Skip to Main Content

Historic Bibles from the Middle Ages to the Reformation: The Latin Bible in the Middle Ages

An introduction to the holdings of L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Introduction

During the Middle Ages, the Vulgate was the Bible used throughout Western Europe. Bibles were produced for religious houses and wealthy laypeople, and portions of the biblical text were incorporated into service books for daily worship at cathedrals and monasteries. One such service book, the psalter (or the Book of Psalms), became popular for private worship. 

The Latin Bible was also used as a textbook by students in medieval universities. During the 13th century, theologians in Paris somewhat standardized the text of the Bible, organizing books of scripture in a set order and creating chapter divisions (verse numberings would come in the 16th century).

For non-literate or non-Latin-reading audiences of the medieval period, books were still an important part of religious devotion. Illustrations in books, along with retellings of Bible stories in vernacular languages, provided access to the Biblical text.

 

Selected Special Collections Holdings

Bible Manuscripts

Vulgate Bible (Latin), France, 13th century [pictured].

Along with the biblical text, this illuminated manuscript Bible also contains a table of liturgical readings, a chart showing the harmony of the gospels, and a prologue by St. Jerome.

  • Call number: Vault Collection 091 B47L

Old Testament (Latin), France, 1468.

Highly illuminated manuscript decorated with three full-page borders of painted flowers, forty-one large initials in gold and colors with marginal decorations.

  • Call number: Vault Collection 091 B47L 1468

Psalters, Gospel Books, and other Biblical Texts in Facsimile

 

Vespasian Psalter. [England, 8th century] Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1967.

  • Call number: Rare Book Collection Quarto 091 Ea76 vol.14

Das Evangeliar Ottos III. [Germany, ca. 1000] S. Fischer, 1978.

  • Call number: Vault Collection Quarto 091 B470 1978

Psalter of Ingeborg of Denmark. [Northern France, ca. 1195] Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, 1985.

  • Call number: Vault Collection Quarto 091 In4 1985

Goslarer Evangeliar. [Germany, ca. 1240] Academische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt, 1990-1991.

  • Call number: Vault Collection Quarto 091 B47g 1990

Douce Apocalypse. [England, bet. 1250-1275] Academische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt, 1981.

  • Call number: Rare Book Collection Quarto BS 2825 .B59 1981

The Luttrell Psalter. [England, 14th century] The British Library, 2006.

  • Call number: Rare Book Collection Quarto ND 3357 .L8 L86 2006

Picture Bibles and Other Vernacular Manuscripts in Facsimile

The Old English Illustrated Hexateuch. [England, 11th century] Rosenkilde and Bagger, 1974.

  • Call number: Rare Book Collection Quarto 091 Ea76 vol. 18

Bible of St. Louis. [Paris, France, bet. 1227-1234] M. Moleiro, 2000-2004.

  • Call number: Vault Collection Folio 091 B47bsL 2000
  • Note: the Book of Revelation from this manuscript is published as Die Bibel Ludwigs des Heiligen, Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, 1995. Call number: Vault Collection Quarto 091 B47r 1995

Bible moralisée of Naples. [Italy, 14th century] M. Moleiro, 2009.

  • Call number: Vault Collection Quarto 091 B47f 2009

Wenzelsbibel. [Germany, ca. 1400] Academische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt, 1981.

  • Call number: Vault Collection Folio 091 W489 1981