The short answer is yes, in many modern printings of the Bible, the words spoken by Jesus are printed in red ink. This tradition dates back to the late 19th century when the idea was popularized by Louis Klopsch, editor of Christian Herald magazine. Since then, red letter editions of the Bible have become very common.
What are red letter editions of the Bible?
Red letter editions of the Bible, also called red letter Bibles or red letter New Testaments, are printings of the Bible that highlight the spoken words of Jesus by printing them in red ink. This allows readers to easily see when Jesus is speaking versus other characters in the biblical narratives.
The red lettering tradition began with the first red letter New Testament published by Louis Klopsch in 1899. Klopsch was the editor of Christian Herald magazine and he came up with the idea as a way to help readers better understand and apply Jesus’ teachings. His edition of the Bible printed the words attributed to Jesus in red ink, while the remainder of the text was printed in black ink.
Since Klopsch’s original red letter New Testament, the format has exploded in popularity and is now used in most modern English translations and printings of the Bible. It has become the standard format for Bibles published by both Protestant and Catholic publishers.
Why are Jesus’ words printed in red?
There are a few key reasons why Klopsch decided to print Jesus’ words in red ink and why it remains popular today:
- It makes Jesus’ words stand out: Printing Jesus’ words in red immediately allows readers to distinguish his words from the surrounding text. This helps readers easily focus on the accounts and teachings of Christ.
- It highlights Christ’s unique identity: Red lettering reinforces the theological belief that Jesus’ words carry special weight and authority as the Son of God.
- It aids in interpretation and application: Red lettering helps readers locate Jesus’ core teachings and apply them more directly to their lives.
- It aligns with tradition: Early manuscripts also used red ink to highlight the words of Christ and mark sacred texts.
What passages are printed in red?
In general, any direct quotations attributed to Jesus in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are printed in red ink. This includes over 300 Old and New Testament verses spanning:
- Jesus’ teachings like the Sermon on the Mount and parables
- Conversations between Jesus and other biblical figures
- Statements Jesus makes about himself using “I am”
- Jesus’ interactions, healings, rebukes
- The Passion narrative
Some key passages printed in red include:
- Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
- Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness (Mark 1:12-13)
- Woman at the well (John 4:4-26)
- Cleansing of the temple (Mark 11:15-17)
- Washing the disciples’ feet (John 13)
- “I am” statements (John 6:35, 8:12, 10:7)
- Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24)
- Garden of Gethsemane prayer (Mark 14:32-42)
- Crucifixion words (John 19:26-30)
Notable exceptions
There are a few notable passages spoken by Jesus that are not traditionally printed in red:
- Jesus as a 12 year old in the temple (Luke 2:41-51)
- Jesus tempted by Satan in the desert (Luke 4:1-13)
- Jesus appearing to Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9)
These are not printed in red because they are recounted or quoted by others rather than direct quotations from Jesus.
What translation editions use red letters?
Today most major English Bible translations and editions utilize red letters for Jesus’ words. Some examples include:
- King James Version (KJV)
- New International Version (NIV)
- English Standard Version (ESV)
- New King James Version (NKJV)
- New Living Translation (NLT)
- The Message
- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
There are a few notable exceptions such as the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and the first edition New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) which format Jesus’ words in black text. However, the updated NRSV uses red lettering.
Are there any downsides to red letter editions?
While red letter Bibles aim to highlight Jesus’ words, some scholars argue the format has drawbacks:
- It can give too much emphasis to Jesus’ words over other Bible text
- It may imply Jesus’ words deserve more authority
- It fragments the biblical narratives and makes Jesus appear more isolated
- It is difficult to determine precisely which statements should be red
Due to these concerns, some biblical scholars caution against red letter editions, arguing all scripture holds equal weight.
What do critics say about words of Christ in red?
Here are some common critiques of red letter editions from biblical scholars:
- All scripture is God-breathed – Critics argue highlighting Jesus’ words minimizes other inspired texts. They point out verses like 2 Timothy 3:16.
- Jesus’ divinity – Some feel red letters distance Christ’s words from the divine nature of the rest of scripture. This could imply his words alone are unique.
- Authority and consistency – Drawing attention to Jesus’ words may wrongly imply they carry more authority than other Bible passages. It also fragments unified narratives.
- Historical accuracy – Scholars question if Jesus’ actual literal words can be determined given the Gospels are not verbatim transcripts.
- Implications for practice – Print layout could shape how Christians view biblical authority and interpretation. Overemphasizing red words could impact theology.
Despite these concerns, red letter Bibles remain popular for helping readers engage with Christ’s teachings.
Do Jesus’ literal words appear in the Old Testament?
No, Jesus’ literal spoken words do not appear anywhere in the 39 books of the Protestant Christian Old Testament, which covers Genesis to Malachi. This is because the Old Testament chronicles God’s interactions with humanity prior to the birth of Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ life and ministry as recorded in the New Testament Gospels did not begin until approximately 30 AD. The latest Old Testament writings are estimated to date to around 425 to 400 BC, over 400 years before Christ. So there are no direct first-person statements from Jesus himself included in the Old Testament.
There are, however, some passages in the Old Testament that Christians have traditionally understood as messianic prophecies pointing ahead to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Examples include Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, and Genesis 3:15. Jesus’ literal words are not recorded in these texts, but they contain prophecies later understood to refer to him.
