Knox's Translation of the Vulgate
Encyclopedia
The Holy Bible: A Translation From the Latin Vulgate in the Light of the Hebrew and Greek Originals is a Catholic
version of the Bible
in three volumes (later published in one volume editions) translated by Monsignor Ronald Knox
, the English theologian, priest, and crime writer. It is more commonly known as the Knox Version.
In 1936, Ronald Knox was requested by the Catholic hierarchies of England and Wales to undertake a new translation of the Vulgate
with use of contemporary language and in light of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. When the New Testament
was published in 1945, it was not intended to replace the Rheims version but to be used alongside it, as Bernard Griffin, the Archbishop of Westminster
noted in the preface.
With the release of the Knox's version of the Old Testament
in 1950, the popularity of translations based on the Vulgate waned as the Church authorities promoted the use of Bibles based primarily on Hebrew and Greek texts following the 1943 encyclical
Divino Afflante Spiritu
. The Knox Bible was, however, one of the approved vernacular versions of the Bible used in the Lectionary
readings for Mass from 1965 to the early 1970s along with the Confraternity Bible
, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner Revision), the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
, and the Jerusalem Bible
.
The style of the translation is in idiomatic English and much freer in renderings of passages than the Douay version. With the Deuterocanonical books, the interpretation of the passages was brought closer to the Septuagint. When the Latin appeared to be doubtful, the translation of the text was based on other languages, with the Latin translation placed in the footnote.
Templegate Publishers has produced a facsimile of the New Testament, (ISBN 0-87243-229-7). Baronius Press
has recently secured the rights for the work from the Diocese of Westminster and is currently in the process of producing a new complete edition of Monsignor Knox's translation.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
version 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...
in three volumes (later published in one volume editions) translated by Monsignor Ronald Knox
Ronald Knox
Ronald Arbuthnott Knox was an English priest, theologian and writer.-Life:Ronald Knox was born in Kibworth, Leicestershire, England into an Anglican family and was educated at Eton College, where he took the first scholarship in 1900 and Balliol College, Oxford, where again...
, the English theologian, priest, and crime writer. It is more commonly known as the Knox Version.
In 1936, Ronald Knox was requested by the Catholic hierarchies of England and Wales to undertake a new translation of the Vulgate
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
with use of contemporary language and in light of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. When 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....
was published in 1945, it was not intended to replace the Rheims version but to be used alongside it, as Bernard Griffin, the Archbishop of Westminster
Archbishop of Westminster
The Archbishop of Westminster heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, in England. The incumbent is the Metropolitan of the Province of Westminster and, as a matter of custom, is elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and therefore de facto spokesman...
noted in the preface.
With the release of the Knox's version 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...
in 1950, the popularity of translations based on the Vulgate waned as the Church authorities promoted the use of Bibles based primarily on Hebrew and Greek texts following the 1943 encyclical
Encyclical
An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Catholic Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop...
Divino Afflante Spiritu
Divino Afflante Spiritu
Divino Afflante Spiritu is an encyclical letter issued by Pope Pius XII on September 30, 1943. It inaugurated the modern period of Roman Catholic Bible studies by permitting the limited use of modern methods of biblical criticism. The Catholic bible scholar Raymond E...
. The Knox Bible was, however, one of the approved vernacular versions of the Bible used in the Lectionary
Lectionary
A Lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian or Judaic worship on a given day or occasion.-History:...
readings for Mass from 1965 to the early 1970s along with the Confraternity Bible
Confraternity Bible
Confraternity Bible is a somewhat broad term that refers to any edition of the Catholic Bible translated under the auspices of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine between 1941 and 1969. The Confraternity Bible is known, and appreciated, for the balance it strikes between accessibility and...
, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner Revision), the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition is an adaptation of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible for use by Catholics...
, and the Jerusalem Bible
Jerusalem Bible
The Jerusalem Bible is a Roman Catholic translation of the Bible which first was introduced to the English-speaking public in 1966 and published by Darton, Longman & Todd...
.
The style of the translation is in idiomatic English and much freer in renderings of passages than the Douay version. With the Deuterocanonical books, the interpretation of the passages was brought closer to the Septuagint. When the Latin appeared to be doubtful, the translation of the text was based on other languages, with the Latin translation placed in the footnote.
Templegate Publishers has produced a facsimile of the New Testament, (ISBN 0-87243-229-7). Baronius Press
Baronius Press
Baronius Press is a traditional Catholic book publisher with headquarters in London, England. It was founded in Glasgow, Scotland in 2003 by former St Austin Press editor, Ashley Paver and other young Catholics who had previously worked in publishing and printing...
has recently secured the rights for the work from the Diocese of Westminster and is currently in the process of producing a new complete edition of Monsignor Knox's translation.