The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-07-11
For the JefTersonIan.
The Bible and its TranSlatiOnS.
(ConcLnded.l

THE Latin Bible, or Vulgate, was first
printed on the continent of Europe in
1462; the Old Testamentin Hebrew 1888,
and the New Testament in Greek about
1913. Tyndale's translation followed in
about eight years afterwards. Ten thou
sand copies of the New Testament were
imported into England, in the space of
two years, and sold rapidly. 1t is un-
doubtedly the best translation, except
King Jamess which is now universally
allowed to be the best, both for perspicui-
ty, simplicity, and propriety of idiom; but
it may be truthfully maintained, that its
style, purity, and terseness Of sentiment,
has not been in the least spoiled, by the
high honor given to the Great Ytsion.
The following is specimen of Tyndale's
translation =
And marke'. A Certayne Lawere stade
vp' and tempted hym sayinge: Master
what shall do to inherit eternall lyfe?
He sayde vnto him: What VS. written in
the lave? How redest thou? And he
answered and sayde: Thou shalt love thy
lode god wyth all thy hert' and with all
thy soule' and with all thy strengthe' and
with all thy mynde: and thy neighbor as
thy life. And he sayd unto hym: Thou
hast answered right. This do and thou
shalt live. lie willynge to instife hym
sylfe' sayde vnto Jesus: Who Us then
my neighbor?
Jesus answered and sayde: A certayne
man descended from Jerusalem into Jeri-
cho'. And fell into the handles off thieves
whych robbed hym off his raymcnt and
wounded hym' and departed levynge him
halle deed. And yet chaunsed that there
came certayne presto that same waye'
and save bym' and passed by. And lyke
wyse levite' when he was come neye to
the place went and loked on hym, and
passed by When certayne Samaritane
as he iorneyed cam neye vnto hym aud
behelde hym, and had compassion on hym,
and cam to hym, and bounde vppe hys
wondes, and poured in wyne and oyle, and
layed him on his breaste, and brought
hym to common hostry, and 'drest him.
And on the morowe when he departed he
toke out two pence, and gave them to the
host and said vnto him: Take care Of him,
and whatsoever thou spcndest above this,
when | come agayne | will recompcnce
the. Which nowe of these thre thynkest
thou was neighbour unto him that fell
into the thieves handles? And he answer
ed: He that showed mercy on hym. Then
sayd Jesus vnto hym: Goo and do thou
lyke wyse.
Tyndale's New Testament appeared, as
we have said, in 1926, and was followed
by Coverdale's in 1885. 1t was printed
at Zurich, because Miles Coyerdale was
obliged to fly from his native country,
and dwell there. He was a native of
Yorkshire, and to him belongs the honor
oil first translating the whole Bible from
the original tongues. 1t was printed in
double columns, folio.
Matthew's Bible appeared in 153I.-
But John Rogers was undoubtedly the
author. The name Thomas Matthew,
from which it derives i its name, is hcti
tious.
John Rogers died iu the reign Of Queen
Mary.
Cranmer's, also called the Great Bible,
appeared in 1889. 1t was printed in
large folio This translation was by many
persons, Coverdale being the chief. The
preface was written by Cranmer, then
archbishop of Canterbury, and the whole
work, perhaps Published ID his name