Part of the break with the Catholic Church involved use of the Scripture. Protestants believed in the Bible as the only divine authority, and in the right of individuals to read the text (or at least hear it read) in their native language. Religion became more private, with personal Bible study recommended as part of one’s spiritual life. As noted, Luther’s translation of the complete Bible into German was published in 1534, but sections had been published since 1522. Various authors translated Luther’s High German into Low German, thereby spreading the text to many more readers. Between 1541 and 1550, the first Bibles in Swedish and Danish were published,
Handbook to Life in Renaissance Europe
But a Bible for Dutch Protestants did not appear until 1637.
At the beginning of the 16th century, printing a Bible translated into English was not permitted in England. William Tyndale (c. 1494-1536) moved to Antwerp and translated the Bible into English and was burned at the stake for his efforts. The English Bible by Miles Coverdale (1488-1568), printed on the Continent in 1535, was sold in England. Subsequently, church authorities in England asked him to create a new edition, which became known as the Great Bible (1539). Several humanistic scholars who had fled from England during the reign of Mary I (1516-58) moved to Geneva, where they produced the Geneva Bible (1553-58). This English translation was the accepted version for the remainder of the Renaissance. The Bishops’ Bible of 1568, lavishly illustrated with woodcuts, went through several editions. Finally, the King James Bible of 1611 became the standard English translation for nearly four centuries. Most of the text was based on that of Tyndale.
World History
