The Vatican Library is one of the world's great repositories of precious written materials. The treasures are shrouded by suspicion and conspiracy theories that are fostered by a popular, if not accurate, view of the Catholic Church. The inner bowels of the recently refurbished library are filled with endless stacks of the most precious religious tomes, off-limits to most.
Now imagine a private collection of ancient manuscripts and rare books, based in Oklahoma City, Okla., and owned by an American Protestant family, partnering with the Vatican to host an international exhibit on the Bible in St. Peter's Square. The exhibit is called Verbum Domini and it will run at the Braccio di Carlo Magno, just steps from St. Peter's Basilica, from March 1 to April 15.
The relevant details are even more startling. The Green Collection, presently based in America's Protestant Bible belt, is just over 2 years old. The ever-growing collection currently has some 50,000 items and constitutes the largest and most significant collection of ancient biblical and biblically related artifacts, scrolls, manuscripts and rare books in private hands in the world. The collection has been orchestrated by the Green family, owners of the American-based Hobby Lobby arts and crafts chain. Known for their public faith, it should be no surprise that the Greens would have an interest in collecting Bibles and biblical artifacts. After all, people collect things they are passionate about.
The Green Collection is destined to find its permanent home in a non-sectarian museum that takes a scholarly approach to the most popular, most controversial, most influential, best-selling book of all time -- the Bible -- and its related items. While seeking a permanent location, The Green Collection also has a 450-item traveling exhibition called Passages that is presently on display in Atlanta through April 15. Both the Passages and Verbum Domini exhibits display the items in immersive, interactive exhibits. For more information visit ExplorePassages.com and VerbumDominiRome.com.
Verbum Domini is a display of more than 150 items of great historical significance, two-thirds of which come from The Green Collection. The balance comes from significant private collections throughout the world. The exhibit celebrates interfaith contributions to the composition, preservation, adornment and study of the Bible. While it is easy to think of all that divides Jews, Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Protestants, they all share a common ground in Scripture. God's Word is not the possession of the Catholic Church or evangelical Protestants, but is shared equally by all who appreciate it.
The name Verbum Domini, meaning "the Word of the Lord," was recently used in an historic work by Pope Benedict XVI calling on Catholics to read and meditate on Scripture. The exhibit contains an array of priceless, little-known treasures preserved by collectors of all faiths, although none of the items were borrowed from the vast collection of the Vatican Library or Museum. It provides a refreshing view of the interaction between Jews and Christians. The exhibit tells the story of the composition and preservation of the Bible, under the shadow of St. Peter's Basilica, using items that even the Vatican has never seen.
Verbum Domini underscores the importance of The Green Collection and private repositories. It shows that the preservation of the Bible, much like its survival throughout the ages, is alive and well in private hands. The exhibit provides a refreshing take on a book that is often equated with division and controversy. Verbum Domini also shows the foresight and magnanimity of the Vatican Library -- and the Vatican itself -- to allow such an exhibition in St. Peter's Square at a time when millions will be visiting Rome.
Ironically, the day that Verbum Domini opens in Vatican City, an exhibit by the Vatican Library on secret papal archives will open in Rome. I guess the secret is finally out: Roman Catholics, Jews, Protestants and Orthodox Christians can finally come together and share their love for the Word of God and honor those who have preserved it over the ages for that very purpose.
