Vulgate


(382, 405, 410 A.D)

The principle Latin translation of the Bible. It was considered inspired by church authorities, including Augustine.

History

In the western regions of southern Gaul and North Africa, the first Latin translations of the Bible appeared. Tertullian apparently used a Latin version of the Scriptures around A.D. 160. Cyprian used one, too, before his death in A.D 258.

The Old Latin version fell into disuse after the completion of Vulgate. Pope Damasus I commissioned Jerome to translate the Vulgate from the Septuagint as Latin replaced Greek as the language of learning in the larger Roman world in the third century A.D.

Then at risk of great criticism, Jerome turned to the Hebrew text being used in Palestine as the base text for his translation between A.D. 390 and 405. He was still heavily dependent on various Greek versions as aids, so the Vulgate reflects the other Greek and Latin translations as much as the underlying Hebrew text.

The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Texts and Manuscripts of the Old Testament by Mark R. Norton, Page 171-172)

The Gutenberg Bible or Mazarin Bible is an edition of the Vulgate. The 1592 revision became the official text for the Roman Catholic Church.

(Origin of the Bible handout by my small group leader, February 8, 2023. Summarized from Wikipedia. Page 3.)

Its publication, which includes our 27 New Testament books, virtually ended dispute about the New Testament canon. (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Canon of the New Testament by Milton C. Fisher, Page 75.)

It was used alongside then replaced the Vetus Latina translations. (First page Google results)

Order

The order of its books is imitated by most Christian Bibles today. (The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. Page 6.)