Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 38:151 (Jul 1881)
Article: Polyglot Bibles In The “John Carter Brown Library”
Author: J. C. Stockbridge

BSac 38:151 (July 1881) p. 578

Polyglot Bibles In The “John Carter Brown Library”

Rev. J. C. Stockbridge

In an Article published in the Bibliotheca Sacra, April 1876, the writer gave a somewhat extended account of the library of the late Hon. John Carter Brown of Providence, R.I. There was a brief paragraph in the Article, on the Polyglot Bibles in the library. A more detailed description of these huge folios may not be without interest to many of the readers of the Bibliotheca Sacra.

I. We naturally allude, in the first place, to what is known as the “Complutensian Bible.” It was published under the auspices of the celebrated Cardinal Ximenes, Archbishop of Toledo, Spain, and founder of a college at Alcala, a place which once bore the Latin name Complutum, whence, the title “Complutensian Bible.” The ablest Spanish scholars were employed in the editing of this great work, which was commenced in 1502, and for fifteen years was continued without interruption. “It is equally astonishing,” says Timperley, “that neither the long and tedious application wearied the constancy of the learned editors nor the oppressive cares which devolved on Ximenes relaxed either his zeal or affection for the undertaking. The whole charge of the work, including the pensions of the editors, the wages of transcribers, the price of books, the expense of journeys, and the cost of the impression amounted, according to the calculations that were made, to more than fifty thousand crowns.” No pains were spared to procure the best manuscripts of the Bible; and so interested was Pope Leo X. in the prosecution of the work that he loaned several most valuable ones from the Vatican Library to the Cardinal, to be used by the biblical scholars who were in his employ. The work was published in 1522. A small number of copies, said, by the

BSac 38:151 (July 1881) p. 579

best authorities, to have been only four, were printed on vellum. One of these vellum copies was sold, some years since, for £640, more than $3,000. Only six hundred copies were printed on paper, of which the copy secured by Mr. Brown is one, and is in a state of excellent preservation. The work was issued in six volumes folio. In the first four volumes we find the Hebrew text with Hebrew primitives in the margin. Vol. I. contains the Pentateuch in four languages on each page. These languages are the Hebrew, the Latin Vulgate, the Septuagint Version with a Latin translation interlined in parallel columns, and below them is the Chaldee Targum of Onkelos with a Latin translation side by side. The remainder of the Old Testament is in the next three volumes, with three languages on a page, the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. In Vol. V. is the New Testament in Greek and the Latin Vulgate, and Vol. VI is a Hebrew Dictionary, etc. After t...