John Shepreve facts for kids

John Shepreve (sometimes spelled Shepery) was an English scholar who lived in the 1500s. He was known for his deep knowledge of ancient Greek and Hebrew languages. He was born around 1509 and passed away in 1542.

Early Life and Education

John Shepreve was born in a place called Sugworth, which was in Berkshire (now part of Oxfordshire), around the year 1509. He went to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, a famous university. In 1528, he became a "probationer fellow," which meant he was a junior member of the college learning and teaching.

He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), in 1529. A few years later, in 1533, he completed his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree.

Teaching and Scholarship

John Shepreve was a talented teacher at Oxford. He taught Greek at his college. Around 1538, he became the university's professor of Hebrew, taking over from Robert Wakefeld. This was a very important role, as Hebrew was a key language for studying the Bible.

In April 1542, the university gave him special permission to teach the Book of Genesis in Hebrew. He was allowed to explain it in the public schools, as long as his lessons were "pious and catholic," meaning they followed the accepted religious teachings of the time.

Later Life and Legacy

Sadly, John Shepreve died in July 1542 in Agmondesham, Buckinghamshire. He was only about 33 years old.

When news of his death reached Oxford, many learned people were very sad. They wrote poems in Greek and Latin to honor him and posted them on the doors of St. Mary's Church. A doctor named George Etheridge, who had been one of Shepreve's students, tried to collect these poems and some of Shepreve's own writings to publish them, but they never made it to print.

Even so, other famous writers, like John Leland, wrote about John Shepreve in their own books of poems, remembering his great knowledge. His nephew, William Shepreve, also became a scholar.

Key Writings and Translations

John Shepreve wrote and translated several important works during his life. These show his wide range of knowledge in different languages:

• Summa et Synopsis Novi Testamenti: This was a collection of verses designed to help students remember important parts of the New Testament. It was first published around 1556 and reprinted several times.
• Hippolytus Ovidianae Phaedrae respondens: This work was published around 1584 by his former student, George Etheridge. The original handwritten copy was kept in the library of Corpus Christi College.
• Vita et Epicedion Johannis Claymondi Praesidis Coll. Corp. Chr.: This was a poem about the life of John Claymond, who was the head of Corpus Christi College. It's an important source of information about Claymond's life.
• S. Basilius, Episc. Caesariensis. In Esaiam Prophetam commentariorum tomus prior: Shepreve translated this work by St. Basil from Greek into Latin.
• Oratio in laudem Henrici VIII: This was a speech praising King Henry VIII. He also wrote two similar speeches in Hebrew.
• Carmen de Christi Corpore: A poem about the Body of Christ.

He is also believed to have translated the Greek play Hecuba by Euripides into Latin. He also translated Seneca's play Hercules Furens into English, and parts of the Bible (the Epistle of James and the Epistle of Jude) into Hebrew.