When we deal in partial truths it is important that it is not done with an intent to deceive. While it is indeed true that some vernacular translations were banned to all but the clergy it was not a blanket prohibition. The Church, with its teaching authority mandate, had a duty to ensure that all vernacular translations were accurate and were published without the heretical margin notes that were supporting many heretical movements of the day. Compounding this was the very real situation where there were no written languages for the many, many languages and dialects spoken across Europe and no one literate in them to benefit from a vernacular language had there been a suitable vernacular Bible available.
Lastly, the notion that vernacular Bibles were a Protestant invention or a product of the Reformation is preposterous. Only the presumption that anyone or everyone can assume the authority to accurately interpret and translate the Bible is.
Peace be with you
“The Church, with its teaching authority mandate, had a duty to ensure that all vernacular translations were accurate and were published without the heretical margin notes that were supporting many heretical movements of the day.”
Sorry, but this simply is not true. The first translation of the NT made by Tyndale was very accurate, and had no notes. The picture I posted was a photocopy of an original.
The prohibitions were against commoners reading vernacular translations. A wealthy person could get Wycliffe’s translation approved, but the same pages in the hand of a commoner was unacceptable.
The argument the Catholic Church made was that commoners couldn’t understand the subtlety of scripture, and thus needed the priest to tell them what it meant. It was a matter of policy.
“Compounding this was the very real situation where there were no written languages for the many, many languages and dialects spoken across Europe and no one literate in them to benefit from a vernacular language had there been a suitable vernacular Bible available.”
Odd. That didn’t stop Luther or Tyndale. They made it happen because they WANTED to, and they had a HUGE market.