Italiano / Italian Bible History (3)

**List: Italian Ministry the Holy Bible ( la Sacra Bibbia ) Italian... "III.--VERSIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES IN THIS LANGUAGE.    The earliest Italian version now known to be in existence is that of Malermi or Malherbi, printed at Venice, 1471.   A translation is said to have been made at a still earlier period by Voragine, arch- bishop of Genoa; but although no MS. of this work is now extant, there is every reason to believe that it was merely a version of Comestor’s Historia Scholastica, an abridgment or synopsis of sacred history. Malermi was a Benedictine monk, and afterwards abbot of a monastery of the order of St. Benoit. Twenty-two editions of his version are mentioned by Le Long, nine before A.D. 1500, and the last in 1567.   It is a tolerably accurate translation of the Vulgate.   Another version, professedly executed from the original texts by Antonio Bruccioli, was published at Venice, 1532: it is well known, how- ever, that this version is little else than a mere translation of the Latin version of Pagninus, which it follows with much servility.   In 1579, this version had passed through eleven editions.   A revised edition, in which it was rendered conformable to the Vulgate, appeared at Venice in 1538.   Another revised and corrected edition was published at Geneva in 1562, for the use of Protestants, but Walchius and others regard this as an entirely new version.    We now come to the Italian version executed by Diodati, one of the most important translations of modern times.   Diodati was descended from a noble family of Lucca, and in his early youth enjoyed the advantages of the most careful instruction: his progress in learning was such, that, when only nineteen years of age, he was appointed Professor of Hebrew at Geneva.   At the Synod of Dort, in 1619, he gained so much reputation, that he was chosen, with five other divines, to prepare the Belgic "Confession of Faith."   He published his Italian version of the Scriptures at his own expense, and it is said to have occasioned him great pecuniary embarrassment.   It is written in the plain Lucchese dialect, and is very intelligible and clear, so that it is peculiarly suitable for circulation among the poorer classes of Italy.   The translation was made from the original texts, to which it adheres with great fidelity.   An important revised edition appeared in 1641."--The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition)   Samuel Bagster   [Info only: BCOF?]    "The necessity of furnishing supplies of the Italian Scriptures was first pressed on the attention of the British and Foreign Bible Society by the Rev. Mr. Terrot, chaplain at Malta, in 1808; and Diodati’s version was selected by the Society for publication.   The first edition appeared in 1809, and the success which attended it was considered as justifying the adoption of stereotype; accordingly plates were cast in 1810, from which several large impressions were executed.   With a view to an unrestricted circulation, the Society afterwards consented to publish [CHM note: cut here]. An edition of 4000 copies of the Italian Testament (Diodati) was printed by the Society, in Rome itself, in 1849; besides other...."--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: The BFBS's compromise in publishing Martini's RC text has been "cut" from above.]    "An important service to the cause of revealed truth has been rendered by the Foreign Translation Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, in a revised edition of Diodati’s Italian Bible (in 16mo.) carried through the press under their care in 1854.   This edition was throughout carefully corrected by comparison with the original Greek and Hebrew texts, the orthography modernised, and obsolete words and phrases exchanged for those in present use.   The addition of marginal references, with chronological and other tables, increased the value of this edition, the New Testament portion of which was speedily exhausted, and has since been reprinted (both in 8vo. and 16mo.) at the University press at Cambridge.    Of the results produced by the introduction of the Protestant Scriptures into Italy, little can at present be said.   But the political changes of which that country has been the recent seat, and which are yet in course of transaction--consequent upon events which have fixed upon it the attention of the civilised world, and have awakened the warmest sympathies of other nations in behalf of the Italian people--are full of hope and promise for the future.   It is only within the Sardinian territories that anything like a free circulation of the Word of God has hitherto been permitted by the authorities: elsewhere, the bigotry of the Romish Church, encouraged by the arm of the secular power, has forbid any attempt at the dissemination of the truth.   If the opposition to the introduction into that land of the Protestant Bible has been decided, the success achieved has been not less decided.   The liberal distribution of Bibles and Testaments among the Sardinian troops engaged in the Crimea, during the war of 1854-5, was productive of the happiest results.   Thousands of these men returned to their native land, bearing with them dearly-prized copies of the Sacred Volume, and their persuasions have induced great numbers of their comrades and friends to obtain the same precious treasure."--The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition)   Samuel Bagster   [Info only] ITALIAN.   DIODATI’S VERSION.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: n.d. John 1:1-14 correct (unigenito = "only begotten" @ John 1:14).] ITALIAN.   MALERMI’S VERSION.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: n.d. John 1:1-14 CT (vnigenito @ John 1:14).] ITALIAN.   MARTINI’S VERSION.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: n.d. John 1:1-14 CT (Unigenito @ John 1:14).]

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