The error of the red-letter Bible

1.       The concept of the red-letter Bible was conceived in 1899 by Louis Klopsch, publisher of The Christian Herald in the United States of America, while reading Luke 22:10:

Luke 22:20 (KJV) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

2.       Klopsch presented the idea to his mentor Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage who replied, “It could do no harm and it most certainly could do much good.”

3.       Talmage and Klopsch were both from the Dutch Reformed tradition which does not rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

4.       The first New Testament with red letters was published in 1899. The initial print run of 60,000 sold out immediately.  The first complete Bible with red letters was published in 1901.

5.       Klopsch received many commendations for his innovation, including a congratulatory telegram from the King of Sweden and an invitation to have dinner with President Theodore Roosavelt.

6.       Other Bible publishers soon followed Klopsch’s lead and began introducing red-letter versions. By the mid-20th century all mainstream Bible publishers offered red-letter versions and they were the staple for many Christians and churches.

7. Exceptions: Premium publishers have not been prepared to accept the quality compromises caused by the need for two print runs, and few Catholic Bibles contain red letters as the concept originated in Protestantism.

8. Klopsch’s criteria for the red-letters was: “Every word spoken by our Lord, directly or indirectly, shall appear in red.” 

This meant:

                •The words spoken by Christ recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts 1, 9, 10, 18, 23

                •The indirect words of Christ recorded in Acts e.g Acts 11, 22, 26

                •Christ’s words recorded in the book of Revelation

No words from the Old Testament were printed in red.

9.       All Bible publishers followed Klopsch’s criteria for red letters through the first half of the 20th century but then gradually began choosing individually to restrict the words appearing in red by selectively removing indirect quotations and some of the direct quotations recorded in Acts (apart from Acts 9).

10.       Red letter Bibles have spawned a quasi-political movement called Red Letter Christians, who profess to use the red letters as their manifesto for social change.

11.   Four dangers for the reader of a red-letter Bible to be aware of

a.       They may be the wrong words

Neither the Hebrew or Greek manuscripts contain speech marks. Men disagree on the point in some passages where Christ finished speaking and the narrator took up the story.  

Example John 3:10-21 (Jesus speaking to Nicodemus)

•Good News Bible – vv10-13 in red, 14-21 in black

•RSV, NIV – vv10-15 in red, 16-21 in black

•ESV, KJV – vv10-21 in red

Note: the variations are by publisher and not necessarily by version. This means the same version may contain different red letters dependent on the publisher, and even that the same publisher may print two Bibles with different red letters.

Example Acts 11:7-9 (Peter rehearsing the events surrounding his visit to Cornelius with the apostles and brethren at Jerusalem)

•KJV – pocket-size Zondervan and hand-size Barbour in red; pocket-size Barbour in black

Bear in mind:

1 Corinthians 14:33a (KJV) For God is not the author of confusion,

Side note1: There is a similar issue with the speech marks appearing in modern translations. Speech marks entered the English language in the mid-1700s, after the publication of the KJV. Compare the confusion of speech marks between versions and publishers for Galatians 2:14-21 (Paul withstanding Peter).

Side note2: Similar issue with the speaker attribution in Song of Solomon.

b.       The red letters wrongly elevate some words of Christ above the other words of scripture (the ‘canon within a canon’ problem)

Christ is the entirety of the Word of God – John 1:1; Revelation 19:13

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy – Revelation 19:10; 1 Peter 1:10-11

Christ spoke in the Old Testament e.g. see Isaiah 49:4-5; Zachariah 2:8-11; cross reference Isaiah 44:6/Revelation 1:17; Isaiah 61:1-3/Luke 4:18-21; Psalm 40:6-8/Hebrews 10:5

c.       The red letters imply that what Jesus said matters more than what he did

BUT, the gospel comprises Christ’s deeds (death, burial and resurrection). See also e.g. Romans 4:25; 5:8-10; John 10:25-38; John 20:31

Christ’s incarnation was a deed, the catching-up the Body of Christ will be a deed and his second coming will be a deed.

d.       The doctrine spoken by Christ and recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and early Acts was to Israel and not to the Body of Christ

Matthew 10:5-7 (KJV) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 15:24 (KJV) But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

12. The colour of the letters and words in a Bible is not the issue. The issue is that the saint needs to be wise to the dangers resulting from any addition by man to the word of God.

2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV) Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.