Vulgate: Difference between revisions

The '''Vulgate''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|ʌ|l|g|eɪ|t|,_|-|g|ə|t}}; also called {{lang|la|Biblia Vulgata}}, {{IPA-la|ˈbɪbli.a wʊlˈɡaːta| lang}}) is a late-4th-century [[Bible translations into Latin|Latin translation]] of the [[Bible]].

The Vulgate is largely the work of [[Jerome of Stridon]] who, in&nbsp;382, had been commissioned by [[Pope Damasus&nbsp;I]] to revise the {{lang|la|[[Vetus Latina]]}} [[Gospels]] used by the [[Diocese of Rome|Roman Church]]. Later, on his own initiative, Jerome extended this work of revision and translation to include most of the [[books of the Bible]]. The Vulgate became progressively adopted as the Bible text within the [[Western Church]]. Over succeeding centuries, it eventually eclipsed the {{lang|la|Vetus Latina}}. By the 13th&nbsp;century it had taken over from the former version the designation {{lang|la|versio vulgata}}<ref name="LewisShort">{{Cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0059:entry=vulgo2|title=A Latin Dictionary {{!}} vulgo|last1=T. Lewis|first1=Charlton|author-link=Charlton Thomas Lewis|last2=Short|first2=Charles|website=www.perseus.tufts.edu|access-date=5 October 2019}}</ref> (the "version commonly used") or {{lang|la|vulgata}} for short. The Vulgate also contains some ''Vetus Latina'' translations which Jerome did not work on.

Prologues written by Jerome to some of his translations of parts of the Bible are to the [[Pentateuch]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Genesis – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=214|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605171531/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=214|archive-date=5 June 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> to [[Joshua]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Joshua – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=217|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110113021/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=217|archive-date=10 November 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> and to [[Books of the Kingdoms|Kings]] (1–2 Kings and 1–2 Samuel) which is also called the ''[[Galeatum principium]]''.<ref name="bombaxo.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=218|title=Jerome's "Helmeted Introduction" to Kings – biblicalia|website=www.bombaxo.com|access-date=26 June 2017}}</ref> Following these are prologues to Chronicles,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Chronicles – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=220|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803043705/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=220|archive-date=3 August 2014|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> Ezra,<ref name="Jerome's Prologue to Ezra – biblica">{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Ezra – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=222|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605194417/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=222|archive-date=5 June 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> Tobit,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Tobias – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=223|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605202531/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=223|archive-date=5 June 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> Judith,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Judith – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=224|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208131926/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=224|archive-date=8 December 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> Esther,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Esther – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=225|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204113212/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=225|archive-date=4 December 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> Job,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Job – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=228|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208003644/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=228|archive-date=8 December 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> the [[Gallican Psalms]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Psalms (LXX) – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=229|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204000922/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=229|archive-date=4 December 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> Song of Songs,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to the Books of Solomon – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=231|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203235652/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=231|archive-date=3 December 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> Isaiah,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Isaiah – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=232|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208000012/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=232|archive-date=8 December 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> Jeremiah,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Jeremiah – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=233|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231002043/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=233|archive-date=31 December 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> Ezekiel,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Ezekiel – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=234|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231092906/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=234|archive-date=31 December 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> Daniel,<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Daniel – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=235|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101063508/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=235|archive-date=1 January 2014|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> the minor prophets,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to the Twelve Prophets – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=236|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605173410/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=236|archive-date=5 June 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> the gospels.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to the Gospels – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=237|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110154542/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=237|archive-date=10 November 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> The final prologue is to the [[Pauline epistles]] and is better known as {{lang|la|Primum quaeritur}}; this prologue is considered to have not been written by Jerome.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=238|title=Vulgate Prologue to Paul's Letters – biblicalia|website=www.bombaxo.com|access-date=26 June 2017}}</ref><ref name="Scherbenske 2013 183" /> Related to these are Jerome's ''Notes on the Rest of Esther''<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Notes to the Additions to Esther – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=226|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014942/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=226|archive-date=3 December 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref> and his ''Prologue to the [[Latin Psalters#Versio juxta Hebraicum|Hebrew Psalms]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome's Prologue to Psalms (Hebrew) – biblicalia|url=http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=230|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001713/http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=230|archive-date=3 December 2013|access-date=26 June 2017|website=www.bombaxo.com}}</ref>

[[File:Gutenberg_bible_Old_Testament_Epistle_of_St_Jerome.jpg|alt=|thumb|293x293px|First page of the first volume of the Gutenberg Bible: the [[Jerome's epistle to Paulinus (Gutenberg Bible preface)|epistle of St Jerome to Paulinus]] from the University of Texas copy. The page has 40 lines.]]

