Michael Brooks
The translation of the Bible into English has a long and complex history, with contributions from both Catholic and Protestant scholars. While the Catholic Church did not give us the Bible, it has played a significant role in its translation and interpretation. The first Catholic translation of the Bible into English was the Rheims New Testament, published in 1582 by English Catholics living in exile in France. This translation was intended to refute Protestant doctrine and was smuggled into England, where all Catholic books were banned. The Rheims New Testament influenced the famous King James Version of 1611, also known as the Douay-Rheims Bible, which became the standard for English-speaking Catholics for three hundred years. Over time, the development of new English translations of the Bible reached its symbolic peak in the early 17th century, with significant contributions from both Catholic and Protestant scholars, shaping not only English culture but also the English language itself.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Translation of the Bible into the vernacular | A Catholic tradition since the 3rd century, possibly earlier |
| Translation based on | Original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, Latin Vulgate, or other original languages |
| Translation approval | Given by Church authorities, indicated by the presence of an imprimatur |
| Translation permission | Granted by the Conference of Bishops |
| Number and order of books | Differ from Protestant Bibles, retaining seven books regarded as non-canonical in Protestantism |
| Bible versions | The Message – Catholic/Ecumenical Edition (2013), CTS New Catholic Bible (2007), Douay-Rheims (1610), and others |
| Translation impact | Influenced the widely-used King James Version, also known as the Authorized Version |
| Translation controversy | Yes, particularly between Catholics and Protestants |
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What You'll Learn
- The first English Catholic Bible was the Douay-Rheims, completed in 1610
- The translation of the Bible into English was influenced by the Vulgate
- The Bible was translated into English by Catholics in exile in France
- The King James Bible was influenced by the Rheims New Testament
- The Roman Catholic Church did not give us the Bible
The first English Catholic Bible was the Douay-Rheims, completed in 1610
The Douay-Rheims Bible, also known as the Douay-Rheims Version, Rheims-Douai Bible, or Douai Bible, is the first English Catholic Bible. It was completed in 1610, with the New Testament published in 1582 and the Old Testament in 1609. The Bible gets its name from the two French towns, Rheims and Douai, where English Catholic scholars living in exile produced the Bible. The translation relied on the Latin Vulgate, which was the official translation of the Bible for the Latin Church, as declared by the Council of Trent in 1546. The Vulgate was itself meticulously translated from the original Hebrew and Greek texts by St. Jerome in the late 4th century.
The Douay-Rheims Bible was the first of two major Bibles in English produced by Catholic and Protestant scholars in the early 17th century. It was translated quite literally, with great reverence for each individual word, reflecting the structure of the original languages. This translation method provides insight into the minds of the sacred authors. The Bible also included footnotes referring to the Greek and Hebrew texts.
The Douay-Rheims Bible has been revised multiple times to improve its readability and accuracy. In the 18th century, Bishop Challoner made major revisions, knowing that many English Catholics were reading distorted Protestant versions of the Bible, such as the King James Version. The Challoner revision of the Douay-Rheims remains the Bible of choice for more traditional English-speaking Catholics. The revised Douay-Rheims Bible has been approved by the Church many times and continues to be published today.
In the 20th century, Pope Pius XII called for a renewal of Catholic Biblical scholarship and permitted translations of the Bible in the vernacular to be based on the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, in addition to the Vulgate. This marked a historic moment in the history of Catholic Bible translations, not only in English but in all languages.
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The translation of the Bible into English was influenced by the Vulgate
The Vulgate became the official translation of the Bible for the Latin Church, as declared by the Council of Trent in 1545-1563, with the Clementine Vulgate issued by Pope Clement VIII in 1592 becoming the authoritative biblical text of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vulgate was also the basis for the Douay-Rheims Bible, the first English translation of the Catholic Bible, completed in 1610. This version was produced by English Catholic scholars living in exile in France, and relied solely on the Latin Vulgate as its translation text, with footnotes referring to the Greek and Hebrew texts.
The Vulgate also influenced the English-language Confraternity Version of the New Testament (1941), which was produced by Catholic scholars based on the text of the Douai-Reims English translation of the Vulgate. Over time, the Vulgate's influence on English translations of the Bible has evolved, with Pope Pius XII's 1943 encyclical permitting translations of the Bible in the vernacular to be based on the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, rather than relying solely on the Vulgate.
The Vulgate played a significant role in shaping the English language and how English speakers have read and understood Scripture through the ages. It contributed to the development of new English translations of the Bible, with Tyndale's version becoming the basis for most new translations, including the Great Bible of 1539, authorised by Henry VIII for the Church of England.
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The Bible was translated into English by Catholics in exile in France
The translation of the Bible into English has a long and complex history, with contributions from both Catholics and Protestants. While the Protestant reformer William Tyndale is credited with the first English translation of the New Testament in 1525, Catholics had been translating portions of Scripture into Old English as early as the 600s. One notable figure during this early period was Caedmon, a worker at an English monastery who composed pious paraphrases of the major stories of Genesis, Exodus, and the life of Christ in hymn form.
