Vetus Latina is the name given to a collection of Biblicaltexts that were translated into Latin before the Vulgate became the standard version used in the Latin-speaking world. The texts themselves are written in Late Latin, not in Old Latin. They often use different words than the Vulgate. No complete manuscript survives, only fragments are known. Many text passages are known because Church fathers such as Augustine of Hippo cited from them.
Since the Council of Trent, held in the 16th century, the Vulgate is the official Bible translation for the Roman Catholic Church.
Some of the Vetus Latin texts survives in the Liturgy, however:
The Old Latin text means, "Glory [belongs] to God among the high, and peace [belongs] to men of good will on earth". The Vulgate text means "Glory [belongs] to God among the most high and peace among men of good will on earth".
Probably the best known difference between the Old Latin and the Vulgate is in the Pater Noster, where the phrase from the Vetus Latina, quotidianum panem, "daily bread", becomes supersubstantialem panem, "supersubstantial bread" in the Vulgate.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is Vetus Latina?
A: Vetus Latina is a collection of Biblical texts that were translated into Latin before the Vulgate became the standard version used in the Latin-speaking world.
Q: In what language were the texts of Vetus Latina written?
A: The texts of Vetus Latina were written in Late Latin, not in Old Latin.
Q: How do the words used in Vetus Latina differ from the Vulgate?
A: The words used in Vetus Latina often differ from the Vulgate.
Q: Are there any complete manuscripts of Vetus Latina?
A: No, there are no complete manuscripts of Vetus Latina. Only fragments are known.
Q: How do we know about many text passages of Vetus Latina?
A: We know about many text passages of Vetus Latina because Church fathers such as Augustine of Hippo cited from them.
Q: When did the Vulgate become the official Bible translation for the Roman Catholic Church?
A: Since the Council of Trent, held in the 16th century, the Vulgate is the official Bible translation for the Roman Catholic Church.
Q: What is the difference between the phrase "daily bread" in Vetus Latina and in the Vulgate?
A: The phrase "daily bread" in the Vetus Latina becomes "supersubstantial bread" in the Vulgate.
