French BIBLES. The oldest French Bible we are acquainted with is the version of Peter de Vaux, chief of the Waldenses, who lived about the year 1160. Raoul de Presle also translated the Bible into French in the reign of Charles V. king of France, about the year 1380. And, besides these, there are several old French translations of particular parts of the Scripture. The doctors of Louvain published the Bible in French at Louvain by order of the emperor Charles V. in 1550. There is also a version by Isaac le Maître de Sacy, published in 1692, with explanations of the literal and spiritual meaning of the text, which was received with wonderful applause, and has often been reprinted. As to the New Testaments in French which have been printed separately, one of the most remarkable is that of F. Amelotte of the oratory, executed by the direction of some French prelates, and printed with annotations in the years 1666, 1667, and 1670. The author pretends he had been at the pains to search all the libraries in Europe, and collate the oldest manuscripts; but, on examining his work, it appears that he has produced very few various readings which had not been previously taken notice of either in the London Polyglot or elsewhere. The New Testament of Mons, printed in the year 1665, with the archbishop of Cambray's permission, and the king of Spain's license, made a great noise in the world. It was condemned by Pope Clement IX. in 1668, and by Pope Innocent XI. in 1679, and in several bishoprics of France at different times. The New Testament published at Trevoux, in 1702, by M. Simon, with literal and critical annotations upon difficult passages, was condemned by the bishops of Paris and Méaux in 1702. Bouhours, a Jesuit, with the assistance of Michael Tellier and Peter Bernier, who were likewise Jesuits, published
a translation of the New Testament in 1697; but this translation is for the most part harsh and obscure, owing to the author's keeping too strictly to the Latin text from which he translated. The most approved translations are those of Descarières and De Vence.
There are likewise French translations published by Protestant authors; particularly one by Robert Peter Olivetan, printed at Neufchâtel in 1535, and since often reprinted with the corrections of John Calvin and others; and another by Sebastian Castalio, remarkable for particular modes of expression never used by good judges of the language. John Diodati likewise published a French Bible at Geneva in 1644; but some find fault with his method, in that he rather paraphrases the text than translates it. J. Faber Stapulensis translated the New Testament into French, which was revised and accommodated to the use of the reformed churches in Piedmont, and printed in 1534. Lastly, M. le Clerc published a New Testament in French at Amsterdam in 1703, with annotations taken chiefly from Grotius and Hammond; but the use of this version was prohibited in Holland by order of the States-General, as tending to revive the errors of Sabellius and Socinus.