(Continued from Page.1)

                                    Jerome enters the arena of translating manuscripts (382 AD)

In 382 AD Pope Damascus (Saint) requested Jerome to undertake a revision of the old Latin version. Jerome
complied with this request and thus produced the "Latin Vulgate," the official Bible of the Roman Catholic Church.22 

                             

1. What was the "Old Latin Vulgate?"
      The Old Latin Vulgate was known as the "Latin Vulgate" many years before the days of Jerome. (340-420 AD.) 
      It was translated from the "received text," also known later as the "Textus Receptus" and the Greek Vulgate
      (that which is popular)23  This text "prevailed in the Latin Church, previous to the introduction of the modern
      Vulgate of Jerome"24  In fact, this text is the text of the oldest Bible translation called the "Peshitta" (2nd.Century)25

2. Who was Jerome?
      Most learned of the early Church fathers of the Latin Church. He was saint Jerome (or Eusebius Hieronymus)
       340?-420? AD)
      a. Place of Birth
           Born in Strido, Dalmatia of a  wealthy family Encyclopedia Britannica Jerome, Saint / Early Life 
           b. Associations
           In Aquileia (Italy) he was linked with an ascetic elite—including  Rufinus, a writer and scholar, who translated
           in the 3rd-century. An Alexandrian theologian as Origen was. Encyclopedia  Britannica
           c. He was accused of being a Ciceronian
           A follower of the 1st.Century BC. Roman philosopher—rather than a Christian. Encyclopedia Britannica - Jerome
      f.  Admired Origen's exegesis
           Jerome spent almost three years (379–382 AD.) continuing his pursuit of scriptural studies. An enthusiastic
           disciple of Gregory of Nazianzus, Jerome also came to know Gregory of Nyssa and the theologian
           Amphilochius of Iconium at the Council of Constantinople (381). Under such influences he improved his
           knowledge of Greek and developed an admiration for  Origen's exegesis. He translated 14 of Origen's
           homilies (sermons) on Old Testament books into Latin. Here too he translated the church historian Eusebius' 
           Chronicon (Chronicles) and continued it to the year 378. Encyclopedia  Britannica - Jerome
      g. Jerome Translated
           He Translated two sermons of Origen on the Song of Solomon. Encyclopedia Britannica - Jerome 
      h. Revised Old Latin
           More importantly, he revised the Old Latin version of the Gospels on the basis of the best Greek manuscripts
           at his command. Encyclopedia Britannica - Jerome
      i.  Jerome defended Mary as a perpetual virgin
           He wrote a defense of the perpetual virginity of Mary, Jesus' mother (383) Britannica - Jerome
      j.  Translated from Eusebius
           Jerome's  biblical production in Bethlehem includes... translation and adaptation of Eusebius' 
                 Encyclopedia Britannica - Jerome
       k.  He used Origen's Hexapala
           Revision of the Old Latin version of the Septuagint based on Origen's Hexapala (an edition with the Hebrew
           text in Hebrew and Greek characters, and four different Greek versions arranged in six parallel columns)
           Encyclopedia Britannica - Jerome

3. What did Jerome use to "revise" the Old Latin? 
      History reveals that Jerome's Revised Vulgate is largely in agreement with two manuscripts that Eusebius had
      compiled for Constantine, when he produced the fifty (50) official Bibles for the Church. These two manuscripts
      we know today as, the Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus.26

                                      .

            "With the spread of Roman power Latin was carried to every part of the ancient world and become the
                            dominant tongue  of western Europe. Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Vol.15, p.432-4340
  
                          Note: By 392 AD. Theodosius went even further when he outlawed heathen worship. It now came under
                          penalty of death for any one to have any religious connection other than that of the established Roman Church.
                          Those considered heathen as well as those considered to be heretical in their doctrine were openly persecuted.
                          What a complete turn about of events!  By 484 AD. the cap stone to the whole Babylonish system became
                          complete, and the Dark Ages was coming upon the Church. (The Dark Ages lasted a 1000 years)
                          Man failed, but God DID NOT!

