John Eliot Bible

Item

Identifier
Brillante 1
Title
John Eliot Bible
Description
The First Edition John Eliot bible was the first bible to be printed in English North America, published in 1663 in Cambridge, MA. The Bible was translated into Algonquin, and was said to be used as a tool for educating and converting the Native Americans. However, prior to the publishing of this bible there was no written Algonquin alphabet. The printing of this Bible is significant because it helps to illustrate one of the key motivations for colonizing New England — converting Indigenous peoples to Christianity. The printing of this bible in Algonquin was not only used as a tool for education, but it was also used as a means to demonstrate the progress that has been made in the efforts to convert Indigenous people. This shows how important the idea of religious conversion was at the time and how important it was that this progress be tangible in some way. Regardless of effectiveness the printing of the John Eliot bible depicts the motivations for further colonization. (Brillante)

Creator
John Eliot
Date Created
1663
Publisher
Samuel Green
Site pages
Religious Thought