Translating the Bible in Old English Prose: A Book for Many?

Recorded November 19, 2024. A lecture by Francis Leneghan
(University of Oxford) as part of the English Staff-Postgraduate
Seminar Series. The rich corpus of Old English biblical prose
remains a missing chapter in the history of the translation of the
Bible. This paper will explore how, centuries before the
Reformation, Old English prose authors sought to make the sacred
words of the Bible available to a wide range of readers, lay and
clerical. From the reign of King Alfred (871–99), a partial prose
translation of the Psalms survives as well as a free rendering of
sections of Exodus and the Acts of the Apostles. By the end of the
tenth century, all four gospels and the first seven books of the
Old Testament were available in English prose. This widening of
access to the Bible was not without its problems; in the eyes of
monks such as Ælfric of Eynsham, a little biblical learning on the
part of the laity could be a very dangerous thing. English
Staff-Postgraduate Seminar Series is a fortnightly meeting which
has been integral to the School of English research community since
the 1990s. The aim of the seminar series is to provide a relaxed
and convivial atmosphere for staff and students to present their
research to their peers. The series also welcomes distinguished
guest lecturers from the academic community outside Trinity College
to present on their work. It is a fantastic opportunity to share
ideas and engage with the diverse research taking place within the
School.  Learn more at www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub