Appendix A

Appendix – A - Timeilne:
Language Change, Bible Translations,
and the Common Man

The OT was originally written in the language of the people of that time, Hebrew and Aramaic. Septuagint- translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek, the language of the common people of the day. The New Testament was originally written in Koine' Greek, the universal language of the Roman Empire at that time. As the gospel spread through out the world the New Testament was translated into other languages
---Coptic - common language of Egypt
---Syriac -

As the Greek language diminished and Latin gained prominence the New Testament was translated into Latin. First into OL and in mid 4th century AD Jerome, Latin Vulgate. (Vulgate is from L vulgaris, mob, common man)

As English gained prominance, the Word of God was translated into the English language. Wycliffe made first c 1384 from the Latin Vulgate, Tyndale made the first from original languages, 1526-30 As can be seen God's word has been in English a very short time, in comparison to other languages.

It can be observed that due to language change other translations are required periodically, in order to keep God's word in the tongue of common people.

Developed by L. G. Butler, 4503 53rd Street, Lubbock, TX 79414 December. 1990