Having previously enjoyed Bruce Gordon's in-depth biographies of John Calvin and Zwingli, I approached The Bible: A Global History with a keen interest in exploring the historical and cultural transformations of the Bible. This book offers a panoramic view of how the Bible has been perceived, interpreted, and utilized across different epochs and civilizations. Starting from the formation of the biblical canon in the early Christian church to the complexities of global Pentecostalism, Gordon meticulously traces the evolution of the Bible's role in society, its impact on languages and nations, and its journey through the printing revolution, the Enlightenment, and into the modern world.

One of the book's strengths is its exploration of the Bible's cultural and linguistic journey, highlighting moments such as the creation of the Armenian Bible, which led to the development of a written form for the Armenian language, and the influence of the King James Version on English language and literature. The narrative also delves into the Bible's significant yet often overlooked role in non-Western cultures, including its reception in China and Africa, illustrating the complexities and challenges of translating and interpreting the Bible in diverse cultural contexts.

However, while The Bible: A Global History is rich in content and provides a comprehensive overview of its subject, it falls short of being an engaging read. The prose, though clear, lacks the dynamism that could make such a vast historical sweep more captivating. This is not to detract from Gordon's scholarly achievement; the book is undoubtedly a valuable resource for those interested in the history of Christianity and the Bible. Yet, this may not be the ideal choice for readers seeking a more gripping narrative.

In sum, Gordon's work is an impressive scholarly endeavor that offers insightful perspectives on the Bible's global impact. It sheds light on the multifaceted ways this sacred text has shaped and been shaped by human history. Despite its lack of narrative flair, the book is a testament to the enduring influence of the Bible across centuries and cultures, making it a worthwhile read for those intrigued by the intersections of religion, history, and society.

I received this book from the publisher through the NetGalley review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This book deserves another read-through and a commitment to revisit it annually. It’s like a buffet; there is so much information that one can pick and choose what satisfies one's needs at any particular moment.

I was interested in the journey of the Christian bible and Gordon’s research presented me with more than I anticipated.

Author Bruce Gordon describes the bible as “the most influential book in the world” and “the most global of books” and describes it as a “story of the divine conversation that was never limited to bound pages.”

He begins (and the past I was most interested in) by defining ‘bible’ and introduces readers to Athanasius, a controversial and combative bishop in Alexandria who, in 367 CE, listed 27 books of the New Testament which he regarded as ‘canon’. His was the first list and was a turning point in determining the contents of the bible. Gordon continues with exciting scroll discoveries, production at Tours, and onto the translation by King Alfred. The next section was a little more familiar to me, but I appreciated the refresher on the journey of the Reformation and the King James Bible. I wasn’t as interested in the Transatlantic Bible chapters to the end (chapters 8 - 14), and I admittedly flitted through these chapters. This is by no means my final read-through. I know that I’ll go back and learn and relearn. This is an excellent resource that I’m excited to possess.

Things that gave me pause:

1) Being in possession of these texts (bible) incurred grave risks
2) Bible wasn’t invented by Christians but “emerged from their interaction with Roman society.”
3) The codex “became a means by which Christianity distinguished itself from Judaism and Roman culture.”
4) How Constantine the Great’s wish to have 50 bibles for his churches in Constantinople required “the skins of approximately 350 calves or sheep” per bible.
5) The (almost not) discovery Constantin von Tischendorf made in the deserts at Cairo


I went down a rabbit hole researching the two surviving codices (Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus) to see for myself where the bible as a book originated. How wonderful that these are available online!

The most important thing you need to know is that this book, although written by someone gifted in their field, is accessible to us all. It reads like a conversation and I was able to put it down several times and pick it up again without feeling like I needed to reread to remember what I’d previously learned. I’d claim that this is a necessary tool for the inquisitive.

I was gifted this copy by Basic Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.