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The Bible has been the most influential text in all of Western culture. It's difficult to understand medieval or early modern or much of modern literature without knowing it...

Prof. Barbara Newman, Northwestern University
from 2006 Bible Literary project

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It's not that it's impossible to read some writers without a Biblical background, but that you would miss a whole dimension to their work.

Prof. Steven Goldsmith, University of California at Berkeley
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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I can only say that if a student doesn't know any Bible literature, he or she will simply not understand whole elements of Shakespeare, Sidney, Spenser, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth

Prof. Robert Kiely, Harvard University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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...there is truth in the remark. "without Tyndale[Bible translator], no Shakespeare"...

Prof. David Daniell, University College London
from The Bible in English

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You can't really study Western literature intelligently or coherently without starting with the Bible.

Prof. Gerald L. Bruns, University of Notre Dame
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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...a familiar understanding of Christian doctrine in historical perspective thus contributes to a fuller appreciation of Shakespeare's art, but Shakespeare's art

Prof. Roland M. Frye
from Shakespeare and the Christian Doctrine

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In English tradition and also for an American tradition begun by Puritan writers, a knowledge of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament is even more crucial than classical references.

Prof. Ulrich Knoefplmacher, Princeton University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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There is no book more important for our culture than the Bible, and it is fundametal to the study of English literature and language.

Prof. David Jasper and Prof. Stephen Prickett
from the Bible and literature

Profile

Main contributor

Jenny Wong, BBA (HKUST), PgD(HKPU), MA in Translating and Interpreting (Newcastle), MA in Christian Studies (CUHK), PhD in Literature and Theology (Glasgow)

Jenny Wong is Lecturer at University of Birmingham where she works as Programme Director at the MA in Interpreting with Translation programme. Prior to coming to Birmingham, she was Assistant Professor at Hang Seng University of Hong Kong and at Beijing Normal University – Hong Kong Baptist University, United International College (UIC). She taught translation and applied ethics. Prior to joining UIC, she taught commercial translation at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and media translation at the Open University of Hong Kong.

She began her career in the financial industry having earned her first degree in finance. After realizing where her real passion lies – languages, translation and cultures – she made a decisive career shift to study translation in the United Kingdom and has since then served in multinational companies and conglomerates including BUPA and Philips Electronics as in-house writer. Her research interests in the study of Bible and English literature grew out of her two postgraduate degrees: MA in Translating and Interpreting (Newcastle, UK) and MA in Christian Studies (CUHK).

Reviewers

Prof. Giles Cattermole, Assistant Professor (Accident & Emergency Medicine Academic Unit), The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Dr. Gary Linebarger,, Assistant Professor (Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Programme), United International College

Nicholson I.E.K. McLaurin,

David Roland,Elaine Yip Yuet Ling, BA(HKPU), MA in Christian Studies (CUHK) – reviewer of Chinese translation

Endorsed by

Prof. David Jasper, Professor in Literature and Theology, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, author of The Bible and Literature: A Reader (with Stephen Prickett), 1999 
“This is an impressive tool for scholars and anyone interested in the literature and cultural influence of the Bible. I am sure that it will be widely used as a major resource for all students and scholars.”

Rev. Peter White, Former Minister of Sandyford Henderson Memorial Church, Glasgow and Former Principal of Glasgow Bible College
“The SELBL material is a very straightforward, easy to understand introduction to English usage and idioms. In using the Bible it draws upon the text which is easily the most influential and accessible book in the English language. I commend these courses.”

Dr. Wong Fook Yee, Adjunct Professor, Geography and Resources Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
“My students had attended the course and they had been greatly  benefitted. Apart from learning English they had the opportunity to share, to discuss, to perform, to appreciate art and music of the western culture. This is really a very good course for students, highly recommended.”

Dr. K.Y. C. Teng, Associate Professor, Department of Intercultural Studies, Alliance Bible Seminary 
“As a young Christian, Jenny is one full of vision, mission, creativity and stamina who is always striving to press towards the goal despite the many challenges ahead. I sincerely wish that her gifts in language and literature can be used in benefiting a wide population so as to glorify God.”

Prof. Steven Marx, Professor of English at California Polytechnic State University, author of Shakespeare and the Bible (2000) 
“I’m impressed with the quality of scholarship and the pedagogical sophistication of this project.”

Rev. Dr. Tobias Brandner, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Divinity School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong 
“This website is a great tool to find out about the origins of many idioms that have become part of our everyday language – and to discover the spiritual treasures that these idioms contain. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the readers are stimulated to dig deeper.”

Dr. Common Chan Lung Pun, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Divinity School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong 
“This website is my useful teaching tool whenever I conduct University lectures regarding the study of Bible in the public domain. For any potential user in Chinese societies, I recommend this website to you without reservation.”

Dr. Lai Tsz Pang John, Assistant Professor, Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong 
“This user-friendly and beautifully-illustrated website is a wealth of resource which facilitates easy reference to idioms of Biblical origin.”

Dr. Andy Fung, Associate Professor in Chinese Language and Comparative Literature 
“This website is rich with resources to learn Western culture and literature. I highly recommend this website to students.”

Prof. Arie Cohen, Faculty of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Israel 
“This is a scholarly endeavour to make the Bible close to the heart of the language-loving public. The designer of this website is diving into the deep waters to bring glittering pearls, i.e. the beauty of biblical expressions to share with us all.”

Dr. Chan Ho-yan, Clara, Assistant Professor, Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics, City University of Hong Kong 
“A user-friendly way to learn and study English idioms from the Bible.”

Dr Lau Wai Lin, Coordinator for Field Education, Macau Bible Institute 
“The website is not just good, it is amazing. The idea and the organization are excellent. It becomes one of my tools in teaching.”

Poon Hing Fai, Edwin, Principal, Ling Liang Church M H Lau Secondary School 
“This is a fantastic learning English website: user-friendly with very clear instructions, practical, biblical with beautiful design. I enjoy reading the stories and idioms very much. This is a good tool to learn beautiful English. You can not miss it.”


Honorary advisors

Prof. David JasperProfessor in Literature and Theology, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Glasgow

Dr. Kai-yum Cheung TengAssociate Professor, Department of Intercultural Studies, Alliance Bible Seminary

Mr. Hui Chiu Ying, DavidDirector, China Alliance Press

Mrs. Julia W. S. WanConsultant, Creative English Teaching, Part-time Lecturer, Dept of English Language & Literature, Hong Kong Baptist University

Dr. Common Chan Lung PunAssistant Professor, Divinity School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Dr. Andy FungAssociate Professor in Chinese Language and Comparative Literature, Beijing Normal University, Hong Kong Baptist University – United International College

Dr. Elaine NgAssistant Professor, Applied Translation Studies, Beijing Normal University, Hong Kong Baptist University – United International College

Dr. Roger ChengProfessional Consultant, Department of Educational Administration and Policy, Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong


Links

Search idiom or name
FIND THE ORIGIN OF IDIOMS

A lot of phrases, such as "two-edged sword" and " an eye for an eye", are taken from the English Bible. Learning the stories behind these idioms is fun, and can help boost your vocabulary. Click here to find out now!

What's in a name?

Common names such as Joseph and Rachel have their origins in the Bible. Want to know their stories before picking the right name for yourself? Click here to find out.