing press as a tool by which to spread the Word that leads to salvation. He envisioned the expenditure of “hands easily palsied” being replaced with a “machine that never wearies.” Does the printing of truth impact cultures?
Gutenberg saw truth hidden from society and was convinced that the world would be irreversibly changed if truth could fly to the souls of men. The ability to communicate globally argues that his premise had merit. Since that time, the world has moved into the computer age and now the digital age. Our burden remains resolute. We cannot keep the truth hidden. The Gutenberg Bible was beautifully formatted and earned a valued reputation. Formatting the text of Scripture enables truth to be easily understood by the reader. BI’s design coordinator and the author of the main article in this issue states, “Without formatting, the good work of translation remains hidden inside the computer.” Her words echo the claims of Gutenberg.
God’s Word impacts people. This is undeniable. “[T]he Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35b). The authoritative Word of God has the power to transform hearts. The formatting stage in the Bible translation process is imperative. Even as early as Gutenberg, the Bible was formatted to be “aesthetic and artistic,” which made it understandable. The reader would not be so impacted if formatting were not taken seriously.
Souls are being saved. Believers are strengthened in their faith. Would you join us in prayer and help us keep the Word of God from being hidden any longer? May the seal that binds truth be given wings to spread out and transform every soul with the translated and formatted Scriptures.
-T.F.