Did Byzantium use the Vulgate?

[I_Thirst]

If everyone spoke Greek in the Eastern Roman Empire, would there have been any use for the Vulgate? I know that the Bible was translated into other languages (including Latin ), but am I correct in guessing that Greek-speaking Romans would have used the Koine Greek NT and the Septuagint OT?

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

If everyone spoke Greek in the Eastern Roman Empire, would there have been any use for the Vulgate? I know that the Bible was translated into other languages (including Latin ), but am I correct in guessing that Greek-speaking Romans would have used the Koine Greek NT and the Septuagint OT?

You are correct. The Byzantines would have used the Greek Scriptures, not the Vulgate. Actually, I believe the Latin West originally used the Greek Scriptures as well, until St. Jerome came along. So, strictly speaking, Greek is really the universal language of the Church.

 

[twf]

You are correct. The Byzantines would have used the Greek Scriptures, not the Vulgate. Actually, I believe the Latin West originally used the Greek Scriptures as well, until St. Jerome came along. So, strictly speaking, Greek is really the universal language of the Church.

Latin was still the language of the Byzantine court as late as the reign of Justinian… so it is possible that the Vulgate may have been at least known in Byzantine circles? (Even if not used liturgically). The Vulgate wasn’t the first Latin translation of the Scriptures - Pope St. Damasus commissioned St. Jerome to produce a new Latin Bible to correct perceived problems with the earlier Vetus Latina

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Latin was still the language of the Byzantine court as late as the reign of Justinian… so it is possible that the Vulgate may have been at least known in Byzantine circles? (Even if not used liturgically). The Vulgate wasn’t the first Latin translation of the Scriptures - Pope St. Damasus commissioned St. Jerome to produce a new Latin Bible to correct perceived problems with the earlier Vetus Latina

Very interesting, twf. I wasn’t aware that a previous Latin translation of the Scriptures existed before St. Jerome. Regardless, it is still highly unlikely that it was used anywhere in the East or Orient liturgically. Although I would generally agree that it may have been known among the more highly educated.

 

[dcointin]

I heard a priest say recently that the Roman church used Greek in its liturgies for the first few centuries, does anyone know if that’s true?

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

I heard a priest say recently that the Roman church used Greek in its liturgies for the first few centuries, does anyone know if that’s true?

It is indeed true. A vestige of Rome’s use of Greek remains in the “kyrie eleison” of the so-called “Penitential Rite” in the Mass. The various Gregorian Chants for the “kyrie eleison” are available in the book “Kyriale” available from the monks of Solemnes. Greek was used in Rome’s liturgies until Latin replaced Koine Greek as the vernacular of the Western Roman Empire.

 

[Formosus]

The Vulgate may have been used in the Latin churches found in Constantinople for merchants and other travelers. At the very least, it seems somewhat possible.