Launch Slideshow
HIDE THUMBNAILS
SHARE
BACK TO ARTICLE
1 of 17
PLAY ALL
VOTE ON THIS SLIDE
ADVERTISEMENT
[{"entry_id":"3316698","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/humanist-funerals-thrive-in-post-catholic-ireland_n_3316698.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/194219\/slide_194219_424099_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/194219\/slide_194219_424099_small.jpg","title":"Top 5 Alternatives To The Traditional Casket","slideshow_id":"194219","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3320757","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/pope-francis-good-atheists_n_3320757.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298455\/slide_298455_2475471_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298455\/slide_298455_2475471_small.jpg","title":"Pope Francis Quotes On The Poor ","slideshow_id":"298455","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3326547","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/23\/imams-auschwitz-muslim-nazi-holocaust_n_3326547.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/299138\/slide_299138_2489507_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/299138\/slide_299138_2489507_small.jpg","title":"Imams visit Auschwitz and Holocaust-related sites","slideshow_id":"299138","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3315029","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/21\/oklahoma-tornado-rebuilding_n_3315029.html","content_type":"video","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298735\/slide_298735_2482900_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298735\/slide_298735_2482900_small.jpg","title":"Oklahoma Tornado Coverage","slideshow_id":"298735","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3331432","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/24\/nick-vujicic-vietnam-limbless-preacher-takes-rare-turn-in-communist-country-photos_n_3331432.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/299316\/slide_299316_2492550_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/299316\/slide_299316_2492550_small.jpg","title":"Nick Vujicic in Vietnam","slideshow_id":"299316","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3313866","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/wallace-best-phd\/gays-and-gospel-music_b_3313866.html","content_type":"video","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/208905\/slide_208905_688729_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/208905\/slide_208905_688729_small.jpg","title":"Gospel Songs","slideshow_id":"208905","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3329548","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/23\/atheists-like-what-they-see-in-pope-francis-new-openness_n_3329548.html","content_type":"tweet","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/287263\/slide_287263_2477451_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/287263\/slide_287263_2477451_small.jpg","title":"Pope Francis Tweets","slideshow_id":"287263","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3319848","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/pope-francis-chinese-catholics_n_3319848.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/284753\/slide_284753_2187572_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/284753\/slide_284753_2187572_small.jpg","title":"25 Countries with Most Catholics","slideshow_id":"284753","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3328857","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/23\/john-pipers-tornado-tweets-stir-up-a-theological-debate_n_3328857.html","content_type":"tweet","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298552\/slide_298552_2477855_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298552\/slide_298552_2477855_small.jpg","title":"Prayers For Oklahoma","slideshow_id":"298552","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3334500","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/24\/c-j-mahaney-scandal-evangelical-leaders-defend-pastor-accused-of-abuse-cover-up_n_3334500.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/252898\/slide_252898_1569431_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/252898\/slide_252898_1569431_small.jpg","title":"Most and Least Christian Cities","slideshow_id":"252898","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3316722","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/rev-michael-fugee-faces-judge-for-violating-ban-on-access-to-children_n_3316722.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/237573\/slide_237573_1202084_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/237573\/slide_237573_1202084_small.jpg","title":"Most and Least Catholic States In America","slideshow_id":"237573","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3333652","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/24\/oklahoma-muslims-aid-in-tornado-relief-in-bid-to-build-bridges_n_3333652.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298526\/slide_298526_2493886_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298526\/slide_298526_2493886_small.jpg","title":"May 2013 Central U.S. Tornadoes (GRAPHIC IMAGES)","slideshow_id":"298526","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3334536","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/24\/will-there-be-a-mass-exodus-of-religious-groups-from-the-scouts_n_3334536.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/297267\/slide_297267_2445900_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/297267\/slide_297267_2445900_small.jpg","title":"Church-Based Boy Scouts Alternatives","slideshow_id":"297267","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3326877","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/23\/hidden-voices-reflections_n_3326877.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/193017\/slide_193017_441889_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/193017\/slide_193017_441889_small.jpg","title":"Most Inspiring LGBT Religious Leaders","slideshow_id":"193017","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3327247","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/23\/encinitas-yoga-trial-religion-in-school_n_3327247.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/44615\/slide_44615_332721_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/44615\/slide_44615_332721_small.jpg","title":"The Colleges With The Most Religious Students (Princeton Review 2011)","slideshow_id":"44615","vertical":"religion"},{"entry_id":"3323515","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/24\/gay-mormon-characters-in-the-arts-step-out-of-the-shadows_n_3323515.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/226903\/slide_226903_985146_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/226903\/slide_226903_985146_small.jpg","title":"Most and Least Mormon States","slideshow_id":"226903","vertical":"religion"}]
Dr. Scott Carroll is director of The Green Collection. One of the world's foremost scholars on ancient and medieval manuscripts, he has scoured the world over--from the hallowed halls of Cambridge to the remotest parts of inner China--to create the world's largest private collection of rare biblical texts and artifacts. Carroll has research appointments at Baylor University and Tyndale House, Cambridge.
The Vatican Library is one of the world's great repositories of precious written materials. The treasures are shrouded by suspicion and conspiracy theories that are fostered by a popular, if not accur...
The Vatican Library is one of the world's great repositories of precious written materials. The treasures are shrouded by suspicion and conspiracy theories that are fostered by a popular, if not accur...
By Greg Garrison Religion News Service BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) A bill in Alabama would allow churches or ministries to teach a religion class to public...
The first presidential candidate to face attack for his religious beliefs was Thomas Jefferson, in the campaign against incumbent John Adams in 1800. Northern clerics...
By MATTI FRIEDMAN, Associated Press JERUSALEM -- Precious Bible manuscripts originating in the Jewish community of Damascus, Syria, went on display for several hours Wednesday,...
