The blue Word Bible refers to any Bible translation that highlights the words spoken by Jesus Christ in red text. This formatting technique was first used in the 1899 English Revised Version and helped readers easily identify the recorded words of Jesus.
When did the red letter Bible originate?
The first red letter Bible was published in 1899 by Louis Klopsch, editor of Christian Herald magazine. Klopsch was inspired by the four Gospels printed in red in The Washington Manuscript of the four Gospels, which he viewed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. This manuscript dated back to the 5th century and contained the four Gospels written in Greek with red ink to mark the words of Jesus. Klopsch adopted this formatting technique for his new English translation called The Holy Bible: Red Letter Edition, published by his Christian Herald publishing company.
This red letter edition Bible quickly grew in popularity and became a standard formatting technique used in many Bible translations and editions over the next few decades. Some of the most popular red letter Bibles include:
- American Standard Version (1901)
- Revised Standard Version (1952)
- New American Standard Bible (1960)
- New International Version (1978)
- New King James Version (1982)
What is the significance of the red letters?
Highlighting the words of Christ in red serves several purposes:
- It allows readers to easily identify the spoken words of Jesus throughout the New Testament.
- It visually distinguishes Jesus’ teachings and statements from the narratives and commentary provided by the Gospel authors.
- It reinforces the centrality and uniqueness of Jesus’ message within Scripture.
- It helps preachers and teachers locate key passages where Jesus is speaking.
- It enables readers to focus specifically on studying Jesus’ words and teachings.
Overall, the red letters provide a simple formatting tool to elevate the actual quotations of Christ on the printed page. This allows readers to appreciate the significance of Jesus’ statements within the broader context of the Biblical narrative.
What is the blue Word Bible?
The blue Word Bible follows the same principle as the red letter edition except that the words spoken by God the Father are printed in blue text instead of red. This further distinguishes between passages where Jesus is speaking directly versus when God the Father is speaking from heaven. Some key examples include:
- At Jesus’ baptism when the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
- At the Transfiguration when the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5)
- When the Father speaks from heaven to glorify Jesus’ name in John 12:28.
Highlights of other notable passages where God speaks in the Old Testament include:
| Passage | Statement by God |
|---|---|
| Genesis 1:3 | “Let there be light” |
| Exodus 20:1-17 | The Ten Commandments |
| 1 Kings 19:12 | “And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.” |
The blue letter edition was first published in 1994 by people who appreciated the red letter formatting but felt it was incomplete without also highlighting the words God directly speaks in blue. This further differentiated when God himself is speaking versus a prophet or author quoting and paraphrasing God’s words.
Are there other color-coded Bibles?
Beyond red and blue letter editions, some Bibles have used other colors to categorize different types of content:
- Green – For passages and quotations from the Old Testament
- Brown – For narrative passages describing events or details
- Orange – For words spoken by angels or other prophets
- Purple – For parable passages told by Jesus
However, these other color formats are much less common and have not become a mainstream industry standard like red letter Bibles. Some readers feel too many different colors can create a distracting rainbow effect. The red and blue format offers a simple two-color approach to emphasize the most significant speakers without going overboard.
What are the benefits of the blue Word Bible?
Advocates argue the blue Word Bible provides the following benefits:
- Lets readers identify when God is speaking versus human authors or characters
- Reinforces God’s unique role as divine author and speaker
- Highlights important passages where God communicates directly to people
- Visualizes the continuity between God’s words in the Old and New Testaments
- Clarifies whether Old Testament prophetic phrases are God’s literal words or paraphrased
From a teaching and study perspective, the blue Word formatting can make it easier to compare God’s messages across different eras and covenants. It also helps illuminate when prophecy transitions from God’s literal words to an author’s interpretation and application.
What are the downsides of the blue Word Bible?
Critics of the blue letter edition raise the following concerns:
- Overemphasizes direct quotations from God at the expense of Biblical narrative
- Interrupts reading flow by constantly shifting between red, blue, and black text
- Clashes visually with red letters when placed on facing pages
- Requires subjective judgment about what counts as God’s literal words
- Distracts from studying the Bible as a complete divine revelation
Some opponents argue red letter Bibles alone have already shifted focus too much to the spoken words of Jesus away from the teachings of the Apostles. Adding blue letters further skews readers to limit inspiration solely to divine quotations.
Is the blue Word Bible widely available?
While red letter Bibles have become a standard option offered by all major Bible publishers, blue letter editions are only published by a handful of specialty Bible printing companies. Some widely available blue Word Bibles include:
- Blue Letter Bible (BLB) – blb.org
- Blue Letter Edition Bible (BLE) – Christian Book Distributors
- Holy Bible: Blue Edition – Christian Art Publishers
However, the blue Word format remains a niche edition that has not yet broken through into the mainstream Bible market. Some publishers may hesitate to introduce blue letter Bibles until a clear industry standard is established for which passages warrant blue text formatting.
How do red and blue letter Bibles compare to regular black text editions?
| Black Text Edition | Red Letter Edition | Blue Letter Edition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesus’ words | Black | Red | Red |
| God the Father’s words | Black | Black | Blue |
| Prophets/Apostles words | Black | Black | Black |
| Narrative Passages | Black | Black | Black |
The most significant difference is that the blue Word edition uniquely highlights the spoken words of God the Father in blue text. The red lettering of Jesus’ words remains unchanged. Some readers feel the blue lettering is an unnecessary extra formatting step. Others appreciate how it clarifies when God is literally speaking versus human authors paraphrasing divine messages.
Conclusion
The blue Word Bible follows the precedent of red letter editions to visually highlight the spoken words of God the Father in blue text. While not yet mainstream, proponents argue it provides helpful insight into passages where God is directly communicating versus those containing human interpretation. Critics suggest the formatting is a distraction that disrupts the flow and completeness of Bible study. Red and blue Bibles will likely continue to be published as niche editions for readers interested in seeing God’s “blue words” illuminated on the printed page.
