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

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.]

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

Chapter and verse divisions: purpose: reference

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)

	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