JERUSALEM -- A dull-looking chart projected on the wall of a university office in Jerusalem displayed a revelation that would startle many readers of the...
By Cathy Lynn Grossman USA Today WASHINGTON (RNS) A new multimillion-dollar, high-tech, interactive museum of the Bible was announced Thursday amid 130 artifacts of the...
One of the greatest benefits of interfaith dialogue is that by studying another's faith we might learn a bit of wisdom, a new way of looking at reality, that we can incorporate into our own.
The mystical journey may begin with making a relationship with one's inner light, but the mystic is drawn on a deeper journey toward love's greatest secret: that within the heart we are one with the divine.
It is enlightening to look at eight presidents whose religious lives have troubled and fascinated Americans, and whose faiths may surprise us even today.
With more than 500 activists volunteering more than 16,000 hours in 10 countries last year, impacting the lives of more than 50,000 people, we see a global trend becoming the foundation of a world movement. This is the beginning.
Political strategies have failed. Let us try a new strategy -- one that goes back to the faith of our common ancestor Abraham. Start with that, and peace will follow.
In the Bible, we are warned that none can see the face of God. There is danger in God's exaltedness; to presume to look upon the Divine is to court destruction.
Please, please, pleaseeeee! We do not need more volumes of the spoken word – what we have is sufficient! So-called stewards of god are locked in antiquity. And in doing so suffocate both the love and mercy of God and his Word -- while blind and clueless, more and more believers today are turning a deaf ear to their station as stewards.
There is One Universal God, and he goes by various names – still One God; the God of Abraham! Question, what solely does Our Father in Heaven ask of man? Jesus while on earth stated it plainly @Mathew 22:34/39, read below:
34 After the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they came together in one group. 35 And one of them, versed in the Law, asked, testing him: 36 “Teacher (speaking to Jesus), which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ End of reading.
God’s mercy and love are the only reasons we (Man) can lift our heads, from shame, to a joyous and eternal future. Discerning hearts, not more books, are needed today!
NYC123: Please, please, pleaseeeee! We do not need more volumes of
Please, please, pleaseeeee! We do not need more of the spoken word – what we have is sufficient! So-called stewards of god are locked in antiquity. And in doing so suffocate the love and mercy of God -- while blind and clueless, more and more believers today are turning a deaf ear to their station as stewards. Mankind, aided by these stewards, have created a dysfunctional existence on earth -- and more books are not going to change our trajectory!
There is One Universal God, and he goes by various names – still One God; the God of Abraham! Question, what solely does Our Father in Heaven ask of man? Jesus while on earth stated it plainly @Mathew 22:34/39, read below:
34 After the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they came together in one group. 35 And one of them, versed in the Law, asked, testing him: 36 “Teacher (speaking to Jesus), which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ End of reading.
God’s mercy and love are the only reasons we (Man) can lift our heads, from shame, to a joyous and eternal future. Discerning hearts, not more books, are needed today!
NYC123: Please, please, pleaseeeee! We do not need more of the
We all should give God great Thanks and Praise to King James 1 and William Tyndale for the bibles we hold in our very hands today in English. They were the very ones who lost even their lives for doing so. And inspired by God King James 1 put it into English, not Latin. Knew English would be a common language to come and flourish not Latin. Latin today is the only non living language. Thank you William Tyndale and King James 1. King James 1611 Bible also is not taken out of the Latin text either, William Tyndale took all directly himself from the Hebrew and Greek He was highly educated great faith in God and spoke over 8 different languages, so well, that all who spoke and knew him, no matter what language they spoke in, said Tyndale spoke any language like it was his native tongue. Why today we hold an English bible in our hands today.
sunshine14: We all should give God great Thanks and Praise to
You may hold an English Bible in your hands. It was written in Hebrew, translated to Greek, thence to Latin, and finally to English by scholars who couldn't read the original. In every translation, meaning is lost. I am thankful that I am Jewish and that we are taught to read the original.
mjr91: You may hold an English Bible in your hands. It
The Roman Catholic Church hunted him and anyone else who was trying to put the Bible into the common mans hands. The didn't want people to really know what the Bible says. Nothing has changed.
