The Middle Ages (approximately the 5th through 15th centuries) was a particularly dark period for those who wanted to read a Bible. The Roman Catholic Church was “married” to the Latin Vulgate and outlawed the translation of the Bible into any other language. This kept people ignorant of the Word of God – unless, of course, they read Latin.
However, at least regarding the English language, there were those who lamented such cruelty and corruption and did what they could to make the Bible comprehensible to the “common people.” Here is a brief look at 7 of these faithful English Bible translators.
Cædmon The Gift of Song
Cædmon, who died around A.D. 684, was a servant who worked in the stables at a Whitby monastery in northern England. He wasn’t a Bible translator in the technical sense. Yet, he did make truths of the Bible accessible to men and women in a memorable way.
It was the practice for everyone in the monastery to meet in the great hall for a meal at the end of the day. This included singing and harp playing. Whenever it was Cædmon’s turn, he would excuse himself by saying the horses needed looking after.
On one of these nights, as tradition has it, a heavenly visitor appeared to him and said, “Sing to me.” When Cædmon asked what was he to sing, the visitor said, “Sing of the beginning of created things.”
Cædmon began singing and was amazed by the beauty of the song he was singing. The next day, though the visitor had left, Cædmon’s new gift remained. He was persuaded to enter monastic life. Once doing so, a monk would read to him from the Latin Bible and translate its meaning into English.
Cædmon would convert the English into poetry, holding his audience spellbound as he sang about the truths of the Bible in the people’s native tongue.
Cædmon was one of England’s earliest poets, and his songs became the only “Bible” the people at that time would ever have.
Aldhelm and Egbert
These 2 Bible translators lived between 640 and 766. Aldhelm, the West Saxon abbot of Malmesbury, translated many of the Psalms into English, and the bishop Egbert translated parts of the Gospel into English.
Though not complete Bibles, these translations gave the “common people” of this dark period a slice of the Word of God they could study, meditate on, and learn from.
Bede “The Father of English History”
The Venerable Bede (673-735) was a monk, scholar, historian, and theologian. He wrote a book titled, The Ecclesiastical History of England, which earned him the title “Father of English History.”
Bede, who, too, lived in northern England, set out to write an English translation of John’s Gospel, which he dictated to a scribe. He did this at the end of his life, and illness had set in.
In fact, Bede was getting so frail that the scribe feared the world would lose this great man before the translation could be finished. The scribe shared his fear: “Dear master, there is yet one chapter to do, but it seems very hard for you to speak.” But Bede was up for the challenge: “No,” he assured his faithful assistant, “take up your pen and write quickly.”
Toward the end of the day, the scribe said: “There is still one verse to finish.” Bede replied: “Write quickly.” After translating the final verse from Latin into English, Bede leaned back on his pillow and sighed: “Aye, it is finished.”
He then breathed his last and entered into the presence of the One for whom he had so faithfully toiled
The King Alfred Bible Translation
The Saxon King Alfred (849-899) reigned while the Danes invaded northern England, destroying monasteries and libraries. Alfred struggled to protect his country, eventually securing the southern half of England.
His mother was a godly woman through whom Alfred gained a love of the Bible. He became a teacher and translator of the Scriptures. Alfred translated the Ten Commandments and placed them at the head of his laws for England.
He also translated the Psalms and a portion of the Gospels. His wish was,
“that all the freeborn youth of his kingdom should employ themselves on nothing till they could first read well the English Scriptures.”
Aldred The Priest and Ælfric The Abbot
Aldred was a priest of North Northumbria, and Ælfric was an abbot of Eynsham.
They both translated the Scriptures during the Norman Conquest (1066-1071). Aldred took a Latin manuscript of the Gospels and, between the lines, added a paraphrase in his regional dialect. Ælfric translated the first 7 books of the Old Testament and the Book of Job.
Heroes of Bible Translation
These 7 men are far from household names – even to those who study church history – but they certainly made an impact in the lives of believers.
At a time when the Holy Scriptures were being denied to the “common people” of England, these 7 men understood the great need of humanity for the Word of God. They knew in the deepest recesses of their souls that “man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
These 7 stepped into the gap the corrupt Church had created between it and the people, and did what they could to bring the light of God’s Word into the darkness of the times in which they lived.
Praise God that the names and accounts of these men have been preserved; we can only imagine how many other faithful translators are unknown to us today.
Though anonymous to us, no doubt they received the greeting, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” upon their arrival in Heaven! (Matthew 25:23)
Written by: David Ettinger
Sources
- originally posted on ettingerwriting.wordpress.com
- The Indestructible Book, by Ken Connolly
