NOTE TO USERS This reproduction is the best 'copy availabie Matthew9sBeatitudes in English A Comparative Study in the History of Translation Wendell L. Eisener csc A thesis submitted in parüal fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Theology Acadia University Spring Convocation 1999 0 1999 Wendell L. 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Index List of Plates Lindisfame Gospels. folio 34 ............................................................................................. ix A page fiam Mattkw 's Gospel. including the begirming of the Semon on ihe Mount (4.24-5.10) Lindisfanie Gospels. folio 25b ............................................................................................ -4 Full-page miriiature of &int Mmltrew Lindisfarne Gospels. folio 26 b .......................................................................................... -27 Crmarppr page inîïhcing the Fim Gapel Lindisfame Gospels. folio 27 ............................................................................................-42 Thepst puge of Mot~hew's Giqef Lindisfarne Gospels. folio 29 ............................................................................................ -77 7he begrming of the Chnmastory in hlanhew 's Gospel Lindisfame Gospels. folio 29. detail .................................................................................. 99 Delail of the illuminarion Introduction Introduction...................... Chapter 1. Prolegomena Establishing the Text ...........................................................................................................5 Matthew 5.1-12. Linguistic Analysis and Commentary .................................................... 6 A brisf note on interpretation ...........................................................................................-25 Chapter 2: The Beatitudes in Context A bief introduction to Matthew's Gospel ......................................................................... 29 The setting of the Beatitudes in Matthew's Gospel ...........................................................34 Literary Genre and Parallels .............................................................................................-36 Chapter 3: An Historical Survey of English Translations A note on Early English Versions to Wyclif...................................................................... 43 The Eve of the Reformation ............................................................................................. -46 Wyclif ............................................................................................................................... -50 Tyndale: His Translation in Context ................................................................................. -52 Afier Tyndale to the King James Version ........................................................................ 38 The King James Version ................................................................................................... 61 After the KJV to the English Revised Version .................................................................. 62 Aside: Manuscripts and Scholanhip ................................................................................. -65 The English Revised Version............................................................................................ -67 Sorne Important Tiventieth Century Versions .................................................................. -68 Chapter 4: Soine Translations A note cn methodology ...................................................................................................... 78 Matthew 5.1-2. Introduction ............................................................................................. -78 Matthew 5.3. The Poor in Spirit ........................................................................................ 81 Matthew 5 -4: The Mouniers ................................ ............................................................. -82 Matthew 5.5: The Meek .................................................................................................... -84 Matthew 5.6. Seekers after Righteousness ........................................................................ 86 Matthew 5.7. The Merci fid ............................................................................................... -88 Matthew 5.8. The Pure in Heart ......................................................................................... 90 Matthew 5.9. The Peacemakers .........................................................................................91 Matthew 4.10. The Persecuted.......................................................................................... -93 Matthew 5.1 1 - 12: The Reviled ......................................................................................... -95 Chapter 5: Observations Language and Theology ................................................................................................... 100 Tradition and Translation ."Intertext" .......................... ... ............................................ 102 Continuity of Language ................................................................................................... -105 Translation and Liturgy ................................................................................................... 107 A Final Word. ................................................................................................................... 111 Conciusion ..................................................................................................................... Ill B ibliography Appendix 1: The Greek and Latui Texts of Matthew 5.1-12 Appendix II: Some Other Translations Abstract The purpose of îhis thesis is to provide a comparative study of various English translations of the Maabean Beatitudes (Matthew 5.1- 12) fiom Wyclif ( 1382) to the Contempotary English Version (1995). The standard Greek text of the New Testament (UBSGNT4) has been used as the basis for cornparison of the various translations, for understanding the linguistic features of the "original," aç well as for noting significant variants in the texts of the manuscripts. A brief introduction to Matthew's Gospel is provided in Chapter 2, which sets the Beatitudes in the context of the Sermon on the Mount and in the context of the Gospel as a whole. The Beatitudes, as a genre of gnomologzcal literature, are discussed with reference to literary parallels in the Scriptures and in other literature. The heart of the thesis is to be found in Chapter 3, an historical survey of English Bible translations, with special emphasis on the work of William Tyndale as the father of the English Bible. Chapter 4 presents a tabulation of about thirty translations representing over 1000 yean in the history of the English Bible. The translations presented attempt to be representative of both historical and theological considerations, but the choice has bem - of necessity - selective, and has been limited by three factors: awareness, availability, and signi ficance. Chapter 5 briefly discusses the connections between language and theology, tradition and translation, with special emphasis on the effect of interrextz~c~liryon the process and results of various translations. Recognising the importance of the linirgical use of the Bible, six critena for the thoughtful selection of a translation for public reading are offered without implying in which direction these guidelines might lead. vii Dr Carol J. Schlueter @ 1997 Rev'd Dr John H. C. Neeb a 1997 Requiem œternarn dom eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. viii On the Beatitudes.. We have grasped the mystev of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Müunt. Omar Bradley, Address on Armistice Day 1948 It's not the earîh the meek inherit - it7sthe dirt! Alan Lemer & Frederick Loewe, "The Seven Deadly Vimies," Camelot The Be-Happy Atfit udes title of book by Robert Schuller Dear brother, let this preaching of mine be of service to you, in the first place, against our squires, the jurists and sophists. ... Thus you may preserve in its purity the teaching of Chna in this [fi&] chapter of Matthew, instead of their asinine cunning and devilish dung. Martin Luther, Prefae to the Sennon on the Mount Jesus says here what lots of Rabbis said in al1 ages. H. Monrefiore, Rabbtnic Literature und Gospel Teachtngs "Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed,"