Bible Study
Museum of Biblical Art unveils remarkable Charles C. Ryrie bible collection
Dallas resident and esteemed theologian Dr. Charles C. Ryrie recently gifted an incomparable collection of bibles to theMuseum of Biblical Art. To celebrate, more than 200 devotees gathered at the museum for the unveiling of the Charles C. Ryrie Library.
"It is an honor for the Museum of Biblical Art to be chosen as the repository of this remarkable collection," said Scott Peck, museum co-director and curator. "Its significance cannot be overstated." The trove includes more than 100 bibles and pages dating back to 1450.
Ryrie has been collecting bible pages and books since 1960. His library includes bibles in numerous languages, a page from the Gutenberg Bible, the first edition of the King James Bible, the Wycliffe New Testament, Genoa Psalter (with a footnote about Christopher Columbus), Tyndale's Pentateuch and more.
When asked about the one text that visitors shouldn't miss, Ryrie said, "It's hard to say just one thing. But there's no question about the Wycliffe manuscript — it's the first English translation." He added that guests should also see the Eliot Indian Bible, which was the first bible printed in America and written in the Algonquin Indian language.
After the ribbon-cutting, inquisitive guests — including Roberta and Harold Byrd, Sonya Laxo, Tracy Kibler, Rick Howard, Marni Watts, Debbie and David Jackson, Allen Dorsett, Kirk Kibler, and Bruce Ryrie — got a first look at the new library and the historical texts within.