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The Saint John's Bible at Pepperdine

Use this InfoGuide for information about the Saint John's Bible and how you can use it at Pepperdine.

The Saint John's Bible at Pepperdine

Pepperdine acquired the Heritage Edition of The Saint John's Bible in honor of the school's 75th anniversary in 2012. Since then, the library has shared The Saint John's Bible in campus chapel services, at local churches, with visiting groups, and at events such as the Bible Lectures and a calligraphy conference. Most significantly, The Saint John's Bible is used in academic classes at Pepperdine.

One of the seven volumes is on perpetual display in the entrance to Payson Library. The other six volumes are kept in the Special Collections and University Archives department.

We welcome you to contact us if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule an in-person viewing of The Saint John's Bible at Pepperdine, either as an individual, a group, or for a class.

Saint John's Bible and Good Friday

                                                                     

Worshipers entering Stauffer Chapel on Good Friday encountered Donald Jackson's illumination of the crucifixion in the Gospels and Acts volume. The theme for the service, "Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit", grew out of one of the illuminations in the Saint John's Bible. 

"It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.' Having said this, he breathed his last." (Luke 23:44-46)

Online Resources

Books About The Saint John's Bible

These books include useful information about The Saint John's Bible, including how it was made as well as its connections to art, theology, and justice, amongst other topics. Almost all of these books are available as eBooks, and most are also available as print books in Payson Library. Please click the link for access to the book.

Manuscripts at Pepperdine

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The Saint John's Bible complements a growing collection of manuscripts in Pepperdine's Special Collections and University Archives. This image is manuscript leaf from a 13th century Bible in Otto Ege's portfolio, Original Leaves from Famous Bibles.