                            "If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny          
              Himself...and none can stay His hand." (2Tim.2:13, Heb.6:16,
                     Dan.4:35, Rom.9:20)
                                   _________________________________________________________________________________________________

                           God remained Sovereign and Providential, "watching" 
                               over His Word to perform it. (Jer.1:12)

              
Now the Church is in the "Dark Ages."

The "dark ages" or the "middle ages" was a dark time in Church History. It was the "cap stone of the whole Babylonish system...the Jeroboam system was complete."27  (Note: 1Kings.10 -12) This was a false system of Worship and false House that was just like the real. "Christianity had now became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire early in the 4th.century and for the next 1000 years it dominated philosophy and tolerated little opposition."
Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996

1. The time of the dark ages
      During the :dark ages" very little translation was attempted...the Word of God was locked up in the Latin
      tongue which was unknown to the common people.28 
2. The Roman Catholic Church was the only Church
      The "scriptures were used only to confirm what the fathers said, and if contradiction existed then the writings of
      the fathers were accepted above the authority of the scriptures."29

3.  God still preserved His Word
     Even though God's Word had been corrupted and locked into the Latin language, God remained Sovereign and
     Providential and watched over His Word. (Jer.1:12, Psa.121:1-8, Dan.4:35, Rom.9:19-20) He showed "himself
     strong (2Chron.16:9, 1Peter.3:12) in the behalf of them whose heart (were) perfect toward Him."
     a.  Nicholas Lyra (1279-1340 AD.)
           His work had profound influence on Martin Luther and helped "seed" the Reformation that would happen
           in 1517 AD.
    b.  John Wycliffe (1330 -1384 AD.)
          The "Morning Star of the Reformation." Wycliffe recognized scripture as the final authority, not the Catholic
          Church. He translated the Bible from Latin into English. Wycliffe "declared that people had the right to read
          the Bible and interpret it for themselves."30  God blessed Wycliffe because this is exactly according to
          the pattern. The people are the Priesthood and have responsibility to teach and interpret the Word of God.
            (Deut.17:18; 24:18; 31:9-11, 2Chron.15:3; 34:15, Neh.8:2, Mal.2:7, 1Peter.2:5-9, Rev.1-6; 5:10)
    c.  Jan Hus
          He widely preached Wycliffe's ideas in powerful sermons and was burned at the stake by the Catholic Church.31 
    d.  Martin Luther (1483-1546 AD.) 
          Wycliffe and Hus greatly influenced Martin Luther and he "set up the Bible as the sole source of Christian truth."32
          "Luther's conviction concerning the role of the Church, the authority of the scriptures, and the needs of the
          unenlightened masses, motivated him to light the torch of the Reformation."33 

                                                

Now Desiderius Erasmus places God's Word back into the
Greek language, without the "notorious" corruption

God was about to restore the Church as He had foretold by the prophets, (Acts.3:18-25, Rev.10:7) therefore He Sovereignly and Providentially used Erasmus to put the Word of God back into the Greek language without the corruption. This work of Erasmus was absolutely vital to the foundation for the reform that was about to take place.
"In spite of his humanistic tendencies Erasmus was clearly used of God to place the Greek New Testament in
print, just as Martin Luther was used of God to bring in the Protestant Reformation"34 "For in the very next year,
in the plan of God, the Reformation was to break out in Wittenberg"35 

1. Who was  Desiderius Erasmus? (The King James Defended - Edward F. Hills, Chap.8, p.194-196)
     a. His reputation
         (1)  Erasmus was a Scholar
               The most famous scholar and author of his day
         (2)  Erasmus was a writer
               One of the most prolific writers of all time.
         (3)  Respected Worldwide  
               There was no man in all Europe better prepared than Erasmus for the work of editing
               the first Greek New Testament text which became known as the "Textus Receptus.
     b. Erasmus edited the works of Jerome
          He translated, edited or annotated the works of the greatest names of the classical and patristic world. One
          of which was Jerome!

