Ten Commandments, Thomas Ingmire, 2003, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University,
Collegeville, Minnesota, USA.

The seven volumes of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition, a fine art reproduction of the original artwork, will be displayed at Wartburg College Jan. 10-Feb. 21.

The Saint John’s Bible is the first handwritten and illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine Abbey in more than 500 years. At the request of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., calligrapher Donald Jackson, with help from many others, produced the books — each 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide when open — with more than 160 illuminations and numerous special text treatments in the 1,150 pages.

The Saint John’s Bible: Illuminating the Word for a New Millennium will be displayed in the Waldemar A. Schmidt Art Gallery, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily or by appointment. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

After Feb. 21, two volumes of the Bible — the Pentateuch and the Gospels and Acts — will remain on campus for public viewing through 2014.

As a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Wartburg’s roots are planted deeply in the traditions of the Reformation, including the idea of “sola Scriptura,” or Scripture alone, said the Rev. Dr. Walter “Chip” Bouzard, religion professor and chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy.

“We cherish the Bible as it is the vehicle by which God speaks to us today,” he said. “It is especially fitting, therefore, that we exhibit this unique and visually stunning Bible.”

The college will host an ecumenical Service of the Word Sunday, Jan. 12, at 4 p.m. in the Wartburg Chapel. A reception will follow from 5 to 7 p.m. in the gallery.

Tim Ternes, director of The Saint John’s Bible, will visit campus Tuesday, Jan. 14. He will speak about The Saint John’s Bible project at 11:30 a.m. in Neumann Auditorium.  

The Wartburg College Philosophical and Literary Society also will host three events focused on the exhibit:

• Dr. Erika Lindgren, associate professor of history, Getting to the St. John’s Bible: A History of Illustrated Bibles, Jan. 17.
• Dr. Brian Jones, professor of religion, Seeing the Word: The Art of the St. John’s Bible as Visio Divina, Jan. 31.
• Dr. Rachel Clark, assistant professor of English, Histories of the Book: Illustrating Scripture in Wartburg’s 1597 Bible and the St. John’s Bible, Feb. 14.

All events will be at 4 p.m. in the McCoy Conference Rooms in Saemann Student Center on the Wartburg campus. The programs are free and open to the public.

Groups can contact Gail Sexton, coordinator of church relations and faith and community outreach, at 319-352-8699 or gail.sexton@wartburg.edu to schedule Bible studies, campus visits or other special events regarding The Saint John’s Bible.

The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program is an international initiative that allows for the exploration of the artistic and spiritual beauty of the piece. The Wartburg College acquisition and display was made possible through generous gifts from two 1966 graduates — Dr. William Hamm, former interim president of the college (July 2008-July 2009), and Larry Trachte, retired campus pastor; and Julie Frantsen, a college employee and master craftswoman.
“Whether one comes to see The Saint John’s Bible because it is Scripture for Christians or because the volumes are each works of art in their own right, no one will leave disappointed,” Bouzard said.