The words highlighted in red in many Bibles often signify the spoken words of Jesus Christ. These “red letter” editions of the Bible aim to help readers distinguish the direct speech of Jesus from the rest of the text. The tradition of printing Christ’s words in red ink dates back hundreds of years and continues today in many popular English Bible translations.
History of Red Letter Editions
The first red letter New Testament is attributed to Louis Klopsch, editor of The Christian Herald magazine. In 1899, Klopsch published a Bible featuring the words of Jesus printed in red ink. He believed highlighting Christ’s words would help readers focus on the core message of Christianity.
This innovative approach caught on quickly. In 1901, Klopsch released a full Bible with the words of Jesus in red. This Red Letter Edition Bible was published by Klopsch’s Christian Herald Bible Society. By 1903, the American Bible Society, Thomas Nelson Publishers, and other major publishers were also printing red letter Bibles.
Red letter editions became enormously popular in 20th century America. Prominent evangelist Billy Sunday endorsed them, helping drive sales. Today, red letter Bibles remain widely available from Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, and other leading Bible publishers.
Meaning Behind Red Letter Text
Printing Jesus’ words in red is meant to set them apart because of their divine authority and profound theology. Red draws attention, highlighting the distinctiveness of Christ’s message.
Klopsch explained his original vision this way: “Here the actual words, quotations, references and all, are printed in Red…all of the words in the New Testament that were uttered by the Saviour were printed in red ink…Here is the New Testament in which all the Saviour’s words are made to stand out vividly.”
In red letter editions, there is no doubt which statements come directly from Jesus’ own mouth. This helps readers recognize Jesus’ unique identity and mission as the Son of God.
How Jesus’ Words Are Identified
Determining which statements should be in red is generally straightforward in the Gospels, where Jesus is quoted extensively. Red letter Bibles are consistent on well-known Jesus quotes like the Sermon on the Mount and the many parables.
There is more interpretation required in identifying Jesus’ words in other New Testament books. Bible publishers have some differences based on their editorial guidelines, but follow common principles:
- Acts contains several red letter sections with Jesus speaking after his resurrection.
- A few verses in Revelation contain red letter text from Jesus dictating messages to John.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 on the Rapture quote Jesus but are in normal black text.
- Words the Father spoke at Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration are in red.
Publishers aim to capture all of Christ’s spoken words, without including content that summarizes or refers to Jesus’ speech. There is no absolute consensus on every red letter decision, but overall the editions are very similar.
Criticism of Red Letter Bibles
Some scholars argue red letter editions can mislead readers to think Christ’s words are more important than the rest of Scripture. All parts of the Bible, they contend, are equally inspired by God.
Others believe printing Jesus’ words in red risks disconnecting them from their context. Highlighting only Christ’s speech can produce a disjointed reading experience. Critics claim it encourages selectively reading Jesus’ words apart from the complete biblical story.
These concerns motivate some churches and Bible publishers to use black text for the entire Bible. They want readers to appreciate all Scripture as one unified message.
Popular Red Letter Editions Today
While red letter Bibles have their critics, they show no signs of declining in popularity. Some of the best-selling Bibles continue to feature Christ’s words in red ink:
| Translation | Publisher |
|---|---|
| New International Version (NIV) | Zondervan |
| New King James Version (NKJV) | Thomas Nelson |
| King James Version (KJV) | Zondervan |
| English Standard Version (ESV) | Crossway |
Study Bibles from Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, and others also incorporate red letter text. Popular versions include the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible, Life Application Study Bible, and The Jeremiah Study Bible.
Readers appreciate seeing for themselves Jesus’ firsthand teachings. For many, red letters help them feel closer to Christ and understand him more intimately. This personal connection sustains the appeal of red letter editions.
Jesus As the Living Word of God
Red letter Bibles clearly set Jesus’ words apart on the printed page. But the deep spiritual truth is that Jesus himself embodies the Word of God (John 1:1).
God divinely inspired human authors to record his message. Yet Jesus is the message. He is God in the flesh coming to perfectly reveal the Father’s heart and redeem mankind. Red letters in ink point to the eternal Word made flesh dwelling among us (John 1:14).
Whether or not one prefers a red letter edition, Jesus must be more than mere words on a page. He is the living Word who alone has “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Through faith in him, readers gain eternal life with God.
Conclusion
Red letter Bibles originated as a way to literally highlight the significance of Jesus’ teachings. Printers marked Christ’s words in red ink to distinguish them from the other inspired Scripture. Despite facing some criticism, red letter editions remain popular today across major Bible translations.
While opinions vary on red letter Bibles, the far more important question is how readers respond to Jesus’ message. Do his words prompt sincere faith and obedience, or remain ink on a page? The living Word of God demands more than admiring red letters. He calls all people to follow him as Savior and Lord.