Final answer:
St. Jerome's Vulgate is considered the most faithful Bible translation as it was the authorized version of the Latin Church, it unified believers with a common text, and it was meticulously translated from Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, thus holding significant historical authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why St. Jerome's Vulgate is Considered Faithful
St. Jerome's translation of the Bible, known as the Vulgate, is often considered the most faithful translation for several historical and contextual reasons. Primarily, it united believers by providing a common Latin Bible at a time when the Western Roman Empire predominantly spoke Latin, fostering a shared religious text throughout Europe. Notably, Jerome's translation became the official version of the Latin Church by the decree of the Council of Trent in the 16th century, solidifying its authority. The Vulgate persisted as the authoritative Christian text in Europe until the sixteenth century, signifying its long-standing impact.
Before the Vulgate, there were various Latin translations of the Bible, which were inconsistent and unreliable. Jerome's work was directed by the pope and he based his translations on original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, whenever possible, seeking the greatest possible accuracy. His translation was timely, given the fading of spoken Latin, allowing the educated elite and the clergy to continue religious study and communication in a static version of Latin accessible across Europe.
In the context of the monastery's role, scriptoria like the one in Bury St. Edmunds were centers for meticulous writing and illustrating of manuscripts such as Jerome's Vulgate. The labor involved and the materials used, such as vellum, reflected the value and importance of such texts at the time. Furthermore, the shift to incorporate different colors in the text and illustrations from previous all-black ink versions suggests a development and enrichment in how the Vulgate was presented, which may have contributed to its enduring status.