The Council of Trent and the Sixto-Clementine Vulgate

Abstract

This chapter outlines the history of the Latin Vulgate in the sixteenth century, from the discussions leading to the Fourth Session of the Council of Trent (1546), when it was proclaimed as the “authentic” edition, up to the eventual publication of the Sixto-Clementine edition in 1592. It sets out the four abuses of the Scriptures condemned by the Council and the responses that addressed them as well as the two Tridentine decrees on Scripture. The important work in Louvain of John Henten and Francis Lucas of Bruges on editions of the Vulgate is described, which played a key role in the activity of the five Roman Committees for the Emendation of the Vulgate. Information is also given on the membership of these committees and the failure of the Sixtine Vulgate of 1590.