By AIC T. Billinghurst
(Intro by Dale Russell)
How many copies of a “red lettered” Bible do you have around your house? Do you know of, or remember these? Today it might be more difficult to find this version as most of us have gone to digital forms. I remember a gigantic Bible in my grandparent’s home that contained handwritten pages of births, marriages and deaths, all proudly documented. This red lettered version stood the test of time and is passed down to new generations with multiple elements to appreciate.
*The first red-letter New Testament was published in 1899, and the first red-letter Bible followed two years later. The idea of printing the words of Christ in red originated with Lous Klopsch, editor of Christian Herald magazine.
Through Christian Herald Klopsch published more than 60,000 Bibles and Testaments annually during much of his tenure. But he wanted to do more than get the Bible into people’s hands. He wanted people to read the Bible and understand it—particularly what it says about Jesus Christ.
Klopsch conceived the idea of printing some of the biblical text with red ink. When reading Jesus's words, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you" (Luke 22:20), he thought of printing all of Jesus's words in red, the color of his blood.
Though an ardent student of Scripture, Klopsch did not attempt to produce the red-letter Bible single-handedly. According to his biographer, Charles M. Pepper, he engaged the services of a number of distinguished Bible scholars, including several leading college professors in this country and abroad. To each of these he wrote explaining the nature of the work and giving to each a certain part of the books of the Old and New Testaments to mark for the ‘Red Letter’ edition. When the entire Bible was finished, the separate books were then interchanged among these workers, so that each eminent scholar practically went over the entire Bible and annotated the work already done by others. Many months were occupied in this interchange.
*Portions taken from The Origins of the Red-Letter Bible, Crossway 3/06
Klopsch would appreciate the following addition from an AIC writer 120 years later.
BLOOD RED INK
The source of all love and life,
chose suffering as his drink.
At the top of the hill called Calvary,
I see crimson colored ink.
On a cross the word is suspended.,
while wearing a crown of thorns.
His blood is my vaccine now,
through his death, I am reborn.
Inside my soul he lives still,
And within my heart resides.
A curse the devil designed,
is a blessing that God disguised.
So continuously I will read,
the author’s greatest story.
And forever I shall remain,
addicted to his glory.
On earth as it is in heaven,
please give me my daily bread.
I thank you Father for the Word,
in the blood red ink He bled.
Speaking of Bibles, remember the AIC who has provided over 700 Bibles to Pastor Douglas in Uganda? Ronald was paroled recently and continues to do the same. When we mentioned to him that others were partnering with him, he got a little teary eyed with emotion and thankfulness.
Please consider how you can partner with Ronald in this special project! HERE