§ 22. THE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE. 63
nineteenth century, when it was superseded by the organization of a full university.!
Zwingli wrote in the course of three months and a half an important work on the true, evangelical, as opposed to the false, popish faith, and dedicated it to Francis I., king of France, in the vain hope of gaining him to the cause of the Reformation.^ It completes his theological opposition to the papacy. It is the first systematic exposition of the Reformed faith, as Melanchthon's Loci was the first system of Lutheran theology ; but it was afterwards eclipsed by Calvin's Institutes^ which were addressed to the same king with no better effect. Francis probably never read either; but the dedication remains as a connecting link between the Swiss and the French Reformation. The latter is a child of the former.
§ 22. The Translation of the Bible. Leo Judce.
Metzger (Antistes in Schaffhausen) : Geschichte der deutschen Bibelubersetzung der schweizerischen reformirten Kirche. Basel, 1876. Pestalozzi : Leo Judce. Elberfeld, 1860.
A most important part of the Reformation was a vernacular translation of the Bible. Luther's New Testament (1522) was reprinted at Basel with a glossary. In Zurich it was adapted to the Swiss dialect in 1524, and revised and improved in subsequent editions. The whole Bible was published in German by Froschauer at Zurich in 1530, four
^ Prof. Dr. Georg von Wyss, in his festive discourse on the University of Zurich (Z)je Hochschule Zurich in d. Jahren 1833-18S3, Zurich, 1883), gives a brief sketch of the development of the Carolinum. The first theological faculty of the university consisted of three Zurichers, Hirzel, Schulthess and Salomon Hess, who had been professors of the Carolinum, and two Germans, Rettig and Hitzig. Besides there were five Privatdocenten, ministers of Zurich. See also Prof. Steiner's Festrede zur 50 jdhrigen Stiftungsfeier der ZUricher Universitdt, 1883.
2 Commentarius de vera et falsa religione, March, 1525. Opera, III. 145-325. Leo Judae published a German translation, 1526. When Erasmus received the book, he said, "0 hone Zwingli, quid scribis, quod ipse prius non scripserim"^" So Zwingli reports in a letter to Vadian, Opera, VII. 399.
64 THE SWISS EEFOKMATION.
years before Luther completed his version (1534). ^ The translation of the Prophets and the Apocrypha was prepared by Conrad Pellican, Leo Judte, Theodor Bibliander, and other Zurich divines. The beautiful edition of 1531 contained also a new version of the Poetical books, with an introduction (probably by Zwingli), summaries, and parallel passages.
The Swiss translation cannot compare with Luther's in force, beauty, and popularity ; but it is more literal, and in subsequent revisions it has kept pace with the progress of exegesis. It brought the Word of God nearer to the heart and mind of the Swiss people, and is in use to this day alongside of the Lutheran version.^
The chief merit in this important service belongs to Leo Jud or JudtE.^ He was born in 1482, the son of a priest in Alsass, studied with Zwingli at Basle, and became his successor as priest at Einsiedeln, 1519, and his colleague and faithful assistant as minister of St. Peter's in Zurich since 1523. He married in the first year of his pastorate at Zurich. His relation to Zwingli has been compared with the relation of Melanchthon to Luther. He aided Zwingli in the second disputation, in the controversy with the Anabaptists, and with Luther, edited and translated several of his writings, and taught Hebrew in the Carolinum. Zwingli called him his " dear brother and faithful co-worker in the gospel of Jesus Christ." He was called to succeed the Reformer after the catastrophe of Cappel ; but he declined on account of his unfitness for administrative work, and
1 Five complete editions of the Bible were printed in Zurich before 1534. Pestalozzi, Leo Judie, p. 77.
^ On the different editions see Metzger, I.e. 109 sqq., and Fritzsche, in Herzog'-, XII. 555 sq. The versicular division was first introduced in the edition of 1589. The first thorough revision was prepared by Antistes Breitinger, 1629. Other revisions followed in 1665, 1724, 1755, 1772, 1817, 1860, and 1868. The last is pronounced by Fritzsche one of the best translations, based upon a conscientious use of the latest exegetical labors.
3 He avoided his family name Jud (Jew) ; and the Zurichers called him "Master Leu" (Leo). In all his Latin writings he uses the Latin form.