Topical Encyclopedia Introduction: The Vulgate is a significant Latin translation of the Bible, primarily attributed to St. Jerome in the late 4th century. Commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 AD, the Vulgate became the Catholic Church's officially promulgated Latin version of the Bible during the Council of Trent in the 16th century. Its influence on Western Christianity, theology, and culture is profound, serving as the standard biblical text for over a millennium. Historical Context: Before the Vulgate, various Latin translations of biblical texts existed, collectively known as the "Old Latin" versions. These translations were inconsistent and varied in quality. Recognizing the need for a uniform and reliable text, Pope Damasus I tasked Jerome, a scholarly monk with expertise in Hebrew and Greek, to produce a new translation. Jerome's Translation Process: Jerome began his work by revising the existing Latin Gospels, using the best Greek manuscripts available. He then translated the Old Testament directly from the Hebrew texts, a departure from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) that was commonly used at the time. Jerome's prefaces to various books of the Bible provide insight into his translation philosophy and methodology, emphasizing accuracy and fidelity to the original languages. Content and Structure: The Vulgate includes the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, as recognized by the Catholic Church, along with the Deuterocanonical books, which are considered apocryphal by Protestant traditions. Jerome's translation of the Psalms, known as the "Gallican Psalter," was based on the Greek Septuagint, while his later revision, the "Hebrew Psalter," was based on the Hebrew text. Influence and Legacy: The Vulgate's impact on Christianity and Western culture is immense. It shaped theological discourse, liturgy, and education throughout the Middle Ages. The translation's linguistic style influenced the development of the Latin language and its use in ecclesiastical and scholarly contexts. The Vulgate also played a crucial role in the Reformation. Reformers like Martin Luther and William Tyndale, while critical of certain aspects of the Vulgate, were influenced by its structure and content in their translations into vernacular languages. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) affirmed the Vulgate as the authoritative Latin text of the Bible, leading to the publication of the Clementine Vulgate in 1592, which standardized the text for liturgical use. Theological Significance: The Vulgate's translation choices have been the subject of theological discussion and debate. For instance, Jerome's translation of Genesis 3:15, "She will crush your head, and you will strike her heel," has been interpreted in the context of Marian theology, emphasizing the role of the Virgin Mary in salvation history. This differs from the Berean Standard Bible's rendering: "He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (Genesis 3:15), which is traditionally understood as a messianic prophecy concerning Christ. Modern Revisions and Use: In the 20th century, the Catholic Church undertook a revision of the Vulgate, resulting in the Nova Vulgata, promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1979. This revision aimed to align the Latin text more closely with modern critical editions of the original biblical languages while maintaining the Vulgate's liturgical and theological heritage. Today, the Vulgate remains a vital text for biblical scholarship, liturgy, and theological study within the Catholic tradition. Its historical and cultural significance continues to be recognized across Christian denominations. Smith's Bible Dictionary The Vulgatethe Latin version of the Bible. The influence which it exercised upon western Christianity is scarcely less than that of the LXX. upon the Greek churches. Both the Greek and the latin Vulgate have been long neglected; yet the Vulgate should have a very deep interest for all the western churches, many centuries it was the only Bible generally used; and, directly or indirectly is the real parent of all the vernacular versions of western Europe. The Gothic version of Ulphilas alone is independent of it. The name is equivalent to Vulgata editio (the current text of Holy Scripture. This translation was made by Jerome-Eusebius Hieronymus --who way born in 329 A.D. at Stridon in Dalmatia, and died at Bethlehem in 420 A.D. This great scholar probably alone for 1500 years possessed the qualifications necessary for producing an original version of the Scriptures for the use of the Latin churches. Going to Rome, he was requested by Pope Damascus, A.D. 383, to make a revision of the old Latin version of the New Testament, whose history is lost in obscurity. In middle life Jerome began the study of the Hebrew, and made a new version of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew which was completed A.D. 404. The critical labors of Jerome were received with a loud outcry of reproach. He was accused of disturbing the repose of the Church and shaking the foundations of faith. But clamor based upon ignorance soon dies away; and the New translation gradually came into use equally with the Old, and at length supplanted it. The vast power which the Vulgate has had in determining the theological terms of western Christendom can hardly be overrated. By far the greater part of the current doctrinal terminology is based on the Vulgate. Predestination, justification, supererogation (supererogo), sanctification, salvation, mediation, regeneration, revelation, visitation (met.) propitiation , first appear in the Old Vulgate. Grace, redemption, election, reconciliation, satisfaction, inspiration, scripture , were devoted there to a new and holy use. Sacrament and communion are from the same source; and though baptism is Greek, it comes to us from the Latin. It would be easy to extend the list by the addition of orders, penance, congregation, priest ; but it can be seen from the forms already brought forward that the Vulgate has brought forward that the Vulgate has left its mark both upon our language and upon our thoughts. It was the version which alone they knew who handed down to the reformers the rich stores of medieval wisdom; the version with which the greatest of the reformers were most familiar, and from which they had drawn their earliest knowledge of divine truth. Library Prefaces to the Vulgate Version of the New Testament. Prefaces to the Books of the Vulgate Version of the Old Testament. On Earthly Things Book ix. On Jerusalem and Her Enemies The Members of the Lord: their Names and Significance To the Rev. A. Brandram Chapter xv. On Heavenly Objects Order of the New Testament Books. Ancient Versions of the New Testament. Resources The: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics the Epistle of Paul To Philemon the First Epistle General Of John The Kingdom or Church of Christ the Second and Third Epistles Of John Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
    |