The Man Behind the Work
William Fulke (1538–1589) was a Cambridge scholar, divine, and one of the most vigorous Protestant defenders of Elizabethan England. Educated at St John’s College, Cambridge, he became known for his sharp intellect and his readiness to meet the theological challenges of his age head-on. Fulke was not content merely to preach Protestant doctrine, he engaged directly with Roman Catholic arguments in print, seeking to uphold the Reformed faith against its critics. His greatest and most enduring work, published shortly before his death, was the New Testament of 1589, a monumental attempt to expose and refute Catholic teaching as found in the Rheims New Testament.
The Rheims New Testament: A Catholic Challenge
In 1582, English Catholic exiles at the College of Rheims, under the leadership of Gregory Martin, published an English translation of the New Testament from the Latin Vulgate. This edition, known as the Rheims New Testament, was far more than a Bible translation. Its margins and preface were filled with doctrinal notes and commentaries defending key points of Roman Catholic teaching such as purgatory, prayers for the dead, justification by works, the authority of the Church, and the supremacy of the Pope.
To Protestants in Elizabethan England, these additions were deeply troubling. The translation itself was often considered secondary to the annotations, which were explicitly designed to counter the theology of the Reformation. These notes were, as many Protestants saw it, “odious” , not only disputing the Protestant reading of Scripture but actively teaching the very doctrines the Reformation had rejected.
Fulke’s Response: The 1589 New Testament
In 1589, William Fulke produced his famous parallel New Testament, setting the Rheims text alongside the Protestant Bishops’ Bible, accompanied by his own detailed commentary. His purpose was not merely to compare the translations, but to refute the Catholic notes and expose the doctrinal agenda they contained.
Fulke methodically addressed the marginal annotations of the Rheims editors, pointing out where they had twisted the sense of Scripture to support papal teaching. His commentary was often vigorous and polemical, but it demonstrated deep learning and wide acquaintance with both the Greek text and patristic sources. By publishing the Rheims translation together with his rebuttal, Fulke effectively turned a Catholic weapon into a Protestant tool.
Why Fulke’s New Testament Mattered
Fulke’s New Testament was more than a piece of scholarship; it was a defence of the Reformation itself. At a time when England was consolidating its Protestant identity, the Rheims New Testament represented a direct theological and political challenge. Fulke’s work provided English readers with a means to recognise and answer that challenge, line by line and doctrine by doctrine.
The book was immediately influential and widely circulated. Even after the King James Bible (1611) replaced the Bishops’ Bible as the official version, Fulke’s comparative work remained a valued reference for ministers and laymen alike, particularly those engaged in defending the Reformed faith against renewed Catholic arguments.
Collecting Fulke’s New Testament Today
For collectors of rare Bibles and Reformation works, Fulke’s New Testament represents a key text in the history of English Protestantism. The 1589 first edition is scarce and highly prized, especially in complete, well-preserved condition.
However, later printings in the 17th century ensured that Fulke’s work remained accessible to generations of Protestants. These reprints continued to pair the Rheims and Bishops’ texts, together with Fulke’s commentary, and are significant in their own right. While generally more affordable than the first edition, they remain sought after by collectors and historians interested in the print controversies of the Reformation.
Factors Influencing Value
Edition: The 1589 first printing commands the highest value.
Condition: Complete, clean copies are rare due to heavy theological use.
Provenance: Copies associated with clergy or Protestant families hold special appeal.
Why Collectors Prize Fulke’s Work
Collectors value Fulke’s New Testament for its historical weight and its insight into the religious tensions of 16th-century England. It stands as both a theological argument and a cultural artefact, a record of the fierce battles fought in print as much as in pulpits. To own a Fulke New Testament, whether an early or later edition, is to hold a tangible piece of the Reformation struggle between Scripture and tradition, Protestant and Catholic.
Buying a Fulke New Testament
If you wish to buy a Fulke New Testament, ensure it is properly described and collated, as surviving copies vary in completeness. Authentic examples should retain the parallel text of the Rheims and Bishops’ Bibles, with Fulke’s extensive marginal and textual notes.
At James Dickson Books, we specialise in rare Bibles and Reformation works, including editions of Fulke’s New Testament. Each volume we handle is carefully catalogued and authenticated, so collectors can purchase with confidence.
At the time of writing, we have a copy of the 1617 edition available for sale here. Explore our Rare Bibles here to see what other early Bibles we have available.
Conclusion
The 1589 William Fulke New Testament was born out of controversy, a Protestant answer to the Catholic Rheims Testament, whose heavy commentary promoted Roman doctrine. By exposing and refuting its notes line by line, Fulke transformed what had been a challenge to Protestantism into one of its strongest defences. Later reprints carried his influence into the next century, ensuring that Fulke’s name remained synonymous with the Reformation’s intellectual and spiritual struggle. For collectors and students of church history, it remains one of the most fascinating and significant Bibles of its age.
