Customer Reviews

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

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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!!

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.

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?

While the Wycliffe translation of the Bible was very important to church history and the beginning of the renascence, it is important to know something before stating this is a better or more accurate translation. Wycliffe actually could not read or speak Greek or Hebrew. This version was translated from the Latin Vulgate. That was what the Roman Catholic church was using at the time. So while this was the first version of the Bible available to the laymen in England, it is not based on older or more accurate texts.

As to publishing quality, I have to repeat the comments that this is excellent workmanship, and is a credit to the publisher.

And as to the preference of original spelling over modern, I enjoy both. I own the same author's excellent Tyndale New Testament in the original spelling and love it. I do not find that the spelling gets in the way of comprehension. I ordered this modern spelling edition simply because Amazon didn't seem to have the original spelling version. I can consult the original spelling on-line anyway if I feel deprived at any time. I don't feel that modern spelling is a fatal error.

As to the accuracy of the translation, this is an English translation of the Latin Vulgate, with all its errors and additions over the years. For accuracy to the autographic text, translation from the much older Greek manuscripts is much preferable. However, the Bible is designed, like NASA space capsules, with redundant systems, which render it resistent to significant alteration. If you're a Protestant, you're going to read this and say, "That's the Bible!" Yes, as only one example, where we read "repentance" Wycliffe, from the Vulgate, will say "penance", a material alteration of the truth of Scripture. But read it, and with all the alterations, the Truth is there, unaltered. The parts may change, but the whole speaks eloquently of the truth of Christianity centered on a personal relationship between individual and God, salvation coming from God, not the church. If all we had was this admittedly flawed, and all translations are flawed, version, our theology would be unaltered. But let us not speak of this as a more accurate translation than others. It is not, but it is excellent.

The importance of this translation is that it was the first translation of the Bible into English by anyone! Translating it transformed the theology of Wycliffe, inspiring him to organize the Lollards to travel throughout England, actually reading the Holy Scripture to the population, so they could judge the truth for themselves. The whole transformation of England into a protestant nation can be traced to this man. And the continuing journey toward Truth of the Catholic church can be traced to the subversive acts of this man. It's too bad, that like Martin Luther, his rhetoric was so harsh and vitriolic that it completely shut the door to any reasonable discussion of the issues of concern, and instead, pitted groups of Christians against each other in deadly conflict that made Roman persecution look like a game of checkers. So historically, this is a much more significant translation than the King James Bible of 1611.

I just wanted to say I absolutely treasure this New Testament. Currently, I have started to go through it and add notions to my KJV Bible. Jesus is truly exalted in this edition and I am so in love with it; just like the people of long ago who were not willing to give it up; just like people not giving up the KJV today. I love Bibles and truly, to me, this is an ultimate treasure for it enables us to go back a step even further as well. I am grateful for the efforts of Cooper to make it easier for me to read. There are two places on line where you can read the Wycliffe, one is also an easier edition. I'll be looking for the complete Bible if they do eventually publish it. I hope I helped you to decide that this is a must have for any God seeker. Go online and compare Philippians Chapter 2, and you may decide that this is worthy of some time. Or the last passage of Jude.
God bless you all in Jesus' Name.

The other reviewers have nit picked this volume because of the word style changes, but make little if any comment on the scripture as to the "spirituals" (i.e., the spiritual aspects). Many of the verses in the King James must be translated "colorfully" or with a hint of obscurity because they generate confusion but are clarified here, PRAISE GOD! I have compared this book to the original Wyclif of the English Hexapla published by Samuel Bagster in England. I have not compared every word, but those which have been compared reveal this New Testament is accurate, and TRUTH (i.e., POWER). This book will help reveal the mysteries of the scriptures to you and HELP everyone come to know WHY Wycliff and his followers faced death for disseminating this material. This book puts the power of the word where it ought to be, in the hands of the believers and not the pastoral elite. BUY THIS BOOK! The "church" for years has created a dependency on them and not the word--just like Caiaphas, just like the Pharisees! The Phariseeic spirit in the church today is rampant and YES this text will throw down that spirit of evil and bring you closer to Jesus who is the word (John 1), and Jesus to you! I amazed at the self appointed editors who throw stones at this book for its "modernization". This "modernization" is NOT like a living bible or NIV feel good, this is the word. Compared to the King James which I highly revere this book unmasks the political creation of even the King James. Yes, even the King James has politically inspired softening of the truth of the word. There is GREAT power in the word and you WILL find it here if you read it. Again, BUY this book!

I am very impressed by this bible's simplicity to read while maintaining accuracy. Also, the book is surprisingly high quality print,paper,and binding, all done in Italy. If you are interested in a Bible more true to the original manuscripts than the 'King James' then this is for you!