Martin Luther primarily used Erasmus' second edition (1519) of the Latin New Testament with Greek during his monumental work of translating the Bible into German. This specific edition served as the foundational text for his transformative translation efforts.
The Source Text: Erasmus' Novum Instrumentum Omne
Luther's work was deeply rooted in scholarly textual criticism of his time. Rather than relying solely on the Latin Vulgate, which was the standard Bible translation in the Western Church for centuries, Luther leveraged the more recent and critically compiled Greek and Latin texts available.
Key aspects of the source text Luther utilized include:
- Erasmus' 1519 Edition: This was the second published edition of Desiderius Erasmus's Greek New Testament, often referred to as Novum Instrumentum Omne. It presented parallel columns of the Greek text and Erasmus's own revised Latin translation, along with extensive annotations.
- Greek and Latin Integration: The edition was crucial because it provided Luther with access to the original Greek text of the New Testament, allowing him to bypass potential inaccuracies or theological interpretations embedded in previous Latin translations. The Latin New Testament portion was also Erasmus's own updated version.
- Precursor to Textus Receptus: While not yet known by this name, Erasmus's Greek New Testament editions laid the groundwork for what would later become known as the Textus Receptus (Received Text), a dominant text-type for Protestant Bible translations for centuries.
The Translation Process and Collaboration
Luther's translation was not a solitary endeavor, nor was it a one-time event. His commitment to accuracy and clarity led him to continuous revision:
- Initial Translation: While residing at Wartburg Castle, Luther began his translation of the New Testament using Erasmus's 1519 edition. He worked diligently to render the text into clear, understandable German for the common people.
- Expert Assistance: After his time at the castle, Luther continued to refine and revise passages that he found obscure or difficult to translate accurately. For this crucial work, he sought the expertise of Phillip Melanchthon, a renowned Greek specialist. Melanchthon's insights were invaluable in ensuring the precision and fidelity of Luther's German rendition to the original Greek.
This collaborative and iterative process ensured that the resulting Luther Bible was not only groundbreaking in its accessibility but also deeply informed by the best scholarly resources available at the time.
Summary of Key Elements
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Source | Erasmus's second edition (1519) of the Latin New Testament with Greek and annotations |
| Language Focus | Original Greek text for the New Testament; revised Latin translation by Erasmus |
| Key Collaborator | Phillip Melanchthon (for revisions and Greek expertise) |
| Outcome | The German Luther Bible, pivotal for the Reformation and German language development |
Luther's choice of Erasmus's critical edition underscored his commitment to sola scriptura (scripture alone) and his desire to provide an authoritative yet accessible Bible for the German-speaking world.
