A Book Against Books -BY AWAKE! WRITER IN ITALY

The Bible in Common Languages

The history of the Index reveals that of all "infected books," one in particular worried ecclesiastical authorities-the Bible in the common tongue.  In the 16th century," approximately 210 editions of whole Bible or New Testaments"  were listed by the Indexes, explains specialist Jesus Martinez de Bujanda.  During the 16th century, Italians were known as enthusiastic readers of the Bible.  Yet, the Index, with its rigorous prohibition of the Scriptures in the vernacular, radically altered this nation's relationship with God's Word.  "Forbidden and removed as a source of heresy,in the minds of Italians the Holy Scriptures ended up being confused with the writings of heretics," says Fragnito, who adds:  "The way of salvation for Catholic populations of southern Europe was through the catechism,"  and "a childish people was preferred to a religiously mature people." 

Only in 1757 did Pope Benedict XIV authorize the reading of 'vernacular translations of the Bible approved by the Apostolic See.'  A new Italian version, based on Latin Vulgate, could thus finally  be prepared.  In fact, Italian Catholics had to wait until 1958  to receive their first complete Bible translation based directly on the original languages.  

Today, says Fragnito, particularly non-Catholics are busy "circulating the Scriptures everywhere."  Among the most active are undoubtedly  Jehovah's Witnesses, who have distributed  more than four million copies of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in Italian.  They have thus helped to rekindle a love for God's Word in the hears of hundreds of thousands of people.  (Psalm 119:97) Why not become acquainted with this extraordinary book? 

Next time: THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT -DOES GOD BLESS US WITH RICHES?

From the Awake!  magazine