João Ferreira de Almeida
Encyclopedia
João Ferreira Annes de Almeida (ʒuˈɐ̃w̃ fɨˈʁɐjɾɐ ˈɐnɨʃ dɨ aɫˈmɐjdɐ) (1628–1691) was a Portuguese
Protestant pastor
; the eponymous Bible translation he began also goes by his name.
Ferreira de Almeida, born in Torres de Tavares, Portugal
, is best known for his translation of the Bible
into Portuguese
, which he began at the age of 16, and continued translating until his death. He translated the New Testament
completely and most books of the Old Testament
(Hebrew Scripture). The translation was completed by his friend, Jacob op den Akker.
He was a Dutch Reformed pastor and worked with churches in Java (at the time a Dutch colony
; modern-day Indonesia
), and also preached in Goa
on the Indian subcontinent (at the time a Portuguese colony, now part of India). Ferreira de Almeida died in Batavia
, Java. Little is known his life; the majority of facts come from the preface of his Bible translation http://www.sbb.org.br/interna.asp?areaID=59.
is most closely associated with Portuguese-speaking Protestants and is the most commonly used translation by Portuguese-speaking Protestant Evangelicals
, particularly in Brazil. His work is the source of many Bible versions, like the Edição Revista e Corrigida (Revised and Corrected Edition, published in 1948, is an update of other editions), the Edição Revista e Atualizada (Revised and Updated Edition, most based in newer manuscripts), published by Brazilian Bible Society and Portuguese Bible Society, Almeida Corrigida e Fiel (Almeida Corrected and Faithful), by Trinitarian Bible Society
of Brazil, and Edição Contemporânea de Almeida (Almeida's Contemporary Edition), by Editora Vida.
The main principle of translation used by Ferreira de Almeida was that of formal equivalence (following the syntax of the original text in the target language), and he utilized the Textus Receptus
as textual basis.
His Portuguese style is described as "classical and erudite" http://www.sbb.org.br/interna.asp?areaID=60; the Brazilian Bible Society states that Ferreira de Almedia sought to reflect both the form, style, and language register
of the original texts in his translation.
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
Protestant pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
; the eponymous Bible translation he began also goes by his name.
Ferreira de Almeida, born in Torres de Tavares, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, is best known for his translation of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
into Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, which he began at the age of 16, and continued translating until his death. He translated the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
completely and most books of the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
(Hebrew Scripture). The translation was completed by his friend, Jacob op den Akker.
He was a Dutch Reformed pastor and worked with churches in Java (at the time a Dutch colony
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
; modern-day Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
), and also preached in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
on the Indian subcontinent (at the time a Portuguese colony, now part of India). Ferreira de Almeida died in Batavia
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, Java. Little is known his life; the majority of facts come from the preface of his Bible translation http://www.sbb.org.br/interna.asp?areaID=59.
Bible Translation
Ferreira de Almeida's translation of the BibleTranslation of the Bible to Portuguese
The Book of Ecclesiastes was translated into Portuguese by Damião de Góis in 1538. The Book of Nehemiah was translated by Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil. For the most part, however, the Bible remained relatively untranslated to Portuguese...
is most closely associated with Portuguese-speaking Protestants and is the most commonly used translation by Portuguese-speaking Protestant Evangelicals
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, particularly in Brazil. His work is the source of many Bible versions, like the Edição Revista e Corrigida (Revised and Corrected Edition, published in 1948, is an update of other editions), the Edição Revista e Atualizada (Revised and Updated Edition, most based in newer manuscripts), published by Brazilian Bible Society and Portuguese Bible Society, Almeida Corrigida e Fiel (Almeida Corrected and Faithful), by Trinitarian Bible Society
Trinitarian Bible Society
The Trinitarian Bible Society was founded in 1831 "to promote the Glory of God and the salvation of men by circulating, both at home and abroad, in dependence on the Divine blessing, the Holy Scriptures, which are given by inspiration of God and are able to make men wise unto salvation through...
of Brazil, and Edição Contemporânea de Almeida (Almeida's Contemporary Edition), by Editora Vida.
The main principle of translation used by Ferreira de Almeida was that of formal equivalence (following the syntax of the original text in the target language), and he utilized the Textus Receptus
Textus Receptus
Textus Receptus is the name subsequently given to the succession of printed Greek texts of the New Testament which constituted the translation base for the original German Luther Bible, the translation of the New Testament into English by William Tyndale, the King James Version, and for most other...
as textual basis.
His Portuguese style is described as "classical and erudite" http://www.sbb.org.br/interna.asp?areaID=60; the Brazilian Bible Society states that Ferreira de Almedia sought to reflect both the form, style, and language register
Register (sociolinguistics)
In linguistics, a register is a variety of a language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting. For example, when speaking in a formal setting an English speaker may be more likely to adhere more closely to prescribed grammar, pronounce words ending in -ing with a velar nasal...
of the original texts in his translation.
Editions
- First edition of the New Testament, in 1681.
- Second edition of the New Testament, in 1693.
- Third edition of the New Testament, in 1711.
- A Biblia Sagrada. contendo o Velho e o Novo Testamento (The Holy Bible with the Old and New Testament) - 1821, 1848, 1850
- 1911
- Ferreira de Almeida Atualizada (1948)