Grace What Is It? (week 2)

Image via WikipediaWhen Alexander the Great made his conquest he left Greek as the common language for the world he conquered.  That act unified the ancient world and  long outlasted his empire.  By the forth century the Roman empire pushed Latin as the common language and many people no longer spoke or read Greek.  In 382 AD Pope Damascus commissioned Jerome to create a common translation in Latin (versio vulguta).



This version was not readily accepted at the time but eventually became the standard until the reformation in the 16th century.  Jerome started with the Old Testament by translating the Septuagint and other Greek works into Latin.  He soon decided to use Hebrew manuscripts in hopes of creating a truer translation.

This choice created some differences in his work and the Greek text other scholars of the time where using. For some scholars these differences caused hostility towards his new Vulgate version.

Though the centuries better historical material and methods were discovered to assist translators in  creating very reliable translations of the biblical writers.  Yet many of the choices made by translators are still influenced by the these early translations.

To get a copy of this weeks slides right click and save: http://blog21st.walkinginhispath.com/ftp/Grace_Week_2_What_Is_It.pdf



If you are interested in a deeper study of the words and concepts the writers of the bible used this is a great book to get you started.  Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.