Word of God, words of men

Translations, inspirations, transmissions of the Bible in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Renaissance

Contributions by Aurelia Zdunczyk Contributions by Wojciech Kriegseisen Contributions by Marta Wojtkowska-Maksymik Contributions by Robert Dittmann Contributions by Katarzyna Krzak-Weiss Contributions by Kristina Rutkovska Contributions by Tomasz Lisowski Contributions by Joanna Kulwicka-Kaminska Contributions by Rajmund Pietkiewicz Contributions by Mariola Jarczykowa Contributions by Jarosław Malicki Contributions by Virginija Mann Contributions by Gina Kavaliūnaitė-Holvoet Contributions by Łukasz Cybulski Contributions by Paulina Ceremużyńska Contributions by Fernando Reyes Contributions by Izabela Winiarska-Górska Contributions by Joanna Pietrzak-Thébault Edited by Joanna Pietrzak-Thébault Associate editor Christopher B. Brown Associate editor Günter Frank Associate editor Bruce Gordon Associate editor Barbara Mahlmann-Bauer Associate editor Tarald Rasmussen Associate editor Violet Soen Associate editor Tóth Zsombor Associate editor Günther Wassilowsky Associate editor Siegrid Westphal

Book cover: Word of God, words of men

Extent: 381 pages

Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht

Subjects: Biblical Studies, Early Modern & Renaissance Studies, Slavic Studies

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(January 2019)

ISBN: 9783525552773

6.3 x 9.33 inches

Price: $188.00

In stock

Facts about Bible translation activities in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth


The book presents many aspects of the phenomenon of translation and commentary work of the Bible in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th and 17th centuries. It contains studies of eminent scholars as well as of some young adepts, coming mainly from Poland, but also from Lithuania and Czech Republic. The texts present various aspects of the researches conducted on this phenomenon nowadays. As it was an exceptional movement, extremely varied and long-time lasting, it would be difficult to offer its complete synthesis in one volume. Though, the exhaustive presentation of the historical and linguistic contexts allows the reader to understand the phenomenon. Intensified interest in translations of the Bible is closely connected with the interest in the Polish language, its literary expression as well as its grammatical and orthographic standardisation that occurred just in the same time. The intellectual activity related to the Bible contributed simultaneously to the development of the Polish literary language and even inspired the translations of the sacred texts of other religions present in the country. Moreover, contacts between different languages of Central and Eastern European area, where many attempts of new translations appeared, are very important. A quick rise of the different Reformation movements contributed to a natural need for new translations and commentaries to be used by community members. These new currents, first easily accepted and spread in the country, even when suppressed, could not stop this activity, and later new Catholic translations and commentaries of the post-Trident period, both in Polish and Lithuanian, proved it. Big part of study is also dedicated to particular typographical realizations of this activity and an interesting example of the musical expression directly inspired by the biblical translation, is also provided.

  • Contributions by Aurelia Zdunczyk
  • Contributions by Wojciech Kriegseisen
  • Contributions by Marta Wojtkowska-Maksymik
  • Contributions by Robert Dittmann
  • Contributions by Katarzyna Krzak-Weiss
  • Contributions by Kristina Rutkovska
  • Contributions by Tomasz Lisowski
  • Contributions by Joanna Kulwicka-Kaminska
  • Contributions by Rajmund Pietkiewicz
  • Contributions by Mariola Jarczykowa
  • Contributions by Jarosław Malicki
  • Contributions by Virginija Mann
  • Contributions by Gina Kavaliūnaitė-Holvoet
  • Contributions by Łukasz Cybulski
  • Contributions by Paulina Ceremużyńska
  • Contributions by Fernando Reyes
  • Contributions by Izabela Winiarska-Górska
  • Contributions by Joanna Pietrzak-Thébault
  • Edited by Joanna Pietrzak-Thébault
  • Associate editor Christopher B. Brown
  • Associate editor Günter Frank
  • Associate editor Bruce Gordon
  • Associate editor Barbara Mahlmann-Bauer
  • Associate editor Tarald Rasmussen
  • Associate editor Violet Soen
  • Associate editor Tóth Zsombor
  • Associate editor Günther Wassilowsky
  • Associate editor Siegrid Westphal