Wycliffe's Bible

Wycliffe's Bible refers to a sequence of Middle English Bible translations.

These translations were based on the Latin Vulgate, which was the standard text for Western Christianity. They appeared between approximately 1382 and 1395. This work is significant because it represents the earliest known literal translations of the entire Bible into the English language. For centuries, the history of these texts was surrounded by intense debate. Historians once believed these books were created specifically to promote the ideas of the theologian John Wycliffe. Other theories suggested they were made for Lollards to use in secret meetings. Today, scholars view these connections with more caution and nuance.

The translations are divided into two distinct textual families. The first is the Early Version (EV). This version is characterized by a highly literal approach to the Latin text. The translators often followed the exact word order and syntax of the Latin Vulgate. Because of this, the EV can sometimes be difficult to read or even unintelligible in English. Some scholars believe the EV served as a textual preparation for the second type of translation. This second type is known as the Later Version (LV). The LV is generally more idiomatic, meaning it uses more natural English phrasing. While the LV takes more liberties with the Latin, it was never accused of being misleading in the way later translations were.

There is much discussion regarding the specific people who produced these texts. While the name Wycliffe is central, he may not have written the entire sequence personally. Some evidence suggests a team of scholars worked on the project. This team might have included individuals like John Purvey or Nicholas Hereford. One surviving manuscript contains a note mentioning Nicholas Hereford. This suggests the translation process involved multiple contributors over time. Some theories propose that the Oxford Franciscans might have even been involved in the creation of the Early Version. The production of the text was a complex, collaborative effort rather than the work of a single author.

We can learn a great deal about these books from the surviving manuscripts. There are over 250 known Wycliffite manuscripts in existence today. However, only 20 of these are complete Bibles. Many of the remaining manuscripts contain only the New Testament. Some manuscripts are even more specialized, such as gospel harmonies or concordances. About 40 percent of the manuscripts include tables of lections. These tables provided lists of specific Scripture readings for use during the Mass. This indicates that the books were often used for professional religious purposes rather than just private reading.

The social use of these Bibles has also been re-evaluated by modern historians. In the past, it was often assumed these books were primarily for the "unlearned" or the poor. However, evidence shows that the production of these Bibles peaked during a time of sophisticated use by the clergy. Many manuscripts were highly decorated and intended for aristocratic or clerical patrons. Approximately 40 percent of the manuscripts were illuminated with beautiful art. These fancy copies were owned by high-ranking figures, including Henry VI and Henry VII. Some versions were even used in the prayer books of aristocratic nuns.

The technical process of the translation reveals the constraints of the era. The translators worked directly from the Latin Vulgate without access to the original Greek or Hebrew texts. They followed the arrangement found in the standard Paris Bible. The manuscripts also show the linguistic shifts occurring in the 14th century. Because Middle English was changing rapidly, the rigid Early Version eventually required the more flexible Later Version. Some manuscripts even combine books from both versions. This mixing shows that there was no single, uniform way that these texts were copied or distributed.

Beyond the Bible itself, the Wycliffite movement produced various forms of religious literature. This included the "Glossed Gospels," which were heavily supplemented with commentary. In these versions, the commentary could make up more than 90 percent of the total text. These glosses often explored multiple, figurative meanings within the scripture. Other associated works included the Floretum, which was a collection of historical interpretations. These various texts helped create a broad body of Middle English literature. They represent a major step in the development of the English language and religious study.