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 VERSIONS

372

VERSIONS

for over a century. Only verbal improvements were the versions of Pierre de Besse (1608), Pierre Frizon (1621), and Boron (1647). By order of Louis XIII, Jacques Corbin edited his version of the Vulgate (Paris, 1643-61). A translation by Ren<> Benoist (Paris, 1566) savoured of Calviniam and aroused much controversy. Well known and widely read were the Latin -French editions of Calmet (Paris, 1707-16) and dc Carrieres (Paris, 1709-17); the latter gave out the French alone (1741), but it was not with- out errors. A version from original sources (Cologne, 1739; Paris, 1753, 1777, 1819) was the work of Le Gros. Another popular French-Latin Bible was put forth by de Vence (Paris, 1748, 17.50). It was re- vised and furnished with Carrieres's translation and a commentary after Calmet by Rondet (Paris, 1767-73; Nimes, 1779). A translation which v^ent through some six editions despite inaccuracies was published at Paris (1821-2) by de Genoude. Bourass6 and Jan- vier gave out a complete version at Tours in 1865. Arnaud published his translations at Paris (1881), but perhaps the most popular of the French versions is that of J.-B. Glaire (Paris, 1871-3), later edited with notes by M. Vigouroux. These complete versions but partially represent the extensive BibUcal work of the French Catholics.

The first and nearest approach to a national Prot- estant version for France was made (Serrieres, 1535) by Pierre-Robert Olivetan, Calvin's cousin. He was supposed on his own statement to have translated in- dependently, but it is clear that he used almost wholly the New Testament with the interlinear version of Pagninus. Corrected by Calvin, it was republished at Geneva in 1.545, and later in other editions, the principal one being the revision (1588) of the pastors of Geneva. This was supplanted by the recension of Osterwald (1744), an improvement in style, but a work replete with errors. Others differing but little from the Olivetan-Genevan versions were edited by Castalio (Basle, 1.5.55) and Martin (Amsterdam, 1707). A version from original sources, and accepted by the Oxford LTnivcrsity Press for national official use, was given out by Segond (Geneva, 1874; Nancy, 1877; and Geneva, 1879).

The Jansenists are represented in a New-Testament translation (Amsterdam, 1667) by Isaac Le Maistre de Sacy and Antoine Arnauld. The work contained many errors and the writers' bias appeared in fre- quent alterations. A version of the whole Bible was undertaken by de Sacy in 1666, but death intervened; it was completed by du Foss6 and Hure (Paris, 1682- 1706; Brussels, 1705-30; Nimes, 1781). Whilst the work was never censured as a whole, several of its New-Testament books were condemned by individual bishops. A Jewish Bible by S. Cahen, presenting both the Hebrew and the French with notes philologi- cal, etc., was issued at Paris (1831-51), but its text has been found incorrect and its notes often contra- dictory. A Rationalist Bible after the Hebrew and Greek by Ledrain appeared at Paris (1886-96).

German Veraions. — The history of Biblical research in Germany shows that of the numerous partial ver- sions in the vernacular some go back to the seventh and eighth centuries. It also establishes the cer- tainty of such versions on a considerable scale in the thirlconth and fnurl<-rnth centuries, and points to a complete Bible fif the tifleenlh in general u.se before the invention of printing. Of special interest are the five complete folio editions printed before 1477, nine from 1477 to 1522, and four in Low German, all prior to Luther's New Testament in 1522. They were made from the Vulgate, differing only in dialect and presenting v.ariant readings. Their worth even to this day has been attested by many scholars. De- serving notice as belonging to the same period are some fourteen editions of the Psalter and no less than ninety editions of the Epistles and Gospels for Sun-

days and Holy Days. On the authority of a Nurem- berg MS., Jostes (Histor. Jahrbuch, 1894, XV, 771, and 1897, XVIII, 133) estabhshes the fact of a com- plete translation of the Bible by John ReUach, O.P., of Constance (before 14.50), and thinks it was the first German version printed. A New Testament by Ber- inger (Speyer, 1526) was in part a correction of Luther's version. In 1527 another New Testament was put forth by Emser who worked from the Vulgate and an older version, likewise correcting Luther.

In 1.534 John Dietenberger, O.P., gave out a com- plete version at Mainz based on a iirimitive transla- tion with aid from Emser's New Testament and from the deuterocanonical books by Leo Juda. His agree- ment in places with Luther is due to the use by both of a common source. The Dietenberger Bible under- went frequent revision, and up to 1776 had fifty-eight complete editions. It was revised (1) by Caspar Ulenberg (Mainz, 1549, 1617; Cologne, 1630); (2) by the theologians of Mainz, i. e. Jesuits (1661, 1662, etc.), from whom it received the title of the Catholic Bible; (3) by Th. Erhard, O.S.B. (Augsburg, 1722, 6th ed., 1748); (4) by G. Cartier, O.S.B. (Constance, 1751); (5) by Ignatius Weitenauer (Augsburg, 1783- 89), whose version with notes was valued even by Protestants for its fidehty and literary exceOence. An important new translation of the Vulgate was published at Augsburg (1788-97) by H. Braun, O.S.B. This was revised by Feder (Ntirnberg, 1803) and by Allioli (Landshut, 1830, 1832). In successive editions the last named has almost wholly changed the original so that it is now known only by his name. It is much esteemed as a literary rendering and is widely read. An excellent version made from the Vulgate and compared with original sources was put fortfi by Loch and Reischl (Ratisbon, 1851-66). From original sources D. Brentano began and Th. A. De- rcser finished a version (Frankfurt, 1799-1828), with notes savouring of Rationalism. A second edition was emended by J. M. Scholz. This account includes only the most representative versions made by Ger- man Catholics.

Luther's Biblical translations, begun in 1522, when he issued his New Testament, and carried on to 1545, when he finished the deuterocanonical books and the first complete edition of his Bible, have retained a strong hold on German and other Protestants and by many are esteemed as little less than inspired. He saw to many corrections and revisions himself, and his work went through some ten editions in his own life- time. Though supposed to translate from the origi- nals, he made use of the Latin version of Lyra, the Hebrew-Latin interlinear of Pagninus, and an older German translation of the Vulgate whose order he retained. His renderings were often excessively free and at times he arbitrarily changed the sense of the original. The Swiss Zwinglians adopted such portions of Luther's work as had appeared before 1529. That year they added their own ver.<:ion of the Prophets and the deuterocanonical books by Leo Juda, the whole being called the Zurich Bible. In 1860-8 this work was revised and is still in use. An Anabaptist version was made by Hetzer (Worms, 1529), and Calvinist versions by Parens (1579) and by Piscator (Herborn, 1602-4). A Socinian Bible was given out by Crellius (Racovia, 1630). In the eighteenth century versions reflecting different behefs and doctrinal attitudes were put forth by Michaelis (1709), Moldenhauer (1774), Grynanis (1776), and Vogelin (17S1). Of .several nineteenth- century versions the most important is that of de Wette'and Augusti (Heiclelberg, 1S09-14). A com- plete revision by \\'ittc was published in 1S31-3 and later. It is considered a good translation but exces- sively literal.

A Jewish-German Bible (Old Testament) by Athias appeared in 1666. It was reproduced in the