“Burned at the Stake” Lecture Series on April 23

‘BURNED AT THE STAKE’

Free lectures will look at 16th century martyrs

Three eminent biblical scholars will be featured speakers at a free one-day lecture series, Saturday, April 23, titled “Burned at the Stake,” in conjunction with the exhibit Ink & Blood: Dead Sea Scrolls to the English Bible at the old Convention Center below the Holiday Inn downtown.

Bill Eubanks, Ink & Blood assistant curator, will discuss John Rodgers, a minister, Bible translator and commentator who in 1555 was executed because of his religious beliefs. Eubanks will speak at 10:30 a.m. and again at 6:30 p.m.

Dr. William H. Noah, curator of the Ink & Blood exhibit, will speak at 1:30 p.m. on William Tyndale, the first person to translate the Bible into modern English from the original languages. Tyndale’s translation became the basis of the well-known King James Version of the Bible. Tyndale was condemned for heresy in Belgium where he was burned at the stake in 1536.

F.J. Maisel, associate curator of the exhibit, will speak on the Oxford Martyrs: Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer at 4:30 p.m.  Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer were prominent English religious leaders who in 1555 were among some 300 people burned at the stake because of their religious beliefs on orders of Queen Mary I.

Each lecture will last about an hour. The Ink & Blood exhibit, which opened in Knoxville Feb. 5, has been extended to May 1. It features authentic Dead Sea Scroll fragments, rare ancient Biblical manuscripts and historic Bibles.

Dr. Noah, a physician, author and Bible historian, said that forty thousand people have seen the Knoxville exhibition which displays more than 100 specific Hebrew, Greek and Latin transcripts and rare Reformation Bibles from around the world.

The lectures are free. Tickets for the exhibit are $15 for adults; $12 for matinees, seniors and students; $8 for children 8-18; children under 8 are admitted free.

Noah says the exhibition provides an educational and entertaining activity for school groups, church groups, families and clubs, and that group rates are available. For more information or to order tickets, call 1-877-33BIBLE or visit the Web site www.inkandblood.com.