          Note: Erasmus knew ALL about  Jerome, and his text and rejected them!  He also
          knew about and published editions, "...the works of...Origen."
          (Compton Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996 "Erasmus")
          _____________________________________________________________________

          Modern scholars today say, that Erasmus did not know about Origen, Jerome, Sinaiticus or
          Vaticanus when he placed the Word of God back into Greek. Erasmus did know about
          Jerome's text and rejected it, because it was corrupt!

2. What manuscripts did Erasmus use.
     "It is well known also that Erasmus looked for manuscripts everywhere during his travels and that he borrowed
     them from everyone he could...Through his study of the writings of Jerome and other Church fathers, Erasmus
     became very well informed concerning the variant readings of the New Testament. (i.e. different from others of
     it's kind, varying from the norm, standard, type)
     a.  We have what Erasmus had
          Indeed almost all the important variant readings known to scholars TODAY were
          already known to Erasmus more that 460 years ago..."36   
     b. What did Erasmus use
          (1)  Erasmus used a 11th.century manuscript of the Gospels, Acts and Epistles
         (2)  He used a 15th.century manuscript of the Gospels
         (3)  He used a 12th.- 14th.century manuscript of Acts. and the Epistles
         (4)  He used a 15th.century manuscript of Acts and the Epistles
         (5)  He used a 12th.century manuscript of Revelation
          ______________________________________________________________

          Note: This is used by modern day scholarship to say that Erasmus used "late"
          manuscripts. This is the foundation (root) of their footnotes that say, "late manuscripts
          insert this verse."  The reason Erasmus used these manuscripts from the 11th. to the  
          15th.century, is because the earlier manuscripts had been corrupted. Therefore it is
          misleading to say Erasmus had only late manuscripts at his disposal.

3. The first edition of the New Testament Text (1516 AD.)
      This first addition of Erasmus was performed hastily and "was disfigured with a great number of typographical errors.
      These misprints, however were soon eliminated by Erasmus himself."37  Note: This is the "root" of the modern day
      scholars who say that the King James is "marred" with mistakes.


Now God's Word is restored back into the Greek language

Erasmus did it without the corruption of Origen, Eusebius and Jerome. Note the order of events that took place
after Erasmus completed his work.

1. The Printing Press was invented. (1450 AD)
      This allowed the Bible to be put into the hands of the common people where it belonged. (The New Testament
      Priesthood 1Peter.2:5-9, Rev.1:6; 5:10)  "Religious texts, once read ONLY by scholars, nobility and educated 38
      priesthood were now available to an ever - widening audience."Compton Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996

2. The Reformation. (1517 AD)
      God revealed to Luther that "the just shall live by faith,"  which has been called a turning point in History,
      separating the Church into Protestant and Catholic." Compton Interactive Encyclopedia, 96

3. Tyndale translates the Greek Text of Erasmus into English.(1492-1536 AD)    
      Tyndale was a English Biblical translator, religious reformer, writer and a "ripe Greek scholar"39  Tyndale met Martin
      Luther and espoused Reformation principles. (Note: Wycliffe translated from the Revised Latin of Jerome, which is
      interesting because, God still preserved His Word even amongst the corruption of Origen and Eusebius)
 
4. Then the Bible was reproduced to the masses
      This gave the opportunity for the people to read and interpret the Bible for themselves. (Wycliffe) This is no
      coincidence, this is the Sovereign, Providential hand of God watching over (hastening) His Word to perform it.
       (Jer.1:12)

                  "God who brought the New Testament text safely through the ancient and medieval 
                 manuscript person did not fumble when it came time to transfer this text to the modern
                           printed page."40   Now God's Word was in the hands of the people! 

