Oklahoma City Museum of Art to feature ‘Passages,' an exhibit of rare biblical texts and artifacts

“It will have some of the most incredible rare biblical artifacts in private hands in the world,” Green said. “It will tell the story of the history of the English Bible.”

Green unveiled plans for the traveling exhibition at the Vatican Embassy, where business, government, academic and religious leaders gathered to view some of the items that will be in Oklahoma City next month.

The interactive exhibition, called “Passages,” will encompass 14,000 square feet and be the worldwide debut of the Green Collection, one of the world's largest privately held collections of biblical texts and artifacts.

The exhibit at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art will run through Oct. 16 before a portion of it focusing on the Catholic contribution to the King James Bible goes to Vatican City. “Passages” then will go to New York, although a date has not been announced.

“The opportunity to present such a vast and important collection of biblical artifacts is exceptional,” said Glen Gentele, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. “The exhibition provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience for guests to engage with these rare materials at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.”

“Passages” will be composed of about 300 items from the 30,000-item Green Collection, which is directed by Scott Carroll, a specialist in ancient and medieval manuscripts.

“The Bible didn't come from Mount Sinai to Moses and end up in a Red Roof Inn desk drawer,” Carroll said. “There was a process, and ‘Passages' tells the dramatic story of that process.”