Bibbia. Giovanni Diodati

Bible. Webster (1649)

Bibbia. Giovanni Diodati (1649)

The Diodati Bible (complete title The Bible, that is, the books of the old and the New Testament, again translated into Italian, by Giovanni Diodati, of Nation Lucchese) is the translation of the Bible par excellence of the Italian Protestants, published in Geneva in 1607 by the Lucchese in exile Giovanni Diodati (1576-1649). It was made by the original texts (for the New Testament, however, the then processed version of Erasmus used), with an eye on the work of Theophilus and Brucioli. From a stylistic point of view, its version is considered one of the masterpieces of the Italian language of the seventeenth century.

The first complete edition of the Bible in Italian with annotations was published in 1607 as "The Bible, that is, the books of the old and the New Testament, again translated into Italian, by Giovanni Diodati, of Nation Lucchese" and a New Testament, without annotations, appeared in 1608. It translates from the original languages, but keeping an eye on the version of Massimo Teofilo, because it is also dependent on the original languages.

As soon as he appeared, the version that the Diodati had published at his own expense had cost him 14 years of arduous care, and he immediately had the praise of the most learned men of the time, and also those who judged it severely had to recognize that the Diodati had done a valuable work.

These were followed almost thirty years later by a second edition improved in the years 1640/41. This monumental work provided the Italian Protestantism of its standard official version of the Bible. The merit of the Diodati was to produce, he alone, one of the major Bibbies of European Protestantism, to be placed on the level of the German Bible of Luther and the English one authorized by King Giacomo.

Characteristics

The excellent characters that distinguished the version of the diodes were therefore many, first of all fidelity, essential quality to interpret the sacred text; Secondly, the clarity, due to the integrity of the terms used by the translator and paraphrase which, although very criticized, are no less useful for the meaning of the biblical sense; Thirdly, the theological value of the notes and comments that accompany the version, which testify to a profound knowledge of ancient languages ​​and a complete understanding of the scriptures; and finally great elegance of style.

Welcome in Italy

Diodati himself was particularly sensitive to how his Bible was welcomed in Italy. In 1635 he summarized the company of the shepherds of Geneva who: "It had a great approval from several eminent characters and particularly from Mons. Scaligero". In his letter to the synod of Alençon in May 1695, he said that: "I will therefore tell you, that the divine Providence that, having pushed me in my first years of theological profession, yes, and almost from my youth to date, to translate and comment on the Italian Bible, I had such a great success ... and the most eminent characters of our time, they have all recommended my poor job, and I say it without blinding it. that I publish only for the glory of God ".

Once again Diodati reaffirms his faith in the divine help and his belief of having done this work only for the glory of God. Diodati assured the Council of Geneva that his Italian Bible "was well received everywhere". The introduction to the publication in English translation of the Diodati's Bible notes confirms it.