Printing and Modern Bibles — Bible Translations

Martin Luther Translates the Bible into German

AD 1522-1534
A Visit With Jesus

Martin Luthers German New Testament appeared in 1522, followed by a complete Bible prepared with colleagues in 1534.

Full Account

Luther translated from Hebrew and Greek while consulting the Latin Vulgate and earlier German work. His forceful, idiomatic language sought to make Scripture understandable when read aloud by ordinary Germans. Revisions continued during his lifetime, showing that the translation was a sustained collaborative undertaking rather than a single finished act.

Historical Significance

The Luther Bible powerfully influenced German language, Protestant worship, and later vernacular translation.

People, Places and Sources