The Medieval Bible — Vernacular Translations

Medieval German Bible Translations

Eighth-fifteenth centuries
A Visit With Jesus

German-speaking Christians produced vernacular biblical texts long before Luther's sixteenth-century translation.

Full Account

Early material includes glosses, Gospel harmonies, and poetic treatments. Later medieval manuscripts contained larger portions and complete Bibles, generally translated from the Latin Vulgate.

Printed German Bibles also appeared before Luther. Their language and quality varied regionally, and they lacked the influence later gained by Luther's translation from Hebrew and Greek sources.

Historical Significance

The tradition demonstrates continuity between medieval vernacular Scripture and the greater expansion of German Bible reading after printing and the Reformation.

People, Places and Sources