Saint John's Bible: Pentateuch [Hardcover]

Donald Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2006

The third in a series of full-color, reproductions from The Saint John’s Bible, the Pentateuch is foundational to both Judaism and Christianity. The Pentateuch features text and illuminations of the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) known as the Torah in Judaism. Prominent illuminations include Creation, Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, Jacob’s Ladder, Abraham and Sarah, the Ten Commandments and the Death of Moses.

In beautiful handwritten script and elegant design, the Pentateuch contains the cherished stories of faith that are thousands of years old. This book provides an artistic interpretation of humanity’s oldest literature—still recited as living history.

That these stories are significant to Jewish and Christian traditions is not surprising since they reflect the hopes, dreams, fears, and deeds of people living side by side with the earth’s oldest civilizations. Over time, these spiritual descendants of Abraham and Sarah introduced God to all the inhabitants of the Middle East and beyond. Their message was simple. God and his creation are good; evil enters when prideful humans go their own way. Nonetheless, God continues to love unconditionally.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you and/or the believing community to which you belong, wish to get more closely in touch with the reverence for and awe of the Bible as Word of God that pervaded the Tradition throughout the centuries and that found expression in artistic grace and beauty, in hand-written text carefully copied and lovingly preserved, there is perhaps no better way than to engage prayerfully the biblical proclamation made possible by The Saint John's Bible." -- Catholic Studies

"Pentateuch glows with colour" -- Prairie Messenger

"The Pentateuch could grace a place of honor in a chapel, church, or home." -- Church

"The calligraphy is flawless and awesome. The text is replete with stunning, colorful illuminations--some of the art work filling a whole page. The artwork is certainly of a modern genre and adds a richness to the scripted text. . . . Liturgical Press has done a tremendous service to the church in producing such a beautiful presentation of the Holy Scriptures." -- Emmanuel

"The glow of brilliant colour and the striking if not startling inter-textual designing gracing another volume of The Saint John's Bible provide ample justification for this joint project of St. John's Abbey and Saint John's University." -- Prairie Messenger

About the Author

An internationally respected calligrapher, Donald Jackson is the artistic director and illuminator of The Saint John’s Bible. He is a Senior Scribe to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Crown Office at the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, a position in which he is responsible for the creation of official state documents. He is an elected Fellow and past Chairman of the prestigious Society of Scribes and Illuminators. His 30-year retrospective exhibition, Painting with Words, premiered at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minneapolis, Minnesota in August, 1988 and traveled to 13 museums and galleries.

Donald Jackson works with a team of theologians and artists from Saint John’s University and Abbey on The Saint John’s Bible. From his scriptorium in Wales, he oversees scribes, artists and craftsmen who work with him on the handwriting and illumination of the seven-volume, 1,150-page Bible.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 158 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Press (July 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814690521
• ISBN-13: 978-0814690529
• Product Dimensions: 15.4 x 10.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Ethics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As much a work of art as it is a religious text, September 2, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saint John's Bible: Pentateuch (Hardcover)

Exquisitely handwritten and illuminated by Donald Jackson, Pentateuch: The Saint John's Bible is as much a work of art as it is a religious text. Commissioned by Saint John's Abbey and University as an expression of the Benedictine monks' daily focus on scripture and devotion to books, art, and religious high culture, Pentateuch presents sacred text in flowing English calligraphy, Hebrew book headings, and colorful marks studding the passages. The care put into each line is breathtaking. In oversized hardcover format, Pentateuch uses the sheer scope of its page to display the columns of perfectly penned scripture in vivid detail.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saint John's Bible, Vol. 1: Pentateuch, December 24, 2007

By 

REDin (LIncoln, Nebraska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saint John's Bible: Pentateuch (Hardcover)

One of the most outstanding book projects in our time is The Saint John's Bible. The background of how this book came into being and the detailed research that went into the creation of this Bible is fascinating. The text is only superceded by the illustrations.
Should you have an opportunity to see the traveling exhibit of this remarkable book, do so.
The bible is broken into several books. These are scaled down models of the original -- although they are still larger than most books that enable the reader to enjoy the wonderful illustrations and careful handwritten original Bible.
The books have been issued over a course of time and can be purchased individually.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Way to Read the Bible, December 31, 2011

By 

Luella - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saint John's Bible: Pentateuch (Hardcover)

With the Saint James Bible, you can't hurry through the reading of Scripture. You don't want to! The calligraphy invites you to settle down and read slowly, and the illustrations are breathtaking. These oversized volumes are large, but they are not thick and therefore not unwieldy. With the book on your lap in a comfortable chair, you can relax and enjoy. The Pentateuch is my fourth volume, and I am looking forward to completing my set.