[[Alcuin of York]] oversaw efforts to make a Latin Bible, an exemplar of which was presented to [[Charlemagne]] in&nbsp;801. Alcuin's edition contained the Vulgate version. It appears Alcuin concentrated only on correcting errors of grammar, [[orthography]] and punctuation. "Even though Alcuin's revision if the Latin Bible was neither the first nor the last of the [[Carolingian period]], it managed to prevail over the other versions and to become the most influential edition for centuries to come." The success of this Bible has been attributed to the fact that this Bible may have been "prescribed as the official version at the emperor's request." However, [[Bonifatius Fischer]] believes its success was rather due to the productivity of the scribes of [[Tours]] where Alcuin was abbot, at the [[Basilica of Saint Martin, Tours|monastery of Saint Martin]]; Fischer believes the emperor only favorised the editorial work of Alcuin by encouraging work on the Bible in general.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Linde|first=Cornelia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RxjGBwAAQBAJ|title=How to correct the Sacra scriptura? Textual criticism of the Latin Bible between the twelfth and fifteenth century|publisher=Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature|year=2011|isbn=978-0907570226|series=Medium Ævum Monographs 29|location=Oxford|pages=39–41|chapter=II.2 Medieval Editions}}</ref>

"Althought, in contrast to Alcuin, Theodulf [of Orleans] clearly developed an editorial programme, his work on the Bible was far less influential than that of hs slightly older contemporary. Nevertheless, several manuscripts containing his version have come down to us." Theodulf added to his edition of the Bible the Book of Baruch, which Alcuin's edition did not contain; it is this version of the Book of Baruch which later became part of the Vulgate. In his editorial activity, on at least one manuscript of the Theodulf Bible (S Paris, BNF lat. 9398), Theodulf marked variant readings along with their sources in the margin of the manuscripts. Those marginal notes of variant readings along with their sources "seem to foreshadow the thirteenth-century ''[[Correctories|correctoria]]''."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Linde|first=Cornelia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RxjGBwAAQBAJ|title=How to correct the Sacra scriptura? Textual criticism of the Latin Bible between the twelfth and fifteenth century|publisher=Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature|year=2011|isbn=978-0907570226|series=Medium Ævum Monographs 29|location=Oxford|pages=41–2|chapter=II.2 Medieval Editions}}</ref> In the 9th&nbsp;century the ''Vetus Latina'' texts of Baruch and the Letter of Jeremiah were introduced into the Vulgate in versions revised by [[Theodulf of Orleans]] and are found in a minority of early medieval Vulgate ''[[wiktionary:pandect#Noun|pandect]]'' bibles from that date onward.<ref name="Bogaert 2005 286–342" />

To make a text available representative of the earliest copies of the Vulgate and summarise the most common variants between the various manuscripts, [[Anglican]] scholars at the [[University of Oxford]] began to [[Oxford Vulgate|edit the New Testament]] in&nbsp;1878 (completed in&nbsp;1954), while the [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictines]] of Rome began [[Benedictine Vulgate|an edition of the Old Testament]] in&nbsp;1907 (completed in&nbsp;1995). Their findings were condensed into [[Stuttgart Vulgate|an edition of both the Old and New Testaments, first published at Stuttgart in&nbsp;1969]], created with the participation of members from both projects. These books are the standard editions of the Vulgate used by scholars.<ref>{{Cite journal|volume=28|issue=1|pages=56–58|last=Kilpatrick|first=G. D.|title=The Itala|journal=[[The Classical Review]]|series=n.s.|year=1978|jstor=3062542|doi=10.1017/s0009840x00225523}}</ref>

It contains two Psalters, the ''[[Gallicanum]]'' and the ''[[juxta Hebraicum]]'', which are printed on facing pages to allow easy comparison and contrast between the two versions. It has an expanded [[Biblical apocrypha|Apocrypha]], containing Psalm&nbsp;151 and the Epistle to the Laodiceans in addition to&nbsp;3 and&nbsp;4&nbsp;Ezra and the [[Prayer of Manasses]]. In addition, its modern prefaces in Latin, German, French, and English are a source of valuable information about the history of the Vulgate.

The ''[[Nova Vulgata]]'' (''Nova Vulgata Bibliorum Sacrorum Editio''), also called the Neo-Vulgate, is the official Latin edition of the Bible published by the [[Holy See]] for use in the contemporary [[Roman rite]]. It is not a critical edition of the historical Vulgate, but a revision of the text intended to accord with modern critical Hebrew and Greek texts and produce a style closer to Classical Latin.<ref>{{Cite journal|volume=25|issue=1|pages=67–81|last=Stramare|first=Tarcisio|title=Die Neo-Vulgata. Zur Gestaltung des Textes|journal=Biblische Zeitschrift|year=1981|doi=10.30965/25890468-02501005}}</ref>