The Earliest Bible Translation in English
John Wycliffe and friends translated the Bible into English in the late 1300s—the first complete English Bible. In the early 900s, Aldred added an Old English translation to the Lindisfarne Gospels—the earliest existing English translation of a portion of the Bible. But the first known translation of any part of the Bible into English was made by the Venerable Bede in the early 700s. As far as anyone knows, it no longer exists.
Bede was a monk, a scholar, and a prolific writer. He wrote commentaries on many of the books of the Bible, and his most famous book earned him the title, “The Father of English History.” At the end of his life, Bede began dictating his translation of the Gospel of John because “I do not want my boys to read a lie, or to work to no purpose after I am gone.” The next day he was very weak. His scribe, Wilbert, said, “Dear master, there is yet one chapter to do, but it seems very hard for you to speak.” “Nay, it is easy, take up thy pen and write quickly.” The scribe wrote on. “And now, father, there is just one sentence more.” |
Bede dictated it and said, “Write quickly.”
“It is finished, master.” “Aye, it is finished!” echoed Bede, and, singing a song of praise, he died, entering the presence of his Lord. Cuthbert, one of Bede’s disciples, said, “I never saw with my eyes or heard with my ears anyone return thanks as unceasingly to the living God.” |