Salty_too: The Roman Catholic Church hunted him and anyone else who
I always ask, "just how interfaith?" It's easy to mention Jews, harder to pay actual attention. One Karaite navi'im (and just how different from the mainstream is it in text?), one Torah taken from Jews by Catholics during the Inquisition, apparently not actually currently in Jewish hands. Were there any Jewish scholars consulted on this exhibit? Who? Other than the Roman Church, we only hear of the Protestant-based Green Collection people. Were Eastern/Greek Orthodox consulted? Who? What in the exhibit is theirs?
mjr91: I always ask, "just how interfaith?" It's easy to mention
One has toi be careful worshipping words rather than meanings, they could be graven images... symbols are powerful only if what they symbolize is recognized... What is God's language anyway?
shylove2: One has toi be careful worshipping words rather than meanings,
If Jesus did find himself mixed with
the spirits of other men
at their bodies
on earth
and took some time each time
to get free of them
as with each new instance of your appearance at man
and at other men
WITHOUT CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS ON THE NECESSITY OF ALERTING GOD AND UNWINDING
he may have helped them to paint images
which captured his pain and encombrance with
man from the past
present and future
putting their sins on him
and complaining and demanding
at him
before he was on the cross
and when he finally ended up there
...because the Romans did not believe that he was the son of God
who was in heaven AND on earth
at the same time...
the depiction of Jesus with the swords like porcupine quills
extending away from him
MIGHT be one way
a person might protect themselves
from the interference of other spirits on earth
who have now been told that he has the only working key to his father's house.
Mrs_Robinsons: If Jesus did find himself mixed with the spirits of
Pope Benedict XVI calling on Catholics to read and meditate on Scripture.
In a letter to the pope from his bishops, in the 1500s told the pope not to let the common people have access to the bible as it will expose the CC teaching as different from the bible.
PETER_TIMINGS: Pope Benedict XVI calling on Catholics to read and meditate
The name Verbum Domini, meaning "the Word of the Lord," was recently used in an historic work by Pope Benedict XVI calling on Catholics to read and meditate on Scripture.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's always a good idea to vary one's exposure to holy hokum. To go from Church teachings on the one hand to exposing oneself to the greatest collection of myths and fantasies ever placed between two covers.
It would be truly revealing and instructive if the Vatican opened up its archives covering communications between bishops across the globe and the Vatican on hiding sexual abuse of children and how to obstruct justice. Now, there's a set of treasures worth traveling to Rome to see.
YeOldeSnark: The name Verbum Domini, meaning "the Word of the Lord,"
"Interfaith"? did I miss something,? If so I apologize but, where is Baha'i scripture or the Bhagavad Gita, or the Q'uran or....... Oh right, those aren't "faiths"
thebigbike: "Interfaith"? did I miss something,? If so I apologize but,
There is One Universal God, and he goes by various names – still One God; the God of Abraham! Question, what solely does Our Father in Heaven ask of man? Jesus while on earth stated it plainly @Mathew 22:34/39, read below:
34 After the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they came together in one group. 35 And one of them, versed in the Law, asked, testing him: 36 “Teacher (speaking to Jesus), which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ End of reading.
God’s mercy and love are the only reasons we (Man) can lift our heads, from shame, to a joyous and eternal future. Discerning hearts, not more books, are needed today!
There is One Universal God, and he goes by various names – still One God; the God of Abraham! Question, what solely does Our Father in Heaven ask of man? Jesus while on earth stated it plainly @Mathew 22:34/39, read below:
34 After the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they came together in one group. 35 And one of them, versed in the Law, asked, testing him: 36 “Teacher (speaking to Jesus), which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ End of reading.
God’s mercy and love are the only reasons we (Man) can lift our heads, from shame, to a joyous and eternal future. Discerning hearts, not more books, are needed today!
the spirits of other men
at their bodies
on earth
and took some time each time
to get free of them
as with each new instance of your appearance at man
and at other men
WITHOUT CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS ON THE NECESSITY OF ALERTING GOD AND UNWINDING
he may have helped them to paint images
which captured his pain and encombrance with
man from the past
present and future
putting their sins on him
and complaining and demanding
at him
before he was on the cross
and when he finally ended up there
...because the Romans did not believe that he was the son of God
who was in heaven AND on earth
at the same time...
the depiction of Jesus with the swords like porcupine quills
extending away from him
MIGHT be one way
a person might protect themselves
from the interference of other spirits on earth
who have now been told that he has the only working key to his father's house.
In a letter to the pope from his bishops, in the 1500s told the pope not to let the common people have access to the bible as it will expose the CC teaching as different from the bible.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's always a good idea to vary one's exposure to holy hokum. To go from Church teachings on the one hand to exposing oneself to the greatest collection of myths and fantasies ever placed between two covers.
It would be truly revealing and instructive if the Vatican opened up its archives covering communications between bishops across the globe and the Vatican on hiding sexual abuse of children and how to obstruct justice. Now, there's a set of treasures worth traveling to Rome to see.
Fanned
Fanned