Jesus in the Old Testament
While Jesus’ literal words do not appear in the Old Testament, many Christians do find prefigurations and prophecies that foreshadow Christ:
- Theophanies – Appearances of God are seen as Christophanies, or pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus.
- Angel of the Lord – Potentially a heavenly Christophany.
- Typology – Old Testament people, objects, events that symbolically point to Christ.
- Prophecies – Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, and other predictions of the Messiah Jesus.
So although Jesus’ actual spoken words are confined to the New Testament Gospels, Christians do see his presence implicitly throughout the Old Testament.
Do red letter Bibles include non-Jesus quotes in red?
No, typically only the words directly spoken by Jesus Christ himself are printed in red ink in red letter editions of the Bible. Red letter Bibles do not also highlight quotes from figures like prophets, apostles, angels, etc. in red text.
There are a few possible exceptions to this general rule:
- God the Father – Direct quotations from God at Jesus’ baptism (“This is my beloved Son…”) or transfiguration (“This is my Son…”) are sometimes rendered in red.
- Holy Spirit – Red letters are occasionally used for the Spirit’s words at Jesus’ baptism (“You are my Son…”) or to Ananias in Acts.
- Unidentified voices – Red is used when speakers are unnamed, like the voice at the transfiguration.
However, these instances are rare. In general, the only consistent use of red letters is for statements made directly by Jesus himself in the Gospels to distinguish his words.
What do red letter Bibles look like?
Visually, red letter editions of the Bible look very similar to traditional black text Bibles. The only difference is that all direct quotations from Jesus are printed in red ink rather than black ink. This includes:
- Speech introductions – “Jesus said…”, “He replied…”, etc. in red
- 1st person statements by Jesus – “I am…”, “You heard me say…”, etc. in red
- Dialogue lines spoken by Jesus – Conversations in the Gospels printed in red
- Jesus’ teachings and preaching – The Sermon on the Mount, parables, and discourses in red
Everything else on the page – chapter numbers, verse numbers, section headings, footnotes – traditionally remains in standard black ink.
Here is an example from John 3 in a red letter edition Bible:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
What percentage of words are red in red letter editions?
It’s estimated that the red letter words of Jesus make up around 10 percent of the full text of the New Testament. However, the exact percentage can vary slightly depending on the Bible translation.
One study found these approximate percentages for the share of red lettering:
- New International Version – 7.8%
- English Standard Version – 10.4%
- King James Version – 10.2%
So while the red letters comprise a relatively small portion of the overall Bible, they highlight the most frequently read and referenced part of the New Testament – the words and teachings of Jesus.
How did Jesus’ words get in red letters when he spoke Aramaic?
It is believed Jesus primarily spoke Aramaic during his earthly ministry in the 1st century AD. However, the New Testament was written in Greek. So how did his words become recorded in red letters in our English Bibles today?
The process involves several steps of transmission and translation:
- Jesus spoke his teachings and sayings in Aramaic.
- His followers later preserved and transmitted those sayings orally in Aramaic and Greek.
- The Gospel writers recorded his words in Greek when composing the Gospels.
- Bible translators rendered his words into languages like Latin, German, English, etc. over time.
- Finally, publishers highlighted his words in red in printed Bible editions.
So although Jesus likely originally spoke in Aramaic, his teachings were preserved, translated, and printed in Greek and other languages, allowing them to ultimately be rendered in red letters for modern readers.
Do any other Bible versions use special formatting?
Yes, some other unique Bible editions utilize color-coding or formatting beyond just red letters for Jesus’ words:
- Rainbow Bibles – Use different colors for words spoken by different biblical figures or God.
- Noah’s Ark Bible – Animal images next to verses they appear in.
- Woman’s Bible – Emphasizes passages related to women.
- Morph Bible – Color-codes Bible themes like love, hope, evil.
- Bloom Bible – Monochromatic floral designs decorating pages.
However, red letter Bibles remain the standard and most popular version that highlights specific text. The simplicity of only illuminating Jesus’ words in red has made this format widely used and recognizable.
Do Jesus’ words ever appear outside the Gospels?
Aside from the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament, there are very few other places in Scripture where the literal spoken words of Jesus are recorded:
- Acts 9 – Jesus speaks from heaven to Saul on the road to Damascus.
- Acts 23 – Jesus speaks encouragement to Paul in Jerusalem.
- Revelation – Jesus speaks repeatedly in visions to John and the churches. (Red or black text varies).
There are also a few verses where God directly quotes Jesus’ statements again, like when saying “This is my Son, whom I have chosen” at the transfiguration (2 Peter 1:17).
But other than these instances, Jesus’ spoken words and teachings are confined to the four Gospel accounts. This makes the red letters a distinctive feature particular to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Conclusion
In summary, red letter editions of the Bible that print the spoken words of Jesus in red ink remain a popular format for helping readers engage with and understand Christ’s life and teachings. This tradition can be traced back over a century to Louis Klopsch but still flourishes in most Bibles today. While some scholars raise objections, supporters feel red letters appropriately emphasize Jesus’ unique identity and message as the Son of God. Red letter Bibles seem likely to maintain their prominence as a specialty Bible format that highlights the Savior’s words.