Protestant criticism of the Latin Vulgate?

[Joe_5859]

Quoted from Stormstopper: Wake up Catholic folk and admit you’ve been duped!

Stormstopper: Thanks for your response…these are some of the polemics I was looking for because I am ultimately looking for the truth. BTW I have encountered examples of protestant bias in their translations of the bible.

Will check out your claims and get back…perhaps you have been duped Do you read Latin?

Note, the Vulgate translation of the Genesis 3:15 pronoun is a legitimate interpretation. At different points in Jewish history, that pronoun was used for the masculine at some times and the feminine at other times, so it’s not an indisputeable fact that it must be translated in the masculine. I find this ambiguity actually enhances the text because it shows us how closely Mary cooperates with Jesus in the destruction of evil.

Further, let’s take a look at the use of the phrase “Blessed are you among women” in Scripture. It appears 3 times. Most famously, of course, is when Elizabeth uses it in Luke 1:42 about Mary. However, it also is used in Judges 5:24-26 to describe Jael and in Judith 13:18 to describe Judith. And what do Jael and Judith have in common? They destroyed the head of the enemy army by literally destroying the head of the enemy leader (Jael with a spike to the temple and Judith by decapitating with a sword). So, unless you want to argue that Luke didn’t know what he was doing by using the phrase, it seems pretty obvious that he is drawing a parallel between Mary and these women. And why? Because she too is participating in crushing the head of the serpent (the ultimate enemy).

As for the “Repent” / “Do Penance” criticism, I’m finding it difficult to understand the problem. Unless, of course, you are approaching Scripture with preconceived anti-Catholic prejudices firmly in place. I see no evidence that would indicate that “repent” is merely an act of the intellect that would negate a penitential act as having any part of it.

 

[Canto]

I am a Protestant and I MOST DEFINITELY object! Many examples could be given, but the Vulgate included the erroneous inclusion of “penance” into the text, which is a verifiable fact of history that you are obviously unaware of.

“Be converted and DO PENANCE for all your iniquities…” (Ezek 18:30)

“Except you DO PENANCE you shall all likewise persih” (Luke 13:5).

“DO PENANCE and be baptized every one of you” (Acts 2:38).

The above Latin Vulgate rendering of the original Hebrew and Greek text of the Old and New Testament makes it apparent that these were improper translations—(now conveniently corrected). In each case, the word translated “do penance” means “repent”. Repentance means recognizing sin as an offense to God and to resolutely determine to forsake it. Consequently, that is a completely different concept from trying to expiate the guilt and punishment for sin through a series of good works. God wants REPENTANCE, not penance.

Now while it is true that most modern translations accurately use the word “repentance”— the fact remains that the Vulgate was incorrect!

What is the difference between doing pennance and repenting?

As for the Douay-Rheims being such a great translation----BALONEY. That edition actually followed the Latin Vulgate of Jerome, who mistakenly translated the pronouns “ipsa” (feminine) instead of “ipse” (Masculine) in Genesis 3:15. That version read, “I will put enmities between thee and the woman and thy seed and her seed: SHE shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for HER heel.”
The highlighted words should be “HE” and “HIS”. The mistake was never corrected until recent times! Hard as it may be for you to believe, this is the first thread in the tapestry which began the devaluation of the work of Jesus Christ and its replacement with the elevation of Mary. Right here we can witness the “snowball” of Marian superiority rolling down the slope of Catholic fantasy, until she ultimately becomes, in their minds, sinless and immaculately deceived.
The footnote in the D.R. reads, “for it is by HER seed, Jesus Christ, that the woman crushes the serpent’s head”. This is a lie straight from the pit of hell, for the Bible tells us that, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifest, that HE might destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn 3:8). Again, “And the God of peace [not Mary!] shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” (Rms 16:20).

The Hebrew is gender neuteral. Jewish translations and I believe the King James too say “it.” In my op she makes more sense gramatically and contextually.

Scripure also says Jesus is the rock, but it says Peter is the rock too.

Wake up Catholic folk and admit you’ve been duped!

Should we spend some time discussing the ‘errors’ in say the King James or NIV? No translation is perfect.

**Hebrew + Greek > Latin > Douay **

Note: the Douay used and even made corrections in light of the best avalialbe Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, though there weren’t as many available back then as now.

Hebrew + Greek > Bishop’s Bible > King James > ASV > NASV

BTW two little known facts. 1) The King James is based on a text by Erasmus (a Catholic scholar who dedicated his work to the Pope). He was missing part of the Greek of Revelation so used the Latin. 2) the Douay Rheims influenced the King James.