In the late 14th century, the "Wycliffe Bible" was produced, named after the English theologian John Wycliffe. While Wycliffe himself likely did not translate the entire Bible, he oversaw the work of several scholars associated with him. These "Wyclifite" translations were based on the Latin Vulgate and proved incredibly popular, boosting biblical literacy among certain segments of society. However, they were condemned and censured by English Church authorities due to their unauthorised nature and their use in denouncing the Catholic Church.
The early 16th century marked a significant divergence between Catholic and Protestant translations due to the Protestant Reformation. During this time, William Tyndale produced the first English translation of Scripture from Protestantism, which formed the basis for most new translations, including the Great Bible of 1539 authorised by Henry VIII for the Church of England.
In the early 17th century, two major Bibles in English emerged from Catholic and Protestant scholars. The first to be published in full was the Douay-Rheims Bible, completed in 1610. This version was named after the two French towns, Douai and Reims, where English Catholic scholars living in exile produced the Old and New Testament portions. The Douay-Rheims Bible relied primarily on the Latin Vulgate for translation but included footnotes referring to the Greek and Hebrew texts.
In addition to these landmark translations, Catholics and Protestants have continued to produce significant translations of the Bible into English and other languages. The 20th century, under the papacy of Pius XII, marked a notable period with his encouragement of renewed Catholic Biblical scholarship and vernacular translations based on original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.
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The King James Bible was influenced by the Rheims New Testament
The King James Bible, also known as the King James Version (KJV) or the Authorized Version (AV), is an Early Modern English translation of the Christian Bible. It was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611 under the sponsorship of King James VI and I. The Bible aimed to settle religious differences and solidify the King's power. It was the first 'people's Bible', and its poetic cadences and vivid imagery have had an enduring influence on Western culture.
The King James Bible was influenced by various sources, including earlier English-language translations and Jewish commentaries. Notably, it was also influenced by the Rheims New Testament, also known as the Douay-Rheims Bible. The Rheims New Testament was the primary source for many of the literal alternative readings provided in the marginal notes of the King James Bible.
The Douay-Rheims Bible, completed in 1610, was the work of English Catholic scholars living in exile in France. The New Testament was first published in 1582 in Reims, and the Old Testament was published in Douai. This version relied solely on the Latin Vulgate as its translation text but included footnotes referring to the Greek and Hebrew texts.
The Rheims New Testament was one of the sources consulted by the translators of the King James Bible, and it is specifically mentioned in the preface as one of the translations they criticized. Despite this criticism, the King James Bible translators still made use of it, and it influenced the final text.
In conclusion, the King James Bible was indeed influenced by the Rheims New Testament, among other sources. The Rheims New Testament was a significant contribution by English Catholic scholars, and its impact can be seen in the marginal notes and alternative readings of the King James Bible.
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The Roman Catholic Church did not give us the Bible
The early 20th century and the papacy of Pius XII marked a turning point in the history of Catholic Bible translations, not only in English but in all languages. In his 1943 encyclical, Divino afflante Spiritu, Pope Pius XII encouraged a revival of Catholic Biblical scholarship and allowed translations of the Bible in the vernacular to be based on the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, rather than relying solely on the Vulgate.
The first Catholic English Bible was the Douay-Rheims, which influenced the widely used King James Bible. The development of new English translations reached its symbolic peak in the early 17th century with two major Bibles in English from both Catholic and Protestant scholars. The first of these to be published in full was the Douay-Rheims Bible, completed in 1610. This version is named after the two French towns where English Catholic scholars living under exile in France produced both New and Old Testament portions of the Bible. The New Testament was first published in 1582 in Reims, and the Old Testament in Douai. The Rheims New Testament did not reconvert England to Catholicism, but it did leave an indelible mark on English Bible translation.
The Bible tells us to obey the Word of God and not go beyond the written Word. The problem with an elevated status of Roman Catholic church tradition is that it results in various justifications of its non-biblical teachings, such as prayer to Mary, purgatory, indulgences, penance, and works of righteousness.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Bible was not given to us by the Roman Catholic Church. The Old Testament came from the Jews, and the New Testament was recognised by Christians.
The first Catholic English Bible was the Douay-Rheims, which was completed in 1610.
Catholic Bibles retain seven books in their canon that are regarded as non-canonical in Protestant Bibles.
The translation of the Bible into languages other than Greek began as early as the 3rd century. The first translations were the "Old Latin" versions, also known as the Vetus Latina. The tradition of translating the Bible into vernacular languages reached its peak in the late 4th century with Saint Jerome's translation of older Latin manuscripts into the Latin Vulgate. The first English translations of the Bible were produced by Protestant scholars in the early 16th century, and the first Catholic English Bible was published in the early 17th century.
Some modern English translations of the Catholic Bible include the CTS New Catholic Bible, published in 2007, and the New American Bible Revised Edition, which is expected to be completed around 2025.
