Wycliffe New Testament 1388: An edition in modern spelling, with an introduction, the original prologues and the Epistle to the Laodiceans [Hardcover]

William Cooper (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0712347283 | ISBN-13: 978-0712347280 | Publication Date: July 22, 2002

John Wycliffe's preaching and writing inspired his followers to translate the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English for the first time. Wycliffe believed that every person should have access to the Scriptures in their own tongue. These views brought into question the hierarchical practices of the Church, and when the text of the New Testament presented here appeared in 1388, its impact was so great that in 1401 a statute was issued banning it upon pain of death. This edition, published in association with the Tyndale Society, has been rendered into modern spelling so that over 600 years later the reader can enjoy this remarkable text.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. W. R. Cooper edited The New Testament 1526, translated by William Tyndale (British Library, 2000).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: British Library (July 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0712347283
• ISBN-13: 978-0712347280
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #870,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Modern Spelling OK but why modern grammar?, October 18, 2002

By 

J. Walker (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wycliffe New Testament 1388: An edition in modern spelling, with an introduction, the original prologues and the Epistle to the Laodiceans (Hardcover)

I bought this book even after finding out that it was in modern spelling. I can see that modern spelling would help make the reading of the Wycliffe New Testament easier. But what I do not like is the tampering with the wording of the text. Some of the grammar has been changed into "modern" form and some of the vocabulary has even been changed. Where the original has "clepid" this one says simply "called". Yet many of the Middle English words are retained and then glossed in the margin. Surely anyone interested in the Wycliffe New Testament can understand the meaning of "thou shalt" which in this "modernization" is given as "thou shall" which sounds horrible!! This author, he "am" wrong!!

50 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Why Modern Spelling?, September 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Wycliffe New Testament 1388: An edition in modern spelling, with an introduction, the original prologues and the Epistle to the Laodiceans (Hardcover)

This edition of Wycliffe's New Testament is advertsed as having contemporary spelling. It seems to me that anyone interested enough in Bibles and Bible versions to consider owning and reading a Wycliffe translation would probably prefer the original spelling rather than the modernized version. Perhaps the editor thought that potential customers would be deterred from buying this Bible unless it presented easier-to-read, updated English spelling in place of the slightly more challenging 14th century renderings. I would disagree. A classic such as this is owned for its historic significance a good deal of which is lost by playing into the hands of indolent readers.

I for one will not buy a copy. There are a couple of places where the person with a passion for different bibles and translations can get a Wycliffe NT in his exact words: try greatsite.com for a facsimile copy or buy an English Hexapla.

The whole trend in modern Bible versions is simplification, effortlessness and catering to those who don't consider the Bible a book worthy of serious deliberation and effort to understand. This edition seems another case in point.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Why, oh why?, April 3, 2007

By 

Hansu (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wycliffe New Testament 1388: An edition in modern spelling, with an introduction, the original prologues and the Epistle to the Laodiceans (Hardcover)

I am trying to think of a person who would be interested in an altered version of this translation. I am honestly drawing a blank. To me, the original language and spelling used are important. I look at this for its historical and literary value. I am not looking for the best translation ever made with updated spelling. If I want that, I have my preferences, and they are more modern. Their edition of Tyndale's New Testament didn't change the spelling. Why here?