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Versions of the Scriptures in Latin were used as early as the second century, although the Church then in the West was largely Greek. References to these early Latin texts are found in the works of Cyprian and Tertullian. These Old Latin translations, however, were considered to be crudely done and "provincial"; that is, not authentic. As Christians in Italy and the West became more Latin-speaking, the provincial texts were looked down upon by the more polished Romans. A standard Latin Bible for the church in the West became more pressing.
Pope [[Damasus I of Rome|Damasus I]] was determined to produce such a standard. In 382, Damasus commissioned Jerome to produce the Vulgate by revising and newly translating in Latin the various translations then in use, using Greek texts as a base. Initially, Jerome produced a revision of the [[New Testament]]. Then, he followed with the text of the [[Old Testament]] based upon the Greek [[Septuagint]]. He began with the [[Psalter]] in 384, of which the first version was called the Roman Psalter. This version was soon corrupted by text from the Old Latin translations, and Jerome began another version in 387 that became known as the Gallican Psalter.
About 390, after completing the translation of much, if not all, of the Old Testament based upon the Septuagint, he began a version based upon existing Hebrew texts. By 405 he had translated much of the Old Testament based upon the Hebrew. This version, however, was not accepted by many, including Augustine, who felt the Septuagint was slighted and was as equally inspired as the Hebrew text.
[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Texts]]
[[ro:Vulgata]]