[yankeedame]

An excellent rebuttal!

I would also add that the RCC--and the secular rulers of kingdoms-- discouraged and/or forbade the Bible in the vernacular that quickly became obvious in the early years of the 16th century - the sudden and widespread appearence of "strawberry preachers" ,as they were called in Britain. Suddenly every man became a Doctor of Divinity and Biblical authority. Fully certain that his interpretation of Scripture was the only way, even to the extent to questioning not only the validity of popes, but kings (and private property, monogamy, etc.) as well.

The Bible is/can be a complicated work. Reluctance to have this work printed in the language of "the People" was driven not by pettiness -- a convenient myth -- but to give order to religious credo, and explanation to its contents.

[DManA]

Nostalgic for the good old days of kings and dukes?

Fully certain that his interpretation of Scripture was the only way, even to the extent to questioning not only the validity of popes, but kings

You stumbled on the real reason the elite were desperate to keep the bible out of peons' hands.

[mamelukesabre]

It was frowned upon to translate it out of latin simply because they knew that if the bible were to be translated into a new language, then a translation from that into another language, then from that language into a third language...pretty soon you’d have a bible that bears no resemblance to the original greek and hebrew versions. Latin was the universal language and it was decided that the translations should be halted there.

It was not a conspiracy. It had a very simple and honest intent. And frankly, I agree with it. Since latin is no longer the universal language and english is, I would argue that all translations after the king james version should be destroyed...or at least denounced as inferior.