Why should English-speaking Christians care about the Spanish Bible?
In the first episode of the Spanish Bible Podcast, Pastor Shane Rice introduces the purpose behind this series and explains why the Spanish Bible is an important subject for pastors, missionaries, Bible college students, church leaders, and anyone interested in worldwide evangelism.
Where did the Spanish Bible come from? Was the Reina-Valera 1960 the first Spanish Bible? Who were Casiodoro de Reina and Cipriano de Valera, and why are their names still associated with the Spanish Bible today?
In this episode, we trace the history of the Spanish Bible from the original 1569 Reina Bible through the 1602 Valera revision, and then follow the major revisions of 1865, 1909, 1960, 1977, and later editions. We also explain the important difference between a translation and a revision, a distinction that is often misunderstood in discussions about the Spanish Bible.
In this episode I share the personal story that started my investigation into the Spanish Bible issue.
When I first arrived on the mission field, I was handed the Reina-Valera 1960 and told it was the Bible every missionary used. As I learned Spanish and compared it with my King James Bible, I began noticing differences that raised serious questions.
1 Timothy 1:12 - “12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;”
Introduction
What is the call of God? I mention that I was called by God when I was thirteen years old. I sometimes say, I surrendered my life to God when I was 13 years old. I have a definite time, when I know God was working on my life, and calling me to preach. There was no burning bush like Moses, there was no bright light in the sky or voice from heaven like Paul, there was no voice of God calling my name like Samuel, there simply was a certainty that God wanted to use my life! No voices, no visions, just me and God.
July 10, 2026