Christian Texts

Languages/Translations of Scripture

Hebrew Bible (Old Testament): originally in Hebrew (except a few books or parts in Greek, Syriac, Aramaic, etc., especially in the apocrypha)

New Testament: originally in Greek

Greek

Septuagint or LXX

  • Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible           
  • around 3rd century BC
  • Alexandria (under Ptolemy II Philadephos?)
  • translated by Jewish scholars [according to the legend: 70 who were locked in separate rooms and all came up with identical translations; hence the name Septuagint abbreviated LXX]
  • used by Jews outside Palestine and by Christians
  • [the original "vulgata"]
  • [other Greek translations: Origen’s Hexapla: 6 columns:
    • Hebrew; 
    • transliterated Hebrew; 
    • Greek translation (most literal) of Aquila; 
    • Greek translation of Symmachus; 
    • revised Septuagint;                             
    • Greek translation of Theodotion]
  • [A. Rahlfs. Septuaginta.]

Latin

Vetus Latina:

  • originally interlinear or marginal Latin translations for use in reading the lectionary during services
  • beginning around 2nd century AD
  • translated from the Greek
  • many versions ("as many as there were manuscripts")
  • individual books or groups of books (not complete Bible)

"[Biblia] Vulgata"

  • begun end of 4th century
  • Vetus Latina as revised by Jerome (and others, as probably the NT except the Gospels) + some Vetus Latina (esp. apocrypha)
  • probably related to change in official language of liturgy of church in Rome (Pope Damasus)
  • gradual process of acceptance
  • Cassiodorus: first "pandect" complete Bible of "Jerome’s" edition?
  • common since 7th century (oldest extant complete version)
  • Charlemagne; missionaries
  • 9th century: 90% chance quote from "Vulgate"
  • 1592: Clementine edition (Pope Clement VIII Rome)
  • Reformation, Catholic Council of Trent; Counter-Reformation
  • "Neo-Vulgata" (Catholic new translation)
  • [Ed. Robert Weber. Biblia Sacra iuxta Vulgatam Versionem. 3rd ed.]
  • [bible.gospelcom.net]

Note on Canon

  • which books and which order not fixed at time of Vulgate

Chapter and verse divisions: purpose: reference

  • also relatively late
  • Hebrew: based on lectionary passages (paragraph #’s)
  • LXX: not standardized
  • Modern:
    • chapters: Latin Bible: based on Stephen Langton (d. 1228)
    • chapter subdivisions: 7 subdivisions (A-G)
    • Cardinal Hugo (d. 1263) for reference system for concordance to Vulgate
      • modified; shorter chapters with 4 sections (c. 1290)
    • verse numbers: Rabbi Isaac Nathan (for Hebrew concordance of Masoretic text) c. 1440
    • NT verses: Robert Stephanus (printer)
      • increased number of verses "inter equitandum"
    • rapidly and widely adapted

Jerome (Hieronymus Stridensis)

    • born c. 346 AD at Stridon
    • studied in Rome under Aelius Donatus
    • went east (studied Hebrew; Constantinople)
    • 382-385: secretary to Pope Damasus in Rome
      • revision of Gospels (commissioned by Damasus) and his 1st version of Psalms ("Roman Psalter") based on Septuagint
    • 385: East again (library at Caesarea including copy of Hexapla)
    • 2nd version of Psalms ("Gallican Psalter": what in Vulgate) using material from Hexapla
    • 386: settle at Bethlehem
    • 391: 3rd version of Psalms based on Hebrew ("Hebrew Psalter")
  • Also wrote: many commentaries on books of the Bible, epistles, de viris illustribus, miscellaneous tracts, etc.
    Translated: Eusebius Onomastica; Chronica

    • various works of Origen
  • Eusebian sections and Canon Tables
    • System of numbering and referencing parallel passages in the Gospels. (Not in Clementine edition)

Contents of Vulgate

 

Vetus Testamentum

Pentateuchus
(Jewish Torah)
(Law)

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numeri

Deuteronomium

(Historici)

Iosue

Iudices

Ruth

I-II Samuhel (= I-II Regum)
III-IV Regum

Verba dierum seu I-II Paralipomenon

*I Ezras (Esdras) 
 II Ezras (= Nehemias)

*Tobias

*Iudith

Hester/Esther

(Didactici)

Iob

Psalmi
[Libri Solomonis:]

            Proverbia

            Ecclesiastes

            Canticum Canticorum
*Sapientia

*Sirach seu Ecclesiasticus

(Major Prophets)

Isaias

Hieremias

Threni seu Lamentationes

*Baruch

Hiezechiel

Danihel

XII Prophetae

Osee

Io(h)el

Amos

Abdias

Ionas

Micha

Naum

Abacuc

Sofonias

Aggeus

Zaccharias

Malachi

 

*I-II Macchabeorum
**III-IV Macchabeorum (Clementine ed)

 

Novum Testamentum

Evangelia IV

Evangelium Secundum Mattheum

Secundum Marcum

Secundum Lucam

Secundum Iohannem

 

Actus Apostolorum

Epistulae Pauli XIV

Ad Romanos
Ad Corinthios I-II
Ad Galatas
Ad Ephesios
Ad Philippenses
Ad Colossenses
Ad Thessalonicenes I-II
Ad Timotheum I-II
Ad Titum
Ad Philemonem
Ad Hebraeos

Epistulae Catholicae VII

Jacobi

Petri I-II

Iohannis I-III

Judae

 

Apocalypsis

*Apocrypha/Deutero-canonical or Pseud-epigrapha

  • Notes on numbering:
    • Psalms: Latin Psalm 9 = Hebrew 9-10
    • Psalms 10-146:
      • Protestant = 1 higher
      • Catholic/Latin = 1 lower
    • [e.g. 23rd Psalm = Vulgate Psalm 22]