                      
Now comes the Council of Trent (1545 - 1563 AD)

"By this time, (the time of Tyndale) the Catholic Church authorities...saw the Reformation movement spread from one country to another..."41  "It was unstoppable! "  Therefore the Roman Catholic Church called for the Council of Trent. (1545-1563 AD)

1. The purpose of this Council of Trent
      The Purpose was to Issue decrees to correct abuses to reaffirm ancient doctrines and traditions.42  (i.e. The
      doctrines of the spiritual decline of the Church into the "dark ages.")

2. The Council of Trent was to establish the official Catholic Bible
      This was the Revised Latin Vulgate of Jerome. (Eusebius, Origen)  "In 1546 the Council of Trent decreed that the
      Vulgate was the exclusive Latin authority for the Bible..."43  Some of the outcome, and much of the enforcement,
      of the Council of Trent was in the hands of the newly established religious order, the Society of Jesus. (the   
      Jesuits) Unlike the Benedictine monks or the Franciscan and Dominican friars, the Jesuits were specifically        
      dedicated to the task of reconstructing church life and teaching in the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation.
      They thus came to be called the “shock troops of the Counter- Reformation"44  "Their conscientious
       administrations removed much of the incentive to revolt."45

         Nevertheless God continued to restore His Church anyway!  (Review Phase 2)

A brief summary from 1517 AD. to 1881 AD.

The Word of God has now been established back into the Greek language, translated into English, and mass produced by way of the printing press to the people, without the corruption of Origen, Eusebius and Jerome. 

               
                          This continued from the Reformation until the 18th.century.
             The Protestants had their Bible and the Catholic's had their Bible.  

             In 1881 AD. a change was about to take place!                   
                              (Continued on Page.3)

Notes
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

14. Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, "Constantine"
22.  The Facts of the New Testament Criticism. The King James Defended, Edward F. Hills, p.119
23.  Hort's Introduction, p.138
24.  Dr. Fredrick Nolan - Integrity of the Greek Vulgate, pp.17-18
25.  The King James Defended - E.F. Hills, Chap.5, p.119 / Thompson chain reference Bible, #4220, p.181
26.  Burgon and Miller - The Traditional Text, p.163 / Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol.4, -.86 / Gregory - The Cannon and Text of the New Testament, p.345 / Dr.
       Ira M. Price - Ancestry of the English Bible, p.70 / A.T. Robinson - Introduction to the New Testament, p.180 / Dr. Phillip Scahff - Companion to Greek 
       Testament, p.115 / Dr. Scrivener - Introduction to New New Testament, Vol.pp.36-37
27.  Interpreting the Scriptures - K. J. Conner / K. Malmin
28.  Thompson Chain Ref. Bible - The origin and Growth of the English Bible, English Versions. p.181
29.  Interpreting the Scriptures - K. J. Conner / K. Malmin, p.31
30.  Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996
31.  Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia Jan Hus, 1996
32.  Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996
33.  Interpreting the Scriptures - K. J. Conner / K. Malmin, p.34
34.  The King James Defended, Chap.8, p.199 / Works of Luther - Philadelphia: Muhlenberg Press, 1932 Vol.6, pp.476-89
35.  The King James Defended - E.F. Hills, Chap.8, p.203
36.  The King James Defended - E.F. Hills, Chap.,8 (e), p.198
37.  The King James Defended - E.F. Hills, Chap.8, p.202
38.  The Priesthood belongs to the people, the Body of Christ, NOT the Scholar. (1Peter.2:5-9, Rev.1:6; 5:10, Deut.31:9-11)
39.  Thompson Chain Ref. Bible , F.C. Thompson, D.D., Ph.D
40.  The King James Defended - E.F. Hills, Chap.8 (f), p.199
41.  The Catholic Counter Reformation - Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996
42.  The Catholic Counter Reformation - Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996
43.  The Catholic Counter Reformation - Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996
44.  The History of Roman Catholicism, New Religious Order - Encyclopedia Britannica
45.  The Catholic Counter Reformation - Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996
.