Vetus Latina facts for kids

Vetus Latina is a special name for a group of Bible translations. These Bibles were written in Latin a long time ago, even before another famous Latin Bible called the Vulgate became the most common one.

The words in Vetus Latina are from a period called Late Latin. They often use different words compared to the Vulgate. We don't have any complete copies of Vetus Latina Bibles today. We only have small pieces, called fragments. We also know many parts of Vetus Latina because important Christian writers, like Augustine of Hippo, quoted from them in their own writings.

What is Vetus Latina?

Vetus Latina means "Old Latin." It refers to many different Latin translations of the Bible that were used before the year 400 AD. These translations were not all the same. Different communities might have had slightly different versions.

Why Was it Used?

When Christianity spread, people needed the Bible in their own language. In the western part of the Roman Empire, Latin was the main language. So, early Christians translated the Bible from Greek (the original language of the New Testament) and Hebrew (the original language of the Old Testament) into Latin. These early translations became known as Vetus Latina.

How Do We Know About It?

Since no complete Vetus Latina Bible exists, how do we know about it?

• Fragments: Sometimes, small pieces of old manuscripts (handwritten books) are found. These pieces might contain parts of the Vetus Latina.
• Church Fathers: Important early Christian leaders and writers, like Augustine of Hippo, often quoted the Bible in their books and letters. Many of their quotes come from Vetus Latina versions. By studying these quotes, experts can piece together what the Vetus Latina might have said.

Vetus Latina and the Vulgate

The Vulgate is another Latin translation of the Bible. It was mostly created by a scholar named Jerome around the late 300s and early 400s AD. Jerome tried to make a single, standard Latin Bible that was more accurate. Over time, the Vulgate became the official Bible for the Roman Catholic Church. This happened officially after a meeting called the Council of Trent in the 1500s.

Even though the Vulgate became the main Bible, some parts of Vetus Latina are still used today in church services, especially in special prayers and songs.

Famous Differences

There are some interesting differences between Vetus Latina and the Vulgate.

• The Gloria: This is a famous hymn (song of praise) sung in church.

The Vetus Latina version means: "Glory [belongs] to God among the high, and peace [belongs] to men of good will on earth." The Vulgate version means: "Glory [belongs] to God among the most high and peace among men of good will on earth."

• The Lord's Prayer: One of the most well-known differences is in the Pater Noster (Our Father).

* In Vetus Latina, the phrase for "daily bread" is quotidianum panem. * In the Vulgate, it changes to supersubstantialem panem, which means "supersubstantial bread" or "super-essential bread." This change made people think more deeply about the meaning of "bread" in the prayer.

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