La première Bible française de Louvain (1550)

A French Bible was published in Louvain in 1550 in spite of the réticence of certain Catholic milieux with regard to translations of the Bible into vernacular languages. This Bible benefitted from the approval of Charles V, the prudent silence of the Council of Trent during its sixth session (1546) and the caution ofseveral doctors ofthe Faculty of Theology of Louvain. The printer, B. Gravius, supported by a groupfrom Louvain, published three éditions ofthe Bible — in Latin (1547), in Flemish (1548) and in French (1550). The French version, revised by Nicolas de Leuze with the collaboration of François de Larben, adopted the translations of Lefèvre d'Etaples ( Antwerpen, 1530 and 1534) and of Olivetan in the revision called «Bible à l'épêe» (Geneva, 1540) as French models. Its Latin model was the Vulgate edited by Henten, also in Louvain (1547). This French version is without any direct descendants ; it is to be distinguished from thefamous Bible ofthe doctors of Louvain (Antwerpen, 1578). Nevertheless, its very existence at a critical period in history is rich in significance .Bogaert Pierre-Maurice, Gilmont Jean-François. La première Bible française de Louvain (1550). In: Revue théologique de Louvain, 11ᵉ année, fasc. 3, 1